Page 44 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

are primarily used for defence. The premolars and molars, collectively known as the cheek

teeth are used to grind down the food into small particles so that it can be swallowed.
VetBooks.ir Signs of dental problems

These include:

• loss of condition

• failure to gain weight despite good nutrition
• eating more slowly than usual or than other horses

• dropping food

• quidding – boluses of partially chewed forage are dropped from the mouth or accumulate

between the teeth and the cheeks
• head tossing while eating

• opening the mouth and fiddling with the tongue whilst eating

• the presence of unchewed grain in the droppings

• roughage pieces longer than normal in the droppings
• tenderness of the cheeks overlying the teeth

• tenderness around the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) on palpation

• bad breath

• excessive salivation or drooling

• putting the hay in the water bucket to make it softer and easier to chew
• facial swellings

• discharging sinuses

• foul-smelling nasal discharge

• recurrent choke

• some types of colic, e.g. impactions.

Performance problems caused by dental issues

These include:

• reluctance to come onto the bit

• head tilting or tossing when ridden

• stiffness on one or both reins

• opening the mouth when asked for collection