Page 54 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

Canine teeth erupt in male horses (and occasionally in mares) when they are between 4 and 6

years old.
VetBooks.ir cases they reduce the space available for the tongue, causing discomfort. These horses
Long, sharp canines can cause injury to the horse’s tongue and to people’s hands. In some

benefit from reduction in height of the canines and smoothing of the tooth surface. Tartar

tends to accumulate on these teeth and should be regularly removed as it can cause gum
inflammation.

TWO-YEAR-OLD ‘BUMPS’

Horses between and 4 years of age may develop non-painful bony swellings on the
underside of their lower jaw. These are associated with development of the erupting
permanent teeth and are considered to be normal. The swelling usually subsides over a period

of time.

ABNORMALITIES OF TOOTH HEIGHT

The grinding surfaces of the teeth are known as the ‘tables’. In the ideal situation, the

permanent teeth will erupt normally and the tables remain at the correct heights and angles.
However, problems such as retained deciduous teeth (caps) or asymmetrical loss of the

deciduous teeth can alter the normal grinding action and consequent wear of the permanent
teeth. Unless this is corrected, the teeth will not meet properly and the problem will become
progressively worse over time. Any source of oral discomfort can alter the chewing action

and lead to table height abnormalities.

Tall teeth and abnormalities of wear

When the horse chews, the upper and lower molar teeth opposite each other usually wear
down evenly. However, if the tooth or part of it does not contact the opposing molar, then all
or part of the tooth will become abnormally tall (long). Common sites for these dental

overgrowths (sometimes called hooks) are:
• opposite a missing tooth; the unopposed tooth will erupt into the space left by the absent

tooth
• the front part of the second premolar in the upper jaw (upper 6 hook) (Figure 2.10)

• the very back of the last molar tooth in the lower jaw (lower 11 hook)