Page 106 - October 2015

wise to resume twice a year check-ups as teeth begin to show other problems due to aging.
Two and three year olds often have loose mouth tissue near the tongue and jaw that gets wadded up by the bit and jammed into the cheek teeth when the bit is pulled on. The rider may have to change bits to avoid bitting problems if this happens.
You may have to ask your veterinarian
to pull off the caps - the baby teeth still present after permanent teeth have erupted, if they cause problems in a young horse in training. Sometimes, caps may be trapped and retained when there’s not enough room in the jaw for cheek teeth to expand. A two-year-old in training may resist the bit, especially a snaffle bit, because it rubs the cheek tissue against the loosening cap. A young horse may also resist use of a tie-down or a hackamore if these press against other loosening caps. The loose caps may move and irritate the horse and may also provide a site for infection. The horseman should keep in mind the fact that if a trainer is tempted to use a tie-down, there is usually a problem somewhere.
If a cap has to be removed, most veterinar- ians or equine dentists will remove the opposite one as well so the mouth will match top and bottom to encourage proper eruption of the permanent teeth and to avoid uneven wear. It’s
also wise to have sharp edges on the outside of the upper cheek teeth floated, and on the inside of the lower cheek teeth, so the teeth will meet evenly and so the tongue and cheek tissue will not be irritated or cut by the teeth.
Another situation that can create a sore mouth in the young horse is inflammation and swelling of the hard palate just behind the upper incisors. Called lampas, this condi-
tion is not actually a tooth problem, but the
horse owner may have a veterinarian check the mouth and teeth because the youngster has trouble eating hard feeds such as grain or pellets, and goes off his feed. The hard feed irritates and bruises the hard palate. Some cases may be swollen clear back toward the molars, with the swelling extending over the entire roof of the mouth. The solution for this problem is to feed soft feeds until the mouth is not so sore.
Signs Of Trouble
Tooth problems in the young adult horse may give various clues. The horse may tilt his head while eating or being ridden, or may take a long time eating his food. He may lose weight, or have long, un-chewed particles of hay in his manure. Other signs of tooth trouble include:
• bleeding from the mouth
• bad odor from mouth or nostrils
• sensitivity to touch when you feel the side of the horse’s face in the cheek area • bolting of grain
• spitting out un-chewed wads of hay (quidding)
• changes in eating or drinking habits
• tilting the head back
• dribbling feed out the mouth while eating
• drooling or foaming (excessive salivation)
• irregular movement of the lower jaw
• bumps or enlargements on the jaw or sides of the face
• abnormal carriage of the tongue, or sore areas on the tongue or cheek area
• sharp points on the front of the first lower molars or the first upper molars
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104 SPEEDHORSE, October 2015
EQUINE HEALTH