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Frequently Asked Questions
How often do I need to have a checkup for my horse?
The timing depends on the age of the horse. Typically if the horse is under 5 years old, a checkup is recommended every 6 months. If the horse is older than 5 years, then an exam is recommended every 12 months. A horse older than 20 years should have a checkup every 6 months.
What is that contraption you're putting on my horse's head?
It's called a dental speculum and it helps to keep the horse's mouth open so that the equine dentist can examine the horse's rear cheek teeth thoroughly and safely. When properly adjusted and used correctly it does not hurt the horse.
How will I know if my horse has a dental problem?
Horses with dental problems may show obvious signs such as pain or irritation, head tossing, dropping feed, foul odor coming from the mouth or nostrils, sinus discharge, rubbing incisors on an object in the feild (fence post, wire fence, etc.). They may show no noticeable signs at all. That is why you should have your horse checked out by an equine dentist as recommended.
Does my horse have baby teeth, and how many teeth do they have once all of their teeth come in?
Like humans, horses have two sets of teeth in their lifetimes. The baby teeth, called deciduous teeth, are temporary. The first deciduous incisors may erupt 6-8 days after the foal is born. The last deciduous teeth come in when the horse is about eight months of age. These "baby" teeth will begin to be replaced by adult teeth around the age of 2 ½, and by age 5 most horses have all of their permanent teeth. A typical adult male horse has 40 permanent teeth, while a typical mare may have 36 to 40 teeth. Mares are less likely to have canine teeth.
Do horse's teeth grow?
Horse's teeth do not grow, they erupt. The teeth erupt about 2mm every year. As the horse gets older the reserve crown becomes smaller and smaller.
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