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Equine Teeth
Horses teeth continue to grow during their life time, the wear to the teeth can be uneven and many horses develop sharp edges on their teeth that then can result in painful cuts and ulcers in the mouth. This can result in the horse changing their eating habits these include: The horse may drop feed from its’ mouth while eating, take in water from the water bucket while trying to eat, hold it’s head to the side, act as if something is stuck in it’s cheek or not eat at all. Horses that have dental problems often end up rolling the food into balls which end up dropped on the floor. You may also notice the horse may have an unpleasant breath or may have a swollen face. Sharp teeth can cause resistance to the bit, head shyness and development of head tossing. Some horses will rear when ridden if they have pain due to sharp teeth. These bad habits can be difficult to cure once established. Poor dental health can make a horse struggle to keep on condition and can affect performance. An adult horse should have its’ teeth checked at least once a year by a vet or qualified equine dentist. Growing young horses and old horses will need more regular inspections. Your vet or your local Equine Dental Technician can advise you.
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