dr. trish pugh. dont look a gift horse in the mouth equine dental trivia…
TRANSCRIPT
What does this saying mean?
“Don’t Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth”
EQUINE DENTAL TRIVIA….
In popular culture…
The common folk saying "don't look a gift horse in the mouth" is taken from the era when gifting horses was common. The teeth of horses are a good indication of the age of the animal, and it was considered rude to inspect the teeth of a gifted animal as you would one that you were purchasing. The saying is used in reference to being an ungrateful gift receiver.
How many teeth do
adult horses have?
EQUINE DENTAL TRIVIA….
How many teeth do adult horses have?
36-44
The range in number is caused by the presence or absence of canines and wolf teeth.
What is Galvayne’s
Groove?
EQUINE DENTAL TRIVIA….
Galvayne’s Groove
EQUINE DENTAL TRIVIA….
• Galvayne's groove occurs on the upper corner incisor, producing a vertical line
• It is helpful in approximating the age of older horses
• It generally first appears at age 10, reaches half-way down the tooth by age 15, is completely down the tooth at age 20
• It then begins to disappear, usually half-way gone by age 25, and completely gone by age 30.
Sydney Galvayne was an Australian born Irishman from the mid 1800’s. He was a renowned student of the horse, and a horse trainer. When he came to England in 1884 he introduced a humane system of training unbroken or vicious horses using a method that utilized the horse’s strength against itself. He held over 300 classes in Great Britain teaching these methods and in 1887 appeared before Queen Victoria. Among his many feats as a horseman, Galvayne perfected a method of ageing horses by their teeth. He had great success in demonstrating this ability in his travels.
Like humans, horses have two sets of teeth in their lifetimes. Baby teeth are called deciduous teeth and are temporary. The first deciduous incisors may erupt before the foal is born. The last baby teeth come in when the horse is about six - eight months of age. These “baby” teeth will begin to be replaced by adult teeth around the age of 2 ½. Most of the adult permanent teeth will be in place by age 5.
Do horses have “baby teeth”?
YES
What are some signs my horse may show if he has dental problems?
Some horses show obvious signs while others may show no noticeable signs at all.
• Drop feed from mouth while eating, difficulty chewing, or excessive salivation
• Loss of body condition
• Undigested or large feed particles in manure
• Head tilting or tossing
What are some signs my horse may show if he has dental problems?
Some horses show obvious signs while others may show no noticeable signs at all.
• Bit chewing, tongue rolling, fighting the bit, or resisting the bit
• Poor performance
• Foul odor from mouth or nostrils
• Nasal discharge or swelling of the face, jaw, or mouth tissues
What are some of the common dental problems horses may suffer from?
• Sharp enamel points forming on cheek teeth, causing lacerations of
cheeks and the tongue
What are some of the common dental problems horses may suffer from?
• Retained caps (baby teeth that are not shed)
Extracted Retained Cap
What are some of the common dental problems horses may suffer from?
• Discomfort caused by bit contact with the wolf teeth
Retained Wolf Tooth
Blue arrow – 2nd premolarYellow arrow – 1st premolar aka…wolf tooth
What are some of the common dental problems horses may suffer from?
Hooks forming on the upper and lower
cheek teeth
Hooks
Long and/or sharp canine (bridle) teeth
interfering with the removal or insertion of
the bit
What are some of the common dental problems horses may suffer from?
Lost or broken teeth Abnormal or uneven bite planes
What are some of the common dental problems horses may suffer from?
Excessively worn teeth
Abnormally long teeth
What are some of the common dental problems horses may suffer from?
Infected teeth and/or gums
Periodontal (gum) disease
What are some of the common dental problems horses may suffer from?
“Parrot Mouth”“Overshot Jaw”
Brachygnathia is the abnormal shortness of the lower jaw.
Misalignment/poor apposition (can be due to congenital defects or injury)
“Moneky Mouth”“Undershot Jaw”
“Sow Mouth”
Prognathia is the abnormal shortness of the upper jaw.
•Dental Veterinary Care• A comprehensive physical
exam (including a dental exam) should be performed by a veterinarian on an annual basis.
• Sedatives and analgesics can help the horse relax and keep him comfortable during the dental examination and dental procedures. Such drugs should be administered only by a veterinarian.
Dental Instruments
Tricia M. Pugh, DVM
EQUINE VETERINARY DENTISTRY