| So what does it mean to float a horse's teeth? I'm | | | | • Excessive bit chewing |
| sure you've heard this a time or two (if you haven't, | | | | • Resisting having the bridle put on |
| sooner or later you will from another horse owner or | | | | • Difficult handling while riding |
| from your vet), and if you're like me, you imagined | | | | • Mouth odor |
| for the longest time what this could possibly mean | | | | • Blood in the mouth |
| and wondered what it involved. | | | | • Face swelling |
| To float a horse's teeth certainly sounds funny, too. | | | | • Nasal discharge |
| Floating means to smooth or contour your horse's | | | | Because horses are adaptable creatures, even if they |
| teeth with a file (called a "float"). Unlike | | | | are having discomfort, some do not show any signs |
| your own teeth, your horse's teeth keep growing. At | | | | of dental problems. So don't assume that if there are |
| times, your horse's teeth may develop sharp edges, | | | | no symptoms, there are no problems. |
| making it difficult for her to chew food, hold a bit, or | | | | Sharp teeth edges can hurt the inside of your horse's |
| simply have pain and discomfort inside her mouth. | | | | mouth causing pain and creating sores on her tongue |
| An adult horse may have between 36-44 permanent | | | | or cheeks. Your horse may show resistance when |
| teeth. And just like humans, your horse gets two | | | | riding due to added pain from the bit pressing against |
| sets of teeth in her lifetime. Your horse starts out | | | | the sores. |
| with temporary baby teeth and by age five, will | | | | The vet or equine dentist will carefully file all your |
| most likely have her full set of permanent teeth. | | | | horse's teeth that need smoothing to achieve a flat |
| The horse's front teeth cut hay and grass, while the | | | | grinding surface between the upper and lower teeth. |
| top and bottom cheek teeth grind the forage | | | | Having your horse's teeth floated is well worth it so |
| between the flat surfaces in a sideways motion. This | | | | she digests her food better, is in better spirits, and |
| grinding action breaks down the food into a pulp | | | | makes riding more enjoyable for you both. |
| before swallowing which helps it to be digested | | | | How often floating is necessary varies quite a bit |
| better. If your horse is unable to grind down food all | | | | from one horse to another. Some horses seem to |
| the way due to uneven teeth surfaces, the | | | | have slower-growing teeth and may require floating |
| unchewed food will not be digested as well. | | | | only once every several years while others may |
| Most often, points develop on the upper cheek teeth | | | | require floating every few months. Even if your |
| toward the outside of the mouth next to your | | | | horse does not require her teeth to be floated often, |
| horse's cheek. And on the bottom cheek teeth | | | | it is still a good idea to have her teeth and gums |
| toward the inside of the mouth next to your horse's | | | | examined once a year. |
| tongue. These points can then cut into the cheek | | | | The procedure the vet typically uses to float your |
| and tongue making your horse uncomfortable. | | | | horse's teeth is to first sedate your horse to make |
| Though it may seem tedious and like a burden, you | | | | her relaxed. A special halter is put on with a rope |
| know having routine dentist check-ups contribute to | | | | thrown over a ceiling rafter or the equivalent in order |
| the overall good health of your own teeth. Well, your | | | | to hold your horse's head up. A mouth speculum is |
| horse is no different and deserves some of the | | | | used to keep your horse's mouth open. The vet will |
| same attention to her teeth as you give to yours. | | | | then either manually file your horse's teeth using a |
| Confined horses or those that do not have the ability | | | | rasp in a back and forth motion to flatten the high |
| to graze all day are more prone to teeth | | | | points, or may use a power tool. The whole |
| overgrowth, as they are not naturally grinding their | | | | procedure is quick and painless - taking about 15 to |
| teeth all day to keep them smooth. Also, just like | | | | 20 minutes to complete. |
| you, your horse can have other dental problems. A | | | | If you're like me, you cringe at the thought of |
| horse can have excessively worn teeth, loose or | | | | someone filing away on your teeth with a rasp. You |
| broken teeth, or infected gums. | | | | can imagine the shooting pain from the nerves in |
| One sign that your horse's teeth may need to be | | | | your teeth. Personally, the dentist can't give me |
| floated is if she is consistently dropping food from | | | | enough Novocain to make me feel comfortable |
| her mouth and you start seeing signs of weight loss. | | | | before poking around or drilling in my mouth. |
| Your horse may also exhibit behavior like | | | | Unlike us, a horse's nerves end close to the gumline, |
| head-tossing or opening her mouth frequently. | | | | so there is no nerve where the tooth is being |
| Possible horse dental problem indicators: | | | | worked on, and therefore does not feel any nerve |
| • Drops food from her mouth | | | | pain. We humans should be so lucky. |
| • Exhibits difficulty in chewing | | | | Did you find this article useful? For more useful tips |
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