Keeping it AqueosClean withEquine Dentists

Preventative treatment is an important partof your equine care, and none more so than a visit from the dentist. Booking adental treatment should be as regular as your annual vaccinations, in order tokeep your horse’s mouth as healthy as the rest of his body. After all, yourhorse relies solely on his teeth for obtaining his food and nutrition, so it isimperative that they continue to operate as well as is possible.

Whyhave your horse’s teeth checked?

Your horse relies on his teeth to eat; hepulls the grass with his incisors and crushes it with his molars. If there areany barriers to this process, he won’t be able to obtain the right amount ofnutrition he requires. The end result will be a drop in general condition, aswell as a lack of energy.

Poor teeth can also lead to swellings, badbreath and resisting the bit. Your horse’s behavior may change radically, andthey may develop what we term ‘bad habits’ – in effect, these are the horse’sway of telling us that something is wrong. Dental problems can be extremelypainful, after all, and if left unchecked can affect other areas of the horse’sbody.

Howoften?

If your horse’s teeth are in good conditionthen once a year is adequate; however, if he has issues or is older, it isworth having them checked at least twice a year. More regular checks will allowyou to deal with any small issues before they become big problems.

What’sinvolved in a routine check?

A routine dental check can be carried outby either your vet or a specialist equine dentist, although if your horse needsany surgery or sedation this will need to be completed with the help of a vet.It’s a good idea to start these checks from a young age, to make sure the milkteeth are erupting correctly.

During the routine appointment the horse isfitted with a gag to allow the dentist to safely open the horse’s mouth. Theteeth and gums are examined by hand and visually. The dentist will then deal withany minor issues, such as sharp hooks. Some practitioners like to useelectronic equipment, whereas others prefer manual – neither method is superiorto the other, as it depends entirely on the dentist involved.

Hygiene

During the course of the appointment, it’sessential the dentist keep their tools scrupulously clean. By using a dentalinstrument cleaner and disinfectant, cross contamination is avoided. Adisinfectant such as Aqueos is not a sterilant but is more powerful thancommonly used disinfectants, as well as being kinder to both horse andinstruments.

Used in conjunction with Aqueos Dentalmouthwash, to flush and clean the horse’s mouth after treatment, ensures thehorse’s teeth are kept as clean and healthy as possible during the process. Asa bonus, the peppermint flavour freshens your horse’s breath, while helping tomake rinsing his mouth a more pleasant experience than otherwise.

So, when booking your vaccinations, bookyour equine dental visit as well – it really is a vital aspect of his care.Make it a habit – for your horse’s sake.