Equine Dentistry
Routine dental care is an essential part of all horses’ well-being and is primarily about preventative care. Equine dentistry also affects the horse’s performance. Horses are prey animals which means that they are hard wired to show minimal signs of dental problems in order to prevent being seen as an easy target for predators. Often, by the time horses show signs of significant dental issues such as difficulty eating, quidding, headshaking or a reluctance to accept the bit, the horse has been living with dental problems for a long time.
We recommend that your horse’s mouth and teeth are examined every 6-12 months depending on their age and dental history to ensure issues are picked up and treated quickly and efficiently. However, if you notice any signs of dental problems then we advise that you schedule a dental exam sooner.
Our veterinarian has completed the courses “Professional Equine Dentistry for The Practitioner” and “Advanced Equine Dentistry – Dental Extractions and management of periodontal disease” through the Equine Dental Clinic UK under the tutelage of the board certified dental specialists Dr Nicole du Toit and Dr Chris Pearce.
He also has mouth moulding and bit fitting experience with Bombers Bits, and bit fitter extraordinaire Sue Gilliatt.