This is Macaronie and he needs his teeth taken care of. We noticed he wasn't eating as he should and was dropping a few pounds so we call the Vet out and she checks his teeth.
An adult horse may have between 36-44 permanent teeth. And just like humans, your horse gets two sets of teeth in her lifetime. Your horse starts out with temporary baby teeth and by age five, will most likely have her full set of permanent teeth.
The horse's front teeth cut hay and grass, while the top and bottom cheek teeth grind the forage between the flat surfaces in a sideways motion. This grinding action breaks down the food into a pulp before swallowing which helps it to be digested better. If your horse is unable to grind down food all the way due to uneven teeth surfaces, the unchewed food will not be digested as well.
Most often, points develop on the upper cheek teeth toward the outside of the mouth next to your horse's cheek. And on the bottom cheek teeth toward the inside of the mouth next to your horse's tongue. These points can then cut into the cheek and tongue making your horse uncomfortable
Hooking up his headgear. This is Dr. Dana---she is GREAT.
Back in the day to float a horses teeth one would grab the tongue and pull it out of the mouth, take a rasp and start filing. This is a more humane way.
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21 comments:
I can see someone else looking on really concentrated. I also notice that you have a lady vet. Over here, most women vets are too lazy to go out to farms and stay in cities tending to poodles. Actually, even men are getting too lazy these days and I've heard that it's getting more and more difficult for some rural communities to actually find vets. Very cool and informative reportage and I hope that Macaronie is now feeling much, much better.
Some things in life I'd never get to see. Thanks for the 'essay'.
I like the idea of my teeth that keep growing, but I am not sure I would have the stomach to 'float' them with a file...
What a good horse. And what an informative post. Thank you. I hope she's feeling much better and back on her feed again.
That was really interesting. Did she say "Open and say 'Nay""?
Thank GOD we care more about animals now to find better & less stressful ways of helping them! =)
I have just been reading a book about the life of country vets, and they were called on to float teeth....nice to see pictures to go along with it.
What a great horse is Macaronie! I'm amazed that she would stand still for all this nonsense inside her mouth! Perhaps it feels good. Or, she's so rigged up she has no option.
I didn't know all that about horse's teeth. I've met lots of horse's asses in my time so know something about them! :-)
Our daughter has talked about getting a horse. But I don't think she has a clue as to what's involved!
Nice you've got a good vet!
Hey, at first I thought you somehow got a picture of me at the orthodontist's office, but realized Macaronie's hair is a little redder than mine. :)
Okay, when the baby teeth fall out do the colts look like little six year old kids without their front teeth?
Learned something new here... floating horses' teeth.
Never knew that about a horse's teeth . . .the process looks pretty ferocious, but must not hurt? I'm glad my dentist doesn't aim such a big drill at me. :)
It is amazing to me how calm Macaronie is during this procedure! You can tell he really trusts the vet.
Nice work to have made this horse more comfortable!
My sis-in-law's horse Regent (being trained in dressage) just got his teeth done for the very same reason - oh yeah and dewormed too LOL.
Great to see the photos MB!
It's hard not to be cynical. The moron who bought the governor's office in Florida (cost him $70 mil) is a criminal who ought to be in jail - headed up the largest Medicare fraud in history...but he copped a plea, got $300 million and left the company.
But...he's now our gov. One of his new plans (other than to take away all medical clinics for the elderly and poor) is to require all public employees and welfare recipients to take drug tests. Guess which company will give the tests? You're right: Solantic. His company. Well, now it's run by his wife!
Cynicism, I think, is too polite a response!
I've heard of floating your boat, but... this is new for me. Macaroni is incredibly patient with this operation. Certainly looks calmer than most patients at the dentist's office. Very interesting.
Amazing! I have never seen this before.
Definitely educational, MB! And that's definitely a different kind of bit in Macaronie's mouth. Ah ... the indignities of rural life!
Hey Marybeth, learned something new today! No foolin'. Thanks for turning me on to your blog! Love it. Rebecca
Wow! That is some kind of doing. Great information, MB and terrific pictures, too. I hope Macaronie got a treat afterwards. :)
Oh oh! I have a dentist appointment this week. I hope my dentist has never seen this before. :))
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