Equine Dental Care FAQ

Your horse's teeth are under a great deal of pressure from how they graze and will benefit from regular dentistry. Backstretch Veterinary, Inc can provide knowledgeable horse dental care services and welcomes those in the Groveland, MA, area to stop in for a visit. 

Equine Dental Care

What Necessitates a Horse Vet Visit? 

Since horses have been domesticated, their dental wear patterns are different from how they would be if living in the wild. Domestic horses will typically go longer periods without eating and don't graze nearly as often. The placement of hay stacks in piles will cause a horse to take food into its mouth differently than if gnawing on grass. 

These irregular angles change the shape of molars over time, creating waves and hooks in the teeth. This will then make wearing a bit uncomfortable and will also cause sores to appear inside the cheek of the animal and that won't be resolved without seeking help from a veterinarian. 

What are Common Equine Dental Issues?

 Horses routinely have difficulty with their incisors and with their wolf teeth. Their deciduous teeth may be retained, and the soft tissues of the tongue and their cheek may develop ulcers due to sharpened teeth. They may also deal with a misaligned jaw. The root cause of many equine dental issues are missing teeth and overgrowth. Our practitioner will determine if they have cheek teeth that are missing or if there is damage, such as fractures or loose teeth. Your horse will also be assessed for gum disease.

What are the Signs Your Horse Needs Dental Care?

Your horse will often have halitosis due to bacterial infection. They may also display quidding, a term that means they are leaving partially chewed bits of food on the floor. They may also be eating more slowly, and because of the increased difficulty with extracting nutrition, it may cause them to lose weight. Seek out the best horse vets near me to treat these issues. 

You may also notice that your horse is having trouble digesting. Inform Our veterinarian in Groveland when you observe this in their droppings. A “veterinarian near me” needs to know if your horse is presenting an unsteady head carriage while riding and if your horse has nasal discharge.

 Schedule an Appointment with Our Veterinarian in Groveland, MA

Backstretch Veterinary, Inc welcomes you to rely on us for all your horse dental care needs. Call us today at (978) 891-5780 for more information or to schedule an appointment. 

Office Hours

Monday

7:00 am - 1:00 pm

Tuesday

7:00 am - 1:00 pm

Wednesday

7:00 am - 1:00 pm

Thursday

7:00 am - 1:00 pm

Friday

7:00 am - 1:00 pm

Saturday

Closed

Sunday

Closed

Monday
7:00 am - 1:00 pm
Tuesday
7:00 am - 1:00 pm
Wednesday
7:00 am - 1:00 pm
Thursday
7:00 am - 1:00 pm
Friday
7:00 am - 1:00 pm
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed

Contact Us

We look forward to hearing from you