Companion Animals

Dental Care for Senior Horses

Dental problems are particularly prevalent in older horses and require specialist management to maintain quality of life.

Key Facts

Horses over 20 years commonly experience missing teeth, sharp hooks, and wave mouth
Dental disease causes weight loss, quidding of food, and chronic pain in elderly horses
Horses have hypsodont teeth that continue to erupt until worn away in very old age
Senior horses may require soft or soaked feed if dental disease prevents normal chewing
Annual dental examinations are insufficient for elderly horses with significant dental disease

Welfare Considerations

Dental welfare in senior horses is critical for maintaining nutrition and quality of life. Progressive dental loss and abnormalities impair chewing efficiency, causing weight loss and pain that reduces quality of life. More frequent dental assessments, dietary modification to accommodate dental limitations, and appropriate pain management extend comfortable life for elderly horses.

What You Can Do

Schedule dental examinations at least twice yearly for horses over 20
Modify diet to softer feeds if dental disease limits chewing capacity
Monitor body condition score regularly as an indicator of dental welfare adequacy
Discuss pain management options with your vet for horses with significant dental disease
Be prepared to make quality of life decisions based on dental welfare when deterioration is severe