Dental disease is one of the most widespread and underdiagnosed welfare problems in horses, causing chronic pain that affects feeding, behavior, and performance.
Dental disease causes chronic pain in horses that is frequently missed by owners and even veterinarians not specifically trained in equine dentistry. Sharp enamel points develop on the cheek teeth as horses eat and cause painful ulcerations on the tongue and cheek mucosa. Horses with dental pain eat more slowly, drop food (quidding), lose weight, and show behavioral changes. Ridden horses with dental pain may resist the bit, headshake, and show resistance behaviors attributed to training problems. Regular dental examination by a qualified equine dental veterinarian and floating under sedation when appropriate is recommended annually from 2 years of age. Treatment of dental disease significantly improves quality of life and often resolves performance issues diagnosed as behavioral.