Equine Dentistry and Dental Welfare

Dental disease in horses causes significant pain that affects eating, behaviour, and performance, yet equine dental care remains inconsistent across different ownership contexts globally.

Key Facts

Horses develop sharp enamel points on their cheek teeth as they wear unevenly, causing tongue and cheek lacerations
Bit pain from dental discomfort is frequently misdiagnosed as behavioural problems or training resistance
Annual dental examinations by qualified equine dentists or vets are recommended but not universally practiced
Horses cannot vomit, so dental disease affecting chewing leads to choke and colic risk alongside pain
Working horses in developing countries rarely receive dental care despite dental disease being extremely common

Welfare Considerations

Equine dental welfare is an area where welfare harms are systematically misattributed. A horse that resists the bit, head-shakes, or shows apparent training problems is frequently labelled as difficult or badly trained when it is actually in dental pain. The same horse labelled as having an attitude problem may have sharp enamel points lacerating its cheeks with every movement of the bit. Regular dental examination and floating -- rasping sharp points -- provides immediate and significant welfare improvement. For working horses in developing countries without access to equine dental care, the chronic pain of untreated dental disease is a significant and unaddressed welfare burden.

What You Can Do

Schedule annual dental checks for all horses in your care
Report head-shaking, bit resistance, or quidding (dropping partly chewed food) to your vet
Support organisations providing equine dental care to working horses in developing countries
Advocate for equine dental care standards in competition and welfare regulations