Equine dental disease is one of the most underdiagnosed causes of chronic pain in horses — requiring specialized equipment and training to detect, yet causing significant suffering when untreated.
Horses with dental problems experience pain with every bite of food — yet stoic behavior means owners often attribute weight loss or reluctance to eating to management or age. Sharp enamel points can lacerate cheek tissue with every chewing motion, and periodontal disease causes chronic low-grade pain. The behavioral signs — head tilting, dropping food, preference for soft food, resistance to bitting — require informed interpretation to recognize as pain signals rather than behavioral problems.