Horse Dental Welfare and Routine Care

Equine dental problems are extremely common, cause significant pain affecting eating and performance, and require regular professional attention.

Key Facts

Horses have hypsodont teeth that erupt continuously throughout life to compensate for wear from grazing
Sharp enamel points develop on cheek teeth as horses chew in a lateral motion, causing cheek and tongue lacerations
Approximately 80% of horses have dental abnormalities significant enough to affect eating or behavior
Wave mouth, step mouth, hooks, and ramps are common malocclusions requiring floating (rasping) to correct
Diastema (gaps between cheek teeth) cause food packing and periodontal disease with significant chronic pain
Power floating under sedation by qualified equine dental practitioners has replaced hand rasping as the standard of care
Horses in discomfort from dental problems commonly show behavioral resistance under saddle, head tossing, and quidding

Welfare Considerations

Equine dental pain is pervasive, chronically undertreated in many horse populations, and frequently misinterpreted as behavioral problems requiring correction rather than medical treatment. The laceration of cheek and tongue tissue by sharp enamel points occurs continuously as horses chew, meaning horses with inadequate dental care experience ongoing mouth pain with every meal. Horses cannot cease eating so must continue injuring themselves repeatedly. Behavioral signs of dental discomfort including dropping feed (quidding), difficulty maintaining bit contact, head tossing, and resistance under saddle are often treated with equipment changes or training corrections that address the symptom while leaving the pain source unresolved. Annual dental examinations by qualified equine dental veterinarians with power floating under sedation prevents the accumulation of serious abnormalities and maintains eating comfort. Horse owners must recognize dental care as preventive welfare maintenance rather than optional management.

What You Can Do

Schedule annual dental examinations with a qualified equine dental veterinarian for all horses regardless of apparent symptoms
Report any changes in eating behavior, feed dropping, head tilting, or resistance under saddle to your vet for dental investigation
Ensure dental practitioners are properly qualified since equine dentistry requires specific training and licensing in most jurisdictions
Provide access to hay and forage that promotes natural lateral chewing action to maintain appropriate dental wear patterns