Equine Dentistry and Oral Welfare

Regular equine dental care is a foundational component of horse welfare that is frequently inadequate, with dental pain contributing significantly to ridden behaviour problems and nutritional deficiencies.

Key Facts

Horses have hypsodont (high-crowned) teeth that erupt continuously throughout life and wear unevenly, creating sharp points and hooks.
Dental pain is a common underlying cause of head shaking, bit resistance, quidding (dropping food), and loss of condition.
Annual dental examination and treatment by a qualified equine dental technician or veterinarian is the minimum recommended standard.
Older horses develop more complex dental problems including wave mouth, missing teeth, and periodontal disease.
Horses cannot chew effectively when in significant dental pain, leading to impaction colic, choke, and malnutrition.

Welfare Considerations

Dental pain in horses is chronically underdiagnosed because horses continue working and eating despite significant discomfort. The consequences of untreated dental disease extend from daily pain during eating and ridden work to serious secondary complications including colic and weight loss. Equine dental care should be treated as an essential welfare responsibility rather than an optional management luxury.

What You Can Do

Schedule an annual dental examination for every horse in your care, or more frequently for young and senior horses.
Learn the signs of dental pain in horses, including quidding, excessive salivation, and reluctance to take a contact.
Use only qualified equine dental technicians registered with professional bodies in your jurisdiction.
Ensure horses have access to forage that requires adequate chewing to maintain dental health naturally.