Equine dental disease causes chronic pain that significantly impairs welfare and performance, but routine dental care is not yet universal among horse owners.
Horses with dental disease eat, work, and behave while experiencing chronic oral pain - often without owners recognizing the connection. Weight loss, quidding (dropping food), head shaking, and resistance to the bit are all signs of dental pain that may be attributed to other causes. The stoicism of horses and their continued function despite pain means dental disease accumulates over years without treatment. Annual dental examination and treatment by a qualified professional is one of the most impactful welfare interventions available to horse owners.