Companion Animal Welfare

Horse Dental Care Welfare

Regular dental care is essential for horse welfare; untreated dental disease causes pain, poor body condition, and performance problems.

Key Facts

Horses develop sharp enamel points on cheek teeth that cause mouth pain and ulceration
Dental examination and floating should be performed by a vet or equine dental technician annually
Older horses develop more complex dental problems including wave mouth and lost teeth
Signs of dental pain include quidding (dropping feed), head tilting, and resistance to bit
Young horses require dental assessment for wolf tooth eruption, retained caps, and jaw development

Welfare Considerations

Dental pain is one of the most common but underdiagnosed causes of suffering in horses; annual dental examination is one of the most important preventative welfare provisions.

What You Can Do

Schedule an annual dental examination for every horse in your care
Watch for signs of dental pain including weight loss, quidding, and bitting problems
Use a qualified equine dental technician or veterinary surgeon for dental procedures