Companion Animal Welfare

Horse Dental Disease and Welfare Management

Dental disease in horses causes significant pain and eating difficulty that is chronic and often undetected without routine assessment.

Key Facts

Sharp enamel points on molars cause cheek and tongue ulceration in horses
Periodontal disease and tooth fractures are common and painful dental conditions
Horses often continue eating despite significant dental pain, masking the condition
Six-monthly dental examination in young horses and annual in adults is recommended
Power floating reduces sharp points but can be over-applied causing additional harm

Welfare Considerations

Dental pain causes chronic suffering in many horses that appears only as subtle performance changes or slow eating. Regular veterinary dental assessment by qualified equine dental vets catches problems before they cause significant welfare harm.

What You Can Do

Schedule annual dental assessments for adult horses with a qualified equine dental vet
Monitor for subtle signs of dental discomfort including quidding, head shaking and slow eating
Ensure young horses receive regular dental checks as wolf teeth and other issues emerge