What are signs that my horse’s teeth need to be floated?
Because a horse’s teeth continually grow, they are naturally worn down as the horse chews. The teeth sometimes develop very sharp edges that can cut the tongue or cheeks. Abnormal hooks or ramps may also form in the front or back of the mouth, both of which can cause a significant amount of pain as the horse chews. Signs that your horse’s teeth need to be examined include dropping feed, reluctance to eat, foul breath, or simply failure to gain or maintain weight. Sedating the horse for placement of a mouth speculum allows our doctor to thoroughly examine the mouth from front to back. Dental floatation (filing down sharp edges on the teeth) can then be performed, along with any extractions or other corrective procedures that are deemed necessary.
