Mystery mouth discomfort??

My 12yr old gelding has developed some sort of mouth discomfort over the past week. When he eats his grain he opens his mouth and moves his jaw around. He acts like he is moving his tongue around to get food that is stuck somewhere. He drops the first mouth full then after that he continues eating as he always has. I've noticed within the past two days he drools when he drops his first mouth full of food. He last had his teeth floated last winter. I've called our dentist and she says she really doesn't know what would be causing it but suggested using Bute in case it's his jaw that's inflammed. She isn't available to see him for a while and where we live we don't have an equine vet or another dentist. Of course he won't let me check things out myself in his mouth. I was hoping someone might have suggestions as to what this problem is. THANKS!!!

If I were you, I would call the dentist back again and cause a fuss about him/her not getting out there.

If you do not have an equine vet what do you use for a vet?

There is nothing wrong with a large animal vet.

I do not have much respect for a dentist who says give bute because I do not know.


Time to be a responsible owner and find someone to look to see what is going on in there. It sounds like there is some irritation that needs to be addressed.

I am without a doubt being a responsible owner. If I weren't I wouldn't even be concerned. The only vet we have available at all is a small animal vet that helps with equine in an emergency. Thankfully, we haven't ever needed him except for once with one other horse. We are a very small town in the middle of no where with absolutly no resources.

I don't know where you live, but assuming you are on the same seasonal schedule as the US, we are coming into winter again now, so that would be close to a year ago your horse was last floated. Teeth floating once a year is not strange, and is usually the recommended schedule. My coming 10 year old mare needs her teeth floated at LEAST yearly and probably closer to about ever 8 months. To me it sure sounds like a horse just in need of a float.

What state are you in? Near where?


Your horse not being able to eat comfortably would be to me important enough to find someone.

Where are all these places in the U.S. That don't have large animal vets within a 500 mile radius?

As much as I'd like to move out into the real wilderness, I understand that I have a responsibility to my animals to make sure medical attention is available when needed.

Sounds like your horse's teeth need to be floated again. He could have some mouth abscesses from hooks and points digging into the soft part of his cheeks.

I'd sure like to know, because on this forum there sure seems to be a lot of parts of the country that vets can't reach, but internet sure can!

I live pretty rural, and I still have probably at LEAST half a dozen vets I could call in an emergency within a 50 mile radius.

And to think, my street did not have anything available but dial up internet until very recently but I still have vets that were available.

To think I was asking for suggestions in help with my horse. Apparently you all cannot read "Please help keep the Horse Forum enjoyable"