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Teeth ...

3K views 15 replies 14 participants last post by  happygoose123 
#1 ·
how often do you REALLY get your horses teeth done?

Around here it is quite expensive to have the vet out, sedation and floating their teeth ... let me know- i have friends who haven't done it in years and their horses look healthy and aren't loosing weight so i wanted to know what you guys think.

Thanks!
 
#2 ·
I havn't had my horses teeth checked in awhile, *hits self* but I usually have the vet check them whenever the horses get their shots, or if one of them gets hurt, etc.

I think the only time horses lose wieght from not have their teeth floated is caused by their mouths being sore, so they can't eat.. right? lol

Edit - I also heard that sometimes getting an actual equine dentist can be cheaper. (I think that sounds so funny)
 
#3 ·
I may be way off on this but I think it depends on the horses diet. If the horse is getting "hard" food I think it helps keep the teeth ground down. I give mine 2 handfuls of corn every day just for their teeth.
We have the vet check them every year and so far we have had them done every year. Last year the vet said they really didn't need it but they were already at his office so they got a touch up anyway.
 
#4 ·
Actually *hard foods* such as grains and corn are usually the culprit of uneven wear that ends up requiring floating. Wild horses eat grass and other forage don't need floats to survive for years.

My haflinger who is now 8 has never needed a float in his life - but all he gets is hay. My paint who I give grain to in order to help maintain his weight needs a float atleast yearly.

Now all of my horses do get checked whenever my vet comes out - which is at least yearly for their spring vaccines & coggins.
 
#5 ·
Most horses need their teeth floated every 12-24 months, but they should be checked by your vet at least once a year. Senior horses often need teeth work every 6 months, so it's good to stay up on check-ups if your horse is getting up there in years.

It all depends on genetics of the horse and what the horse eats. If a horse eats rough pasture and stemmy/rough hay, then their teeth will naturally grind down better than horses fed leafy/soft hay and high grain diets.
 
#6 ·
We get our horses teeth done annually. Its really not good to go long periods of time without getting it done because you never really know whats going on that your horse isnt 'telling you'. It may be expensive but its one of those things that comes with the horse.
 
#8 ·
Thanks everyone- i know what is the recommended check up period but i wanted to see what everyone really does ... i have a 5 yr old and a 3rd old ... next time the vet is out ill have him look- thanks!
 
#9 ·
Checked every spring and every fall by the vet. Done if they say they need it.

No - it's not hard feeds. Correct eating position (grazing) can help. But horses teeth grow their entire life. As they get older, they need to be checked more frequently. They can lose a tooth and the opposite tooth will continue to grow creating the possibilty of locking up the jaw.
 
#11 ·
Grazing is what helps keep the teeth in order for sure. I have them checked annually if / when the vet is out anyway, but have only have them done on one of my horses (once) in the last 4 years. The problem with teeth is not so much the teeth themselves, but the soft tissue that hooks can irritate and thus cause pain. Of course, infected teeth, loose teeth, milk teeth that don't pop... are all special situations.
 
#12 ·
Must be an old cowboy tale about the corn. A young cowboy (farrier) told me his grandad always fed a handful of corn to keep the teeth down :?
Mine of course get 24-7 hay or pasture grass depending on the season.
 
#13 ·
I must be a bad horse mom. I don't have them floated unless they are dropping lots of food, losing weight, or showing signs of discomfort. My 2 that are really old, I have them checked every couple of years. None of my others have ever had it done and show no signs of needing it. We never see the vet unless something is wrong. Give all our own shots and most injury treatments at home. All of ours still even have their wolf teeth and none of them show pain or have any vices with the bit.
 
#15 ·
Toootally depends on the specifics horses genetics, age and feed. Horses in the wild die when they have bed teeth (natural selection) but ours are likely to never NEED their teeth done if they constantly graze on thick-leafed grass. Obviously older horses need them checked more too. My two boys are 10 and they've only ever had their teeth done a couple of times and the vet said they have an excellent mouth. I like checking because they could get alcurs and stuff and us horse owners like keeping them as comfortable, healthy and happy as possible but to get the vet out for a float cost $300.
 
#16 ·
$300!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!! it cost $10 to get our horses teeth filed!!! although our farrier does it and he doesnt use seditation. just sticks a metal coil thing in their mouth to keep it open then files away! I heard that you should get it done every three years!? but yea it would depend on the horse. im same as you smrobs, we only have the vet out if we have to, we give all our injections at home and treat what ever we can our selves. and i only get teeth done if they are showing signs that they need it (eg. dropping lots of food, loosing weight...etc)
 
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