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Teeth Floating.

4K views 15 replies 9 participants last post by  kitten_Val 
#1 ·
How often do you have your horse's teeth done. I had my mare's done in 2006 and so planned on having them done in spring of 2008 as well. How often is this necessary? Do horses vary in how often they might need it done?
 
#2 ·
I think it each horse may be diffrent, They say to do it every year, but you can rub you finger on there teeth in the back and if you feel rough they should be floated :shock: . my older horse will let me check, but becarefull it look me a while to feel in there without him wondering what in the heck i was doing :?
 
#3 ·
I do once a year in March usually (before starting riding again after the winter).
 
#7 ·
We have ours done once a year. An old cowboy/native american told me to feed them a handfull of whole corn every day and they wouldn't need it done so often. Don't know how true it is.
 
#8 ·
I am not trying to sound stupid (althought I might). Does anyone know is it safe to have a horse's teeth done the same day as vaccinations and coggins? I know they usually give my mare a pretty strong sedative for it so I don't know if they would have some sort of reaction if used the same day?
 
#9 ·
Thats something your vet would have to decide. We usually have him out to the farm for vaccinations and then we take the horses in to his office for the teeth floating. He does all my dogs at the same time (I have 6) so thats why we have him here for the vaccinations. I don't see anything wrong with having it all done on the same day. But again that would be up to your vet. I see your point about the sedative mixed with the vacc. could cause some sort of reaction.
 
#11 ·
Teeth should be checked at least once a year. Some horses can go longer in between floatings and some need them more often, just depending on the conformation of their jaws---just like people they can have teeth that don't meet up correctly and this can lead to more uneven wear. Just feeling with your finger won't tell you if you need your horse's teeth done. The teeth extend way back into the jaw and unless you can stick your hand back in there up to the middle of your forearm, you are going to be missing some of them when you try to check. You also get only a part of the picture by checking the outside edges of the teeth as hooks often form on the "inside" or "tongue side" of the teeth. This is why you should have your horse's teeth checked by a vet who uses a speculum which allows for a better look and feel of the premolars and molars.

It is fairly common practice to float teeth at the same time as doing vaccinations and drawing blood for testing.
 
#12 ·
I do some vaccinations (not all!), teeth and coggins in same time by my vet. In this case if he gives calming shot for teeth, and it also work good for example for intranasal rhino shot (which they don't like much and try to fight),
 
#13 ·
Woodland Jumper said:
I am not trying to sound stupid (althought I might). Does anyone know is it safe to have a horse's teeth done the same day as vaccinations and coggins? I know they usually give my mare a pretty strong sedative for it so I don't know if they would have some sort of reaction if used the same day?
There's no problems with doing both in the same day. Just make sure to be up front with your vet so that they know to take the coggins blood work before doing the float.

Might as well do a sheath cleaning that same day too! (For the boy horses, that is! :wink: )
 
#16 ·
Actually, it's a good question. My vet draw blood first, and then he gave cedative for teeth floating and rhino. A good vet should of known what (s)he is doing. :)
 
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