Horse Dental Health Guide 2025 Update
Horse dental health is crucial to their overall well-being. Being free from dental disease ensures that your horse is able to get the correct nutrition and is free from any discomfort. It is important to remember that as prey animals, horses will often hide signs of pain, so some dental diseases can go unnoticed. Often, by the time they show signs of dental pain, they are in more advanced stages of disease.
Here are some key tips from the South Moor Equine Dental team for keeping your horse’s dental health in check!
1. Regular Check-Ups ensure maximum horse dental health
Given the above, it is no surprise that making sure your horse has regular dental exams
is critical.
12 months-5 years
A horse will not have all their adult teeth until the age of 5, and therefore, during this period, their teeth change and evolve very quickly as the adult teeth erupt and caps (baby teeth) are lost. Sometimes, these caps can be retained and get stuck, which can cause some discomfort. Due to this, it is often helpful to have a regular 6-12 monthly check-up in the early years to identify any problems quickly. This will also help get your young horse used to the dentist and dental gag with what should be a quick and pleasant experience.
6 years- 15 years
For horses aged 6-15 a 12 monthly check-up is usually recommended unless there is any specific disease that needs monitoring. During this checkup we will assess your horses teeth for any signs of decay, damage, gaps (Diastema), misalignments (Malocclusions) and will rasp down any sharp points.
15 years +
A horse has a limited amount of tooth material, which erupts throughout its life. As your horse gets older, there is less and less tooth remaining. This makes them much more prone to loose teeth, tooth loss, decay and uneven wear. We, therefore, recommend more frequent checkups (6-9 months) for older horses showing signs of any of these conditions.
Regular checkups ultimately mean dental disease can be identified and treated quickly, avoiding long-term problems and pain.
2. Keep an Eye on Eating Habits to judge horse dental health
Your horse’s eating behaviour can provide valuable clues about horse dental health. It is important to monitor how your horse chews, their appetite and their weight. Common signs that your horse may be experiencing dental problems include:
- Dropping food while chewing (also known as quidding)
- Slow or laboured chewing
- Tilting the head to one side while eating
- Loss of appetite or difficulty eating certain feeds e.g.hay
- Weight loss despite proper nutrition
- Packing food in their cheeks, often to one side
Mouth Sensitivity
Look out for reluctance during ridden work to take contact, sometimes worse on one rein or avoidance of the bridle. If you notice any of these signs, schedule a dental exam as soon as possible to identify and address the underlying issue.
3. Diet management
Horses evolved to graze on fibrous plant material, which naturally wears down their teeth. A diet that mimics this grazing behaviour can help maintain dental health. Here are some tips for feeding your horse:
- Ensure your horse has access to plenty of quality forage, such as hay or grass, which encourages chewing and helps wear down teeth.
- Avoid feeding too many processed feeds or grain, as these do not require as much chewing and can lead to uneven wear on the teeth.
- Avoid feeding a lot of molasses or molasses feeds
If your horse has dental issues speak to one of our vets to create a suitable diet plan, possibly incorporating softer feeds that are easier to chew.
4. Don’t Delay Treatment
If your horse does develop a dental issue, don’t wait. Common problems like sharp points or retained baby teeth can cause real discomfort if left untreated. A quick dental procedure, like rasping down sharp edges, can make a world of difference in your horse’s comfort and performance.
At South Moor Vets, we have a fully battery-operated equine dental endoscope(camera) for more advanced cases. This allows us to get close up images of your horse’s teeth to assess diseases such as cavities (Caries) and fractures and helps us plan the most suitable treatment.
5. Ask our expert Equine Dental Team if you have any concerns
If you have any concerns about your horse’s dental health or need any further advice, do not hesitate to contact our reception team today!