Horses are pretty cool animals. One interesting fact about them is that a horse's teeth never stop growing! Like humans, they have baby teeth that are replaced as they grow, but unlike humans, the adult teeth that replace them grow a few millimeters every year for the rest of the horse's life. In the wild, horses eat course grass and the act of chewing the grasses grind the teeth down and keep them from forming waves and hooks. Domesticated horses that eat grain and pellets for their diet are more likely to have unbalanced mouths and rougher teeth.
Equine dental floating is the practice of carefully filing the edges, waves and hooks off of your horse's teeth to make it more comfortable and efficient for them to eat. Usually, your vet will sedate your horse, apply a speculum to hold the mouth open to allow your vet to fully assess the teeth and begin the floating process. Your vet will begin grinding down any rough spots either with a manual file or an electric one until the bite is smooth and balanced again. The sedation is short acting so after a brief walk around the yard, your horse will be able to be loaded up and head on home.
How do you know if your horse needs a float?
Sometimes you may notice your horse dropping feed from their mouth or losing weight, but most horses should get a float every year as a general rule. Fall is the perfect season to have a float done as it will make sure that they are able to eat properly throughout the harshness of winter. If you'd like to get your horse's teeth floated before winter begins, be sure to give us a call at 307-436-8313 and we'd love to get you on the schedule.
Regular upkeep on the maintenance of your horse's teeth will ensure that they are able to eat properly and be the healthiest they can be.
Until next time, Happy Chewing!
Milo
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