What are the clinical signs of dental pain?
Prompt examination will be required if any of the following signs of dental disease are seen:
- Difficulty chewing
- Drooling
- Quidding / dropping partly chewed food when eating
- Swelling of the face
- Firm bony bumps on lower jaw
- Smelly breath
- Discharge from the nose or face
- Long fibres found in droppings
Clinical signs or behaviours that may also be related to dental discomfort:
- Weight-loss
- Poor condition
- Lethargy
- Diarrhoea
- Colic
- Resisting a contact
- Heavy contact
- One-sided contact
- Resistant to bend
- Biting problems
- Bridle problems
- Head-shaking or tossing
- Tense
- Rearing
- Bucking
- Bolting
- Other performance related problems
- It is also very common not to see any symptoms at all!
Keeping your horse on a routine dental schedule and taking notice of abnormal behaviour or health changes can help prevent major dental problems.
Most insurance companies now pay out on claims for a dental related problem if your horse has been to a vet (MRCVS) or checked by a BAEDT registered Equine Dental Technician (EDT).