05/20/2026
Equine Educational Opportunity: Dentistry ✨🦷✨
Key Take-Aways:
🧠 Have a knowledgeable and skilled equine dentist you work with regularly. There are different styles and methodologies: one of the best ways to find a good dentist is to ask your vet for their recommendation. Many vets float teeth, many also refer out.
6️⃣ have your horse’s teeth checked every 6 months: issues can pop up quick and lead to a host of issues including infection, weight loss, ulcers, choke, colic (especially impaction), being headshy, lameness that shows up as an abnormality in gait, TMJ and hyoid issues, and even aggression that is rooted in pain… among so many other things.
🦷 A horse’s teeth continue to erupt for their entire life! The term “long in the tooth” refers to an older horse whose incisors (front teeth) develop an elongated look as they age.
🥸 Older horses need dentals, too. Often more frequently as teeth naturally are lost in the aging process and cause uneven wear. The most frequently seen cause of a senior horse unable to maintain proper body condition or to gain weight is a dental issue!
🛶 A dental on a horse is called a “float”. The goal is to balance the mouth, file down sharp points, and create an appropriately smooth grinding surface. The term “Float”, believe it or not, came from the process of smoothing out concrete.
😃 be a great client by having a clean and safe area to work and your horse up and ready for your appointment. Ensure they are able to handle a needle poke for appropriate sedation that allows for a thorough and comprehensive float.
💵 Pay your bill promptly. Ideally before your dentist leaves the farm.
Do you have a question? Feel free to ask in the comments!
Shoutout 📣 to our amazing Equine Dentist, Jay Atwill!
