Signs of dental problems Resistance and evasion to the bit or bridle. Changes in behaviour for example the horse becomes aggressive due to being in pain. Change in behaviour when ridden for example head tilting, head tossing, mouth open, irregular head carriage. How do you know if your horse needs Read more…
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of the horse resides just below and in front of the base of the horse’s ear on either side of the head. Where is the TMJ muscle located? TMJ disorders affect the temporomandibular joint, located on each side of your head in front of your ears. Read more…
Here’s what to look out for: Fussing with the bit or head tossing. Horses with dental problems will find holding onto the bit uncomfortable, so firstly check whether it’s just discomfort caused solely by the bit that’s the issue. Quidding. Weight loss. Slow eating. Spooking. Spilling food. Halitosis. Drooling. How Read more…
Salmonella can move between animals and humans. Thus, people can and do become infected with salmonella from horses. Ingesting contaminated feces causes salmonella in people. Can humans get Salmonella from animals? Salmonella infections are a zoonotic disease, meaning that the infection can spread between animals and people. Salmonella germs are Read more…
All horses are exposed to the five potentially fatal core diseases — West Nile virus, Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis, tetanus, and rabies. However, of these core diseases, rabies presents the most serious threat for horses because it’s 100% fatal. What animals are immune to rabies? Birds, snakes, and fish Read more…
TMJ issues – causes and effects Horses spend many hours a day grazing and chewing, and if there is a constant imbalance in the mouth, it will put undue stress on the TMJ. Issues such as a bit that doesn’t fit properly, incorrect balance in the feet, and poor saddle Read more…
The quivering lip is a sign that he’s comfortable and relaxed. It’s just the same as a human mouth falling open when they’re asleep. Why do horses flutter their lips? Some horses flap their lips loudly when they are nervous or anxious, or anticipating an undesirable event. Recognize that a Read more…
It consists of a group of cartilages that allow air to pass into the trachea and protect the airway during swallowing. RLN is caused by paralysis of one or both of these cartilages (called the arytenoid cartilage) due to lack of innervation causing atrophy (wastage) to the muscle that moves Read more…
Modern equine dentistry cannot be performed without adequate sedation, a full mouth speculum, a dental pick, a dental mirror, and a good light source to fully assess the mouth. Do horses have to be sedated to get their teeth floated? To do a good job, yes sedation is required. Anyone Read more…
It is unsightly, but may improve as the horse matures. Parrot mouth is caused when the upper and lower jaw do not grow at the same rate. It has been suggested that the most common reason is mating a mare and stallion that have jaws of markedly different shapes. What Read more…