ebarrelracing.com forum
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Pam Cantwell on January 07, 2005, 11:12:46 AM
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Boring maybe but much less controversial and soooooo needed on every horse! Maybe a young person or a beginner horse person will learn something from this thread.
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Haha...I like the last choice. Unfortunatly newbies don't always know this for a long time! I would like to have mine floated every 6 months but I do try to get it done before a year is up.
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Thanks! Ya'll have to vote to see the results!
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I have my horses teeth floated when they need it, usually between 6 mo. and 1 yr. Some hores are harder on their teeth than others, that why I try to keep a check.
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Maybe this will help someone too.........
Floating a horse's teeth should be a routine practice. Their teeth grow constantly throughout their life. Their teeth can grow into sharp "points" - so sharp that the horse can severely cut his tongue and inside of his cheeks in normal chewing as well as causing mouth ulcers. Floating is a process in which a large file (a float) is used to file down any sharp "points". How often this is necessary depends on the horse much the way one human's hair grows faster than another. Most common is between 6 months to a year.
Not only can this cause a horse to "act up" out of pain while riding but could also lead to colic or impaction from not being able to chew their food properly. It can also make a horse body sore from the tension and pain.
If you see grain falling from your horse's mouth, or he or she is acting different while riding or taking a bit, please have their teeth checked. Check with the previous owner and see if they ever had a "float" performed.
If your horse loses a tooth, the other remaining tooth below it may grow too long also. Bad, rotten teeth can be painful too and may need to be pulled.
Points on a horse's teeth are very painful! See an equine veterinarian or a very reputable and knowledgeable equine dentist!
P.S. If you ride a gelding, you might want to have him "beaned" at each float session...........Nuther subject! Someone else can have this one! LOL
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so are you suppose to get them done every 6 months i do mine every year because between school and workin part time at mcdonalds i dont always have the money do them every 6 months!
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You are fine! I'm so glad you have it done once a year! Some people don't do it all! Some horses teeth grow way faster than others so they need it more often. Your horse is very lucky to have you as an owner!!!
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I normally do mine when I have coggins done. which of course is every year. If the vet was to tell me i might need to do it more often then I would. (hi there)
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I normally do mine when I have coggins done. which of course is every year. If the vet was to tell me i might need to do it more often then I would. (hi there)
That's a good rule to follow. I never forget when my coggins are due, but never remember when they are due for floating, I may have to try that.
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I saw the dentist every 6 months for 1 1/2 years until he said they were all good to go for a year. They needed some work that he didn't want to do all at once so we had 6 month intervals. I had always had them checked every year but am really glad I found this equine dentist. My vet did a really good job but it was getting to much for him.
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You are fine! I'm so glad you have it done once a year! Some people don't do it all! Some horses teeth grow way faster than others so they need it more often. Your horse is very lucky to have you as an owner!!!
well thanks pam i love my horses and if they need it more often then i would do it more often its just hard to have the money when you are 17 going to school and trying to work a part time job! oh ya that reminds me does anyone know where i can go to apply for good scholarships! i wont to go to tarelton in stephenville to become a equine vet!
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I have a very good equine dentist. She said, young horses usually should be done every six months because their teeth will grow faster than the older horses. When I had Flash and Breaker done, Flash's teeth were really bad ( he is a 4 year old) and Breaker's teeth were not bad at all (he is 18). I check my horses with my hands. If they feel pointed to me, I get them done. Also, if they drop feed or have other problems or the vet says to have them checked, I do it.
Pam, it would not let me do the poll.
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I was told that you could throw a handful of whole corn into the feed daily and that would help with the sharp points.
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I've never heard of this but just to clarify something about corn: Uncleaned corn (like deer corn or duck corn) bought at feed stores can contain aphlatoxins (sp) and can be deadly to horses. The corn in horse feed has been cleaned and checked.
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I do mine to once a year with the coggins, but if I notice they are dropping food or weight I take them to have them checked. the vet told me when they get a little older you don't have to do it is often on some horses, but I still get them checked anyway.
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Mine gets it once a year unless they show signs of needing it sooner. Then to the dentist they go
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I learned (thanks to Sparkplug) that dropping feed is also a sign that they may be having trouble with the TMJ joint. I know the J in TMJ represents the word "joint" but it looked weird if I tried to say TM joint. Anyway, TMJ trouble in horses is similar to how it bothers people. I had his teeth floated and he continued to hold his head sideways and spill feed, had him checked and his teeth were fine. I even stuck my hand (and half my arm) to feel for myself. Thanks to chiro maintenance we're doing better.
As creatures of habit, we perpetuate (sp??) what we are taught/shown as children. I did not appreciate the importance of proper dental care in horses until a couple of years ago. Horses we had back then were ranch horses and the only time they saw a vet was once a year for coggins test. Cuts got cut-heal or bacon grease, swollen legs just meant they needed to be out in the pasture, and there wasn't an "attitude" that couldn't be fixed with a shorter tie-down or a heavier bit. So don't feel "dumb" if you've never had your horses teeth checked.....but do consider making them an appointment soon, they'll thank you for it <NOT WORTHY>
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I get my mares done at least 2x's a year, she has "soft" teeth, when she starts dropping feed, or shaking her head it's time to go.
I used to be like others just have them checked once a year when they got their coggins done,
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Yeah, I didn't know until this last summer that they needed to have their teeth floated every year, I always thought that it was when they started showing signs, like fighting the bit and becoming hard mouthed, not taking the bit and bridle, rearing, dropping feed from their mouth, losing weight, having tons of undigested and unchewed material in their manure, etc. I felt SO bad for my poor baby, because when she got them checked out she had wolf teeth that needed to be pulled, and these awfully painful looking and sharp caps that needed to come off her molars.... I'm not a harsh handed rider, but I still was so surprised that her mouth was so bad off because she's always taken nothing more than a light touch to communicate with her; she seemed to be putting on weight normally for her age; her manure looked normal as well; if food fell out of her mouth I couldn't tell because when she eats she keeps her nose down in the bucket.... I wish I had the money to get her teeth checked every 6 months now, but it's SO expensive! <$$$> I am thankful that there is a vet nearby that can do it though, not having it available is worse than spending the money every year!
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My old horse has to have his done at least twice a year. He has a whole tooth and part of another tooth missing so the opposing teeth grow and cause problems faster than on the "normal" horses. The others I just watch them closely, but they get them done at least once a year.
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I know when I drink a bunch of Dr.pepper when I'm videoing and can't go to the bathroom my back teeth start floating. Is that the same thing?
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Bob, you are about as funny as a rubber crutch.............. >CLOWN<
How come no one is voting?
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I can't find the vote option. It just shows the results and nowhere to click to vote.
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Sorry bout that! Don't know how it got locked..........See if it works now! :)/\\
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Pam, thats just that old age creeping up on you lol <HUGS>
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I think Pam maybe like me I aint old I'm still 39 several times over! on the floating teeth My old horse is a hard keeper and I make sure I check his teeth several times a year I just make sure the sharp points are taken off and I tried the whole corn and I still have to have his teeth floated more than the others. hes old and he shouldn't have to have his teeth floated that much.
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I get my horses teeth floated once a year. Or if they need it sooner. I do have to vent here though!! I have taken my horse to get his teeth floated by two different vets in the last two years. And about three months ago he started dropping weight and looking poor. My Uncle wanted to get his teeth floated by his guy that floats teeth (not a vet) and he pulled a wolf tooth and cut some awful points out of the back of his mouth. I don't understand why the vet board passed the law banning non-practicing vets from floating teeth. Every time I have had his teeth floated before by a vet they whin about having to float his teeth. They don't want to do it and then they do a poor job and my horses suffer.
I understand why they passed the law but I guess it just bothers me I wish they would do a better job!
Just as a side note I am friends with Dr. Dickenson and he does a wonderful job!!! I just live a little far from him!!
Alright I am done venting!! Vets are just my sore spot right now!!