If you’re lucky, your horse will make it to their twenties and beyond. Many horses experience dental issues while they’re young due to infection, trauma, congenital abnormalities, and uneven wear. By the time your horse is a senior, though, their teeth will stop growing, and they are almost certain to experience dental pain at some point. Learn about ten signs of dental issues in horses that often go unnoticed, and what your horse’s symptoms can tell you about how they might be feeling.
Signs of Dental Pain in Horses
1. Quidding
Quidding is when your horse drops quids — balls of half-chewed hay and saliva. This happens when dental issues make chewing painful, so the horse rolls the food around in their mouth but fails to finish chewing and swallowing. Quidding is seen in senior horses that struggle with chewing because their teeth have worn down, but it can also occur in younger horses with an infection or tooth fracture.
2. Excessive Drooling
Drooling excessively, especially with some bleeding, is a sign that there is pain or irritation occurring inside the mouth. Many issues can cause drooling, including misaligned teeth, oral ulcers caused by teeth with sharp or uneven points, or periodontal disease.
3. Facial Swelling
Facial swelling may indicate a dental abscess — a pocket of pus caused by a bacterial infection that can form around the root of an infected tooth. Sometimes, horses with dental issues may collect half-chewed food in their cheek, which can also cause a visible lump that may be mistaken for facial swelling.
4. Unchewed Food in Manure
Unchewed food in manure indicates that your horse is reluctant to chew their food thoroughly before swallowing. Inability to chew properly can also lead to gastric issues like colic, choke, and gut blockages.
5. Unexplained Weight Loss
Unexplained weight loss can happen when dental pain prevents your horse from eating enough. You might also notice signs of poor nutrition, such as a dull coat and slow hoof growth.
6. Tooth Sensitivity
Tooth sensitivity can manifest as a refusal to drink cold water.
7. Nasal Discharge
Nasal discharge can occur when a dental infection has spread to the sinuses.
8. Bad Breath
Bad breath can be due to tooth decay and gum disease. A healthy horse’s mouth may smell like grass or hay, but it should not be stinky, sickly-sweet, or rotten-smelling. Gastric issues and respiratory infections can also cause bad breath.
9. Changes in Mood or Behavior
Changes in mood or behavior, such as aggression, are often associated with pain, especially in horses that normally have an easy-going temperament.
10. Struggling with Riding
Struggling with riding can occur when it is painful for the horse to take the bit or accept their halter. During a ride, they may tilt or toss their head. Changes in head position often lead to an unusual gait or posture.
When to Call Your Veterinarian
While the signs above can indicate a dental issue, they may also be due to another problem, such as colic or laminitis. Any time something doesn’t seem right, stop riding and call your veterinarian.
If your horse allows it, you may examine their mouth for obvious dental issues, but many problems are only detectable after the horse has been sedated and possibly examined with dental X-rays. If your horse is not showing signs of dental issues, you should continue to have their teeth examined and floated once or twice yearly as recommended by your veterinarian. Browse horse health and wellness products at 1-800-PetMeds to help support your horse’s overall wellbeing between vet visits.
