Age Grouping
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Possible Dental
Problems
In This Age Group
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Temperment/Behavioral
Qualities
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Weanlings &
Yearlings
Checking
newborns and
6 months
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Congenital or developmental problems undiagnosed &
uncorrected at this age, can result in permanent dental
conformation faults (under bite or over bite), especially in
miniature horses.
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Young
Performance
Horses
18-52 months
Oral exam
twice a year
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Loose caps, embedded cap slivers, sharp points, wolf teeth.
Asymetrical shedding of baby teeth can cause irregular wear
patterns. Addressing hooks on front and back molars at
this age is critical for the proper development and
alignment of the jaw.
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Painful mouth. Head tossing, mouthing
the bit, fussiness, turning and backing problems. Hooks and
other malocclusions make movement of the jaw, rounding,
balancing difficult and can contribute to head, neck and
body stiffness.
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Adult
Performance
Horses
4 to 10 years
Annual exams
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Problems with molar contact and
incisor
length worsen. Canines are very sharp.
Points, hooks, ramps, transverse ridges all seen
in this age group. Periodontal disease, loosening of teeth,
fractured teeth due to uneven occlusal pressure.
Infundibular decay.
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Head fussiness, touchy about being
bridled/unbridled.
May have problems turning, stopping from cheek/bit
contact with painful points. Transverse ridges, hooks,
lessen ability for jaw to slide, causing stiffness
through
jaw, neck and back. Dropping weight, lethargy from pain,
drooling.
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Mature Horse
(10 to 18 years)
Annual exams
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Abnormalities of wear can create
significant
problems. Those include: points, hooks,
ramps, transverse ridges, separation and
impaction. Periodontal disease, loosening of teeth,
fractured teeth due to uneven occlusal pressure.
Infundibular decay.
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Fussiness, anxiety if points hurt;
possibly losing weight,
quidding (balls of feed that pack in mouth), drooling,
dribbling grain. Painful dental problems can cause
stiffness in the jaw and neck and related stiffness through
the poll, neck and back, contributing to lameness and
performance problems. Dropping weight, lethargy from pain,
drooling.
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Geriatric
Horse
18 years, older
Annual? exams
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Usually some form of dental
disease.
Older teeth tend to shift
Wave mouths, ramps, hooks, smooth mouths. Periodontal
disease, loosening of teeth, fractured teeth due to uneven
occlusal pressure. Infundibular decay.
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Similar performance problems as with
previous age group. Loss of weight, unthrifty
Dribbling grain, larger pieces of feed in manure. Dropping
weight, lethargy from pain, drooling. Loosening or lost
teeth, overly long teeth.
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