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Equine Dentistry

Straight from the Vet's Mouth...

Almost daily we hear people talk about how their horse is stiff and has a sore back, and the chiropractor helped for a while, but now the horse's problems are back. As we know, there are many reasons for stiffness and sore backs in performance horses. In order to give the chiropractor a chance to help your horse, try to eliminate some variables you might have control over before having your horse worked on.

So what are some of these variables that you might have control over? First, always look at your saddle fit. An ill-fitting saddle can keep a horse sore and stiff, and in need of constant chiropractic help. If you are not sure how to determine if a saddle fits your horse or not, just ask the help of a knowledgeable professional or a good saddle maker. Next, consider your horse's feet, as improperly balanced feet or other foot abnormalities can cause a sore back, as well as other lameness issues. It doesn't always have to be an obvious foot problem to cause major problems for a horse. Don't hesitate to get with your farrier and veterinarian to take some x-rays and evaluate the foot.

Sometimes small changes in shoeing or trimming can dramatically help a horse, so one needs to be open to maybe investigating a different approach to shoeing some horses. We have had some personal experiences where when the feet were shod a certain way, the horse's back cleared completely.

Another variable for causing sore backs that is often overlooked, but can be the main cause of soreness, is dentistry. Dental problems in horses can cause issues from the TMJ joint all through the horse's body, and can cause chiropractic issues to return very soon after adjustments. If we could see the teeth like we can see the horse's feet, we would all be doing more dental work on our horse! However, here is the thing about dentistry that needs to be understood...floating or knocking off sharp points is only part of the dental procedure. When I hear the statement "I had his teeth floated" I have to wonder if all the Yvariables inside the mouth were really addressed. Very often we see horses that have "had their teeth floated" but still have major dental issues that could easily cause stiffness and sore backs, and even some lameness issues. Remember that teeth are a big part of sore backs, and there is more to dentistry than knocking off sharp points.

There are many options for finding good dentists and good farriers. References and word of mouth are some ways to find someone with a good reputation, as well as listings in the professional organizations such as the Texas Veterinary Medical Associations or American Farrier's Association. These organizations will give you listings of qualified people in your area.

Ask about a person's training, credentials and continuing education, and expect them to show and explain problems to you, and discuss what needs to be done. Just remember that your horse's dentist and farrier can most definitely add to or take away from the benefits and results of chiropractic care. 

Call us at 903-885-6551 to discuss your horse's dental care!