teeth floating and care

[blue80]

How often do you all get your horses teeth checked?

What mental checklist do you go through before going to the expense of getting the vet to check them out and/or get them floated?
It seems some horses need little or no work, and some need regular maintenance?

Do mules and horses have the same teeth maintenance characteristics?

Thanks,
Kevin

[Andy Carson]

I get teeth checked once a year. I have heard that very young horses or horses with dental problems need work more frequently, but I have no experience with that… I am also not sure if this applies to mules as well. I have only had a vet float teeth once. I would recommend having a good equine dentist (rather than a vet) float the teeth. In my experience, a good dentist is not only cheaper, but does a better job.

[mitchmaine]

i hate dentists. horse or people, its always some big deal. but a friend of mine said he had this guy float his (horses) teeth and he was really good. we hadn’t had it done in a spell cause i still hate it, but i thought i’d better get it over. so i called this guy and he comes over (two towns over) and pulls up in the yard. young fellow. we went into the barn and he goes to work. usually we have the hobbled, gagged and crosstied for the event. but this guy takes them out on the barn floor, with just a halter and starts grinding away. they start backin’ up and he backs them right in their own stalls till they’re sitting in their own bunks and away he goes talking a blue streak all the time and an hour and a few minutes later everyones done, including dick who needed an electric grinder on an erupted molar way back. he’d broke off a lower tooth. he doesn’t usually put up with much nonsense but he stood there while that guy really ground away on his mouth. i was totally amazed. either i’d hired all the worlds dubs first, or this man was a wizard, but either way it was a totally great experience. hes in new glouster, maine and i’ll forward his name to any that wants. some people out there just have a way with critters and its fun when you don’t expect it.

mitch

[Pammy]

I just bought a connemara pony and noticed he was drinking funny and he was so skinny although I put that down to their poor pasture so I decided to get a dentist out, he had a portable crush thing he put the pony in, he sedated him and hung his head up and opened his mouth up to show me what was going on, well his teeth were awful, so sharp, his gums were all bitten and sore looking, he spent 1 1/2 on him and a week later what a difference, I cant believe they were driving this poor thing in this state!

I say a yearly basis is good enough, it pays dividends in the long run, we all know what its like to have toothache!

[Anonymous]

I have mine checked once a year. We have a semi-retired vet who lives a ways away. There are a ton of horsey neighbors, so we set up a day for him to drive out and knock everyone out in one trip. He makes lots of money, we save lots of money, it’s a good deal. He neutered 2 cats and had to float my mare’s teeth. My bill was $70. 🙂 As a rule of thumb, I’ve always heard that you should have their teeth floated once every 2 years if they’re fully grown, and yearly from 1- 3 or 4 years of age. Now, myself- I have a 10 year old gelding who just had his first teeth floating last spring. I’ve had him since he was a yearling. He just never needed it- and the vet said he didn’t really need it then either, but since the vet was out already, why not?

[slanabhaileequine]

Yeah, Mitch, I like Steve too. I have followed the other Steve and he is good as well.

[blue80]

Had a couple belgian mules in to “tune up” Turns out they were chronic runaways. I asked the owner when they got delivered, how do they ground drive separately?
He responded, “uh, haven’t ground driven either of them as long as I’ve had them. Just hitch them to the wagon and go”
I thought, oh boy, here we go…..

Anyways, started with scratch from them and they seemed unable to respect the commands they were getting; he had been using a straight rebar leverage bit in the most severe setting. Harness them separately and give either a kiss, they would just spin and face you, showing the whites of their eyes. Same when I went to a simple snaffle.
So called the owner, got permision to get the teeth checked. They stood excellent without a twitch for a good floating, and they immediately turned from uncomfortable head tossing slobbering chewing mules to naughty mules with bad habits; something I can work with;)

[Author]

Posts