QUIDDING is a response to mouth pain in which the horse loses or spits balls of semi-chewed food stuffs out of their mouth.

Quidding is usually as a result of teeth that are uneven or have developed sharp points. The domestication of horses and change in diet over the years has made the need for regular dental treatment even more important. An equine dentist helps to maintain a healthy, comfortable and balanced mouth.

Equine Dentist, John Ellard explains that: “The horse masticates (chews) in a circular motion. It does this by the mandible (lower jaw) moving below the maxilla (upper jaw) and grinding the food. This causes the horse to develop sharp points on the outside of the upper teeth termed as the buccal edge and the inside of the lower teeth (the lingual edge).

“If the sharp edges are left untreated, they may cause soft tissue damage to the horse’s cheeks, damage to the horse’s tongue or ulceration which causes a lot of discomfort to the horse and will ultimately result in loss of condition and performance.

“Therefore it is important that your horse receives regular dental check-ups, at least every 12 months or as prescribed by your equine dental technician or veterinary surgeon.”

COMMON PROBLEMS

Some of the most common equine dental problems include:

  • Hooks/Ramps: If a tooth has no opposition it will not be wearing down as it should be, causing hooks or ramps to form. Ramps cause pinching of the soft tissue. Large hooks can cause extreme discomfort often leading to quidding, weight loss, choke and even colic.
  • Excessive Transverse Ridges (ETR): The horse is designed to have transverse ridges running across the surface of the teeth. These are very important for the horse to chew and break down forage into a digestable size. Excessive transverse ridges are much more pronounced, restricting the movement of the horse’s jaw.
  • Uneven/Incorrect Incisor Angle: Can lead to uneven wear of the molars.
  • Diastemas: Space that occurs between two adjoining teeth.
  • Periodontal (gum) disease.
  • Uneven Table Angles: uneven wear of teeth.
  • Retained Caps (baby teeth): Where a baby tooth gets ‘stuck’ between the teeth on either side of it and will not fall out. This is what is called a retained cap. This may lead to your horse developing eruption bumps.
  • Wolf Teeth Discomfort: Wolf teeth are small and most commonly found in the upper jaw. The bit may come into contact with the tooth causing severe pain and discomfort.
  • Hyper Eruption of opposing missing teeth.

    • SYMPTOMS

    How do you know if your horse is suffering from any of the above? Here are some symptoms to keep an eye out for:

  • Does your horse quid his food? This is where a horse chews and spits out its food/hay/haylage.
  • Does your horse shake his head?
  • Is it hard to place the bit in your horse’s mouth?
  • Have you noticed any abnormal discharge from your horse’s nasal passage?
  • Has your horse developed any behavioural problems when being ridden?
  • Have you noticed a terrible smell coming from your horse’s mouth/teeth?

    • If the answer to any of the above is yes, then the likelihood is that your horse is due a visit from the dentist. The symptoms listed would be seen on a daily basis by an equine dentist or a vet and the treatment would range from basic refloating (removal of sharp edges that develop on the molar as a result of the honing action of chewing) and rebalance work to advanced cases, where referral to a veterinary professional may be necessary in order to achieve the best possible outcome for the horse.

    AGE RELATED PROBLEMS

    Age-related equine dental problems such as periodontal disease, loose teeth and fractured teeth are not uncommon - equine dental practitioners expect to see age-related problems when the horse reaches 17 to 18 years of age. The type and severity of age-related dental problems are often determined by the type of dental care the horse has had during its lifetime. If problems have been dealt with all along the way, the senior horse might face only a gradual wearing out of the tooth.

    The horse’s teeth erupt into the mouth throughout the horse’s life and the chewing surfaces are gradually worn down through the grinding of food. At maturity, the tooth is four inches or more in length. The four inches of tooth present at maturity should service the horse’s chewing needs for at least 20 to 25 years.

    Because they are not replenished in total length, the time comes when only stubs remain, and the older horse might have difficulty masticating his food. If the teeth have been compromised due to untreated malocclusions (imperfect positioning of the teeth) and other problems, it leaves the older horse susceptible to periodontal disease and problems that can hasten the demise of good dental health.

    Periodontal disease can be successfully treated with focused cleaning and local use of special antibiotics and protective materials. Many other tooth problems in the older horse also can be solved with ongoing dental care.

    CARING FOR THE OLDER HORSE

  • Appropriate rugging in winter is essential to help maintain warmth and condition.
  • Offering water warmed to four degrees Celsius is advisable. Cold water can be painful to diseased gums and old teeth.
  • Regular deworming and faecal egg counts are important.
  • A balanced and nutritious diet. Most good feed companies have feeds designed especially for older horses.
  • An annual health check by your vet is highly recommended.