Pieter Mienie Equine Dentist

31/01/2023

https://www.facebook.com/100063505753309/posts/644114564382063/?mibextid=Nif5oz

26/01/2022

This is a nice example of a tooth fracture nice and clean

07/09/2021

Interesting

“Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth”

We’ve all heard I️t, but what does I️t mean? I️t was considered rude to check the mouth of a horse because I️t was the modern day equivalent of checking the price tag on a present. A horse’s mouth and teeth can tell you a lot about their age, habits, overall health, and therefore their value.

Age: by checking the length and shape of the teeth, the Galvayne’s groove, and the occlusal surface of the incisors, a trained eye can provide you with an accurate estimate of the horse’s age

Health: like all other mucus membranes, your horse’s gums should be pink. Pale or white gums can signify anemia, shock, or internal bleeding. Bright red gums can indicate endotoxemia, yellow is linked to liver issues, and blue can indicate lack of oxygen in the blood or lung issues. Gums that are generally pink but have a dark red line at the incisor teeth gum line can be a sign of toxemia, dehydration, circulatory abnormalities, or gingivitis. Chinese medicine correlates purple gums to pain. (Disclaimer: this is veterinarian territory, but I️t always helps to know what to look for)

Bad habits: Severely chipped or worn upper incisors indicate that the horse is likely a cribber or chewer. Cribbers may wear their teeth down enough to cause overbites or underbites, and may cause irreversible damage to barns and fences. I️t can also affect the horse’s neck muscles, TMJ, and is believed to make them more prone to colic.

Always look your horse in the mouth! Better yet, have a trained equine dental professional assist you, gift horse or not. Cribbers and horse’s young and old will all benefit from proper dental care and oral exams.