Regular dentistry is a key part of your horse’s healthcare. At Avonvale Equine Vet Practice, we provide a range of equine dental services, including routine and emergency equine dentistry. Our equine dental vets are supported by regular specialist training and modern equipment.
Horses can cope surprisingly well with dental issues, which may go unnoticed as a result. Therefore, it is advised that horses have regular dental checkups to pick up on any issues before they get out of hand.
We usually recommend that all horses and donkeys have a dental examination performed every 12 months unless they are under 5 years old or over 15 years old. In these cases, they should have a dental examination every 6 months. There are some circumstances where this interval may need to be reduced to 3 months. We provide a reminder service to aid you in keeping your horse’s dental care on track.
Routine dental work can be carried out at your yard in the calm environment of your horse’s own stable. Sedation and a padded headrest may be provided to ensure the safety and comfort of you and your horse and allow our vets to carry out the highest standard of examination and appropriate routine correction.
Horses with dental problems can show various symptoms. Bad breath, quidding (dropping partially-chewed food), reduced appetite, difficulty eating and weight loss can all be symptoms of dental problems in horses. Poor performance and behavioural problems (e.g. reluctance to pick up the contact) can also result from dental issues.
Occasionally we may uncover something that requires further investigation. These issues may include fractured or loose teeth, abscesses and tooth decay among other things. Our equine dental vets can carry out a range of investigative and diagnostic services, such as dental endoscopy and x-rays. We can often do this at your yard, but we also have a fully equipped equine vet clinic facility if needed for more complex cases.
In addition, we can offer advanced services such as tooth extractions, restorations and sinus surgery with our resident equine dental expert Laura Holmes and the support of our visiting equine dental specialist Neil Townsend, when required.
Avonvale Equine Vets offer routine and advanced equine dental services across Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and our wider coverage area. Our clients benefit from our dedicated, experienced equine dental vets, whether they require routine or emergency care or simply advice on how to manage their horse’s dental health. Register your horse with us today.
