Wolf teeth usually erupt when a horse is between five and eighteen months of age. They are small teeth leftover from when the evolutionary ancestors of the modern horse browsed for food, thought to be used to snap twigs. Whilst wolf teeth don’t always cause problems for horses, they often need to be extracted. This blog article outlines what wolf teeth are and why they may need to be extracted.
Wolf teeth are the remnants of an extra set of molars, which the evolutionary ancestors of the modern horse used to browse for food. As the horse evolved towards a diet mostly made up of grass, it lost the need for that extra pair of molars. What we now refer to as wolf teeth are vestigial teeth – meaning they no longer have a use but continue to grow.
Wolf teeth are small teeth that sit in front of the first cheek tooth. Whilst they can be found in the upper and lower jaw, lower wolf teeth are rare. Sometimes, wolf teeth are “blind” meaning they do not fully erupt from the gum line.
Wolf teeth can often be confused with canines. Canines sit in front of the wolf teeth and tend to erupt when the horse is four or five years old. They are more common in stallions or geldings than mares and are much larger than wolf teeth.
Opinions differ on whether and when wolf teeth should be extracted. Wolf teeth tend to become problematic when the horse is bitted, as pressure from the bit if poorly fitted may be applied in the area where the wolf teeth are situated. This can lead to them fracturing and be very painful. Wolf teeth that are present but have not fully erupted can also cause pain as
the bit applies pressure to the area over the tooth.
Wolf teeth can also make it difficult to access and profile the cheek teeth.
The decision as to whether wolf teeth should be extracted should be made based on your horse’s individual requirements. Your vet will be able to advise you on whether your horse’s wolf teeth require extraction.
Factors that can affect whether wolf teeth should be removed include:
Whilst wolf tooth extraction tends to be relatively straightforward, it does carry risks. Extraction can be made more complicated if the tooth is broken or if the root fractures. There is also a risk of infection. However, these risks are outweighed by the benefits of extracting the wolf tooth in many cases. Your equine vet will be able to advise you on the best option for your horse.
Regular dental examinations are key to a horse’s overall health and wellbeing. Our equine vets carry out a range of equine dental services, including routine dentistry, investigative and diagnostic services and advanced surgery and extractions. Register your horse, pony, donkey or mule with us today.
