Anyone know an Equine Dentist - Scotland

Nic2u2

Nic2u2

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Dunfermline, Fife
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HI

I have had some advice given to me to put my horse down owing to her age and the state of her teeth.

She was a given to me and I do not know her full history but she has had a chequred past thats for sure. However for the past ten years I have battled with her teeth and now on the advice of a vet (who I have used for the first time since moving to Dunfermline) I am being told its the end of the road for her but she is eating (although does quid with her haylage), she is bright as a button and I just cannot believe we are at the end of the road!

I have been given advice to go to an equine dentist instead of using the vet in question. David Brown was the name I have been given... can anyone give any recommendations or know of David Brown?

I'm desperate here, I LOVE my mare to death and I will do anything for her... I need to make the right choice here and I know one wrong move could be the end of the road. Please, anyone with genuine, sound advice is much appreciated!
 
I am another who votes.for David Brown but he is very hard to get hold of as he is in popular demand. I can also highky recommend Jenny Croft who is a vet with Loch Leven Equine Practice. She has done all of the racehorses for the last 2 years, does a good, thorough job and will give you her honest opinion.
 
I use Mark Twigg, he's done my ponies and all the horses at my yard for 3 or 4 years now. He's very quiet with the horses even with my Shetland who hates all vets/dentists and goes vertical. Good luck with your mare :)
 
Another vote for david brown, he's been out to one of mine in the past and I have no complaints. He's on facebook of you need his contact details.
 
Might see if I can get in touch with Mark Twigg....

Uh this is so hard, everyone just wants to know they are doing the right thing. Wish I had someone I knew and trusted and wasn't having to make this decision now at this stage...
 
Can I suggest you get in some generic grass nuts.. they are great for horses are dentally challenged ... you get them from any old farm feed shop as they're often used for sheep. Soaked they go in to a green mush so no need to chew to get the best of them. They're usually made from spring grass so very nutritious and have plenty of protein so great for the older horses.
 
Oh, just thought, along with grass nuts as has just been suggested, you could try alphabeet, It soaks to mush and has no added rubbish.

With anything like this you'll find some folk will have one person they use and another they say to stay well clear of. Hope you find someone soon.
 
Yeah i've noticed that and its making my head explode!!

I am so nervous about making the wrong decision! I do know however that David Brown was trained at the Bush by Professor Dixon who has been highly recommended! However as you've said I then have people saying "Oh god no"....
 
Alongside the suggestions about dentists a couple of people have mentioned feeding options...

One option that has been suggested to me in this area is slober mask... can anyone else recommend this and tell me if it is any good?
 
Have also pm'd you. In the meantime Allen & Page's fast fibre is an excellent hay/haylage replacer.

As a general warning to everyone - be REALLY careful when selecting your dentist that they are fully qualified. Lots aren't and seem to imply that they are. It's also a good idea to use someone who keeps records (pref in the form of dental charts that you get given a copy of each visit). As if you ever have to claim on your insurance for dental work (my horse was taken to the Bush to have two fractured teeth treated earlier this year), the insurance company will only pay out if your regular dentist is qualified and records are available. I was very lucky. Some dental work has to be carried out under general anaesthetic, which would have been very, very expensive.

Prof Paddy Dixon at the Bush also reiterated the importance of using a qualified dentist. He was very impressed with the work that had already been done in my horse's mouth (fractures occurred due to age/wear and tear) and the fact that accurate records were available. So with that in mind, I can thoroughly recommend James Spy, who I think is based in th West, but travels to clients all over the country.
 
Nic2u2 said:
Alongside the suggestions about dentists a couple of people have mentioned feeding options...

One option that has been suggested to me in this area is slober mask... can anyone else recommend this and tell me if it is any good?
Click to expand...

Erm, absolutely no idea what that is?? Not anything I've come across before anyway! Sloppy feeds will help though, especially forage based ones, no chewing required just sooking :)

Re your dentist, I find it's best just to book one if recommended by a few, then close your ears after that! If you listen to all they yays and naes you'd never get one booked! Provost vets have also done mine and I had no complaints with them either, not sure if they cover as far as dumfermline though, they are ladybank based.

There is one I would say a big fat barge pole no to, I'll pm you that name.
 
Sarahann1 - thank you for the DM and the heads up, fortunately that is not a name I have come across or was considering.

I mis spelt the name of the feed its called slober mash not mask! lol I have heard a lot of people talking about this and saying great things about it I'm just not sure if its a base feed or complete feed. Its also a specialist feed (I think from the states) and I'm really not sure where I can get a supplier of this feed.

Uh my head is spinning with it all right now! I'm away to pour myself a large glass of wine and after (hopefully) a good night sleep I can make the right decision!

Perhaps a hamster would have been the easier option when choosing a pet!!!!! I'm of course joking, I wouldn't change her for the world!
 
It's always difficult when horses reach an elderly age & you are forced to make decisions. Vets are highly trained & I am sure your vets recommendations are warranted.

You've got to consider if the horse could be treated by an equine dentist without the need for sedation? Otherwise your vet will still be needed even if you do go with a dentist. That could be awkward trying to explain why you didn't use the vet in the first place.

I find vets have everything they need to treat your horse if possible, but at the same time have the knowledge & ability to offer euthanasia & prevent animals from further suffering.

I do not know what issues your horse has but they must be pretty severe for euthanasia to be given as an option.

Good luck. I'm sure you'll work out what is best for your horse.
 
thers a supplier of slobber mash and all the havens horse feeds at rowallan ec, called the feed store. if you need the numbwr for them let me know :-)
 
I have now found and managed to get an appointment with Alex Moulder?

Apparently he is very well thought of and does Ellen Whitaker's horses....

He's in Scotland just now..... any thoughts on him?
 
Nic2u2 said:
I have now found and managed to get an appointment with Alex Moulder?

Apparently he is very well thought of and does Ellen Whitaker's horses....

He's in Scotland just now..... any thoughts on him?
Click to expand...

Not heard of him - he doesn't appear on either the BAEDT or WWAED website so probably not qualified to carry out category 2 procedures in UK. As a safeguard I would check out qualifications and insurance - he may be very good but it doesn't hurt to check.

You may already know but if not this link explains different procedures and who can legally carry them out:

http://www.baedt.com/legislation_5355.html
 
Eventing Mum, very well said. Using someone not qualified is asking for trouble. Loch Leven Cet Practice are very good and definitely cover the Dunfermline area.
 
i have a 3 yr old who was major problems with her mouth due to her teeth all changing and diastem's anyway i have been using mark twigg and all i can say is this man is a legend and came to me in an emergency within a few hours when the filly couldn't eat he now comes once a month t give her a washout etc and i would not use anyone else. as for stuggling to eat i have tried everything the key is to just soak stuff down to a mash and try all different types of short fibre as they go of them and need to change it quite often.

pm me if you need mark twiggs contact details
 
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