Blind wolf tooth removal - who can legally do this?

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SMIS

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Hi all,

I am new to the forum, this is my first post.
I just bought a 7 year old TB 5 weeks ago (he is my first horse and I know next to nothing about horses, only ever learnt how to ride at riding schools).

After 2 weeks of owning him he began stretching his neck out and tilting his head to the side only when wearing a bit after say 10 mins riding.
I had an Equine Dentist (qualified) out yesterday and he filed down what he deemed VERY sharp teeth and said that it looked like he hadn't seen a dentist within the past 18 months.
He added that my horse has a blind wolf tooth. He said to give the horse a week to see if the strange head tilting goes away (it could be sharp tooth related not blind tooth related). If he persists in head tilting the dentist recommended he removes the blind wolf tooth as this could be causing him pain where the bit rests.

He said that removing a blind wolf tooth requires a sedative. And what worried me was he said that I could buy an oral sedative and use this without getting a vet out.

If anyone has any experience of this could you please let me know what you would do/have done? I have googled around the subject and some say it is illegal for a dentist to remove a blind wolf tooth and that I need a vet? No-one seems to have written anything about oral sedation. It all seems a bit dodgy to me and I want to do right by my horse no expense spared.

Thanks!
 
If your EDT is referring to Dormoosedan gel as a sedative, it would need to be prescribed by your vet who should have seen the horse.
I think its legal for a qualified and insured EDT to do this procedure, but speak to your vet first. If you're happy with the EDT's qualifications and ability, I'd be inclined to get the vet to sedate by injection so he can monitor and if needed, top up the sedation immediately.
Here's a link that may be useful;http://www.baedt.com/legislation_5355.html
 
Thanks for responding - you are right it has not erupted through the gum.
The dentist said that it is 'growing forward' but I did struggle to grasp what he meant by this.

The link is really useful - I will ring them for clarity but it implies that only a vet or vet/dentist can remove a non erupted tooth.

So glad I started to investigate, some people can be so dodgy in what they are prepared to do!

If anyone else has been through blind wolf tooth removal please let me know how you got on & whether you would recommend doing it?
 
Only a vet can perform any procedure that involves invading sensitive or vital tissues. Cutting through the gum to reach a blind wolf tooth clearly falls under this definition, so must only be performed by a vet. Even under direct and continous veterinary supervision it is not legal for an EDT to perform this procedure. I think that oral sedation alone is unlikely to be sufficient to perform the procedure in a humane manner for the horse - I would be using injectable sedatives, injectable non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (e.g. bute or flunixin) as well as placing local anaesthetic in the area to be incised. I also use oral pain relief for at least a few days afterwards.

Blind wolf teeth can quite frequently cause a problem but I agree it is sensible to see if the issue resolves with the removal of sharp overgrowths before removing it. It is not always the simplest procedure, and I would tend to x-ray beforehand to see the extent of the tooth, and if there are any doubts then x-ray afterwards to ensure it has all been removed.
 
Mine has a blind wolf tooth removed and was IV sedated as someone said it quite invasive I wouldnt do it with oral stuff even domo gel which is quite potent wouldnt be potent enough mine was done by and EDT who is also a vet nurse so is able to do most things which is quite useful!
 
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