Cleaning a headshy horses teeth!

P

poiuytrewq

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 April 2008
Messages
21,637
Location
Cotswolds
Visit site
Not as bizarre as it sounds!
Horse damaged his mouth at the end of last winter which needed a operation and wound cleaning. This has understandably left him very wary of having his mouth touched.
He's ok to bridle and I can have a quick look if I pretend to be adjusting his bit, as soon as he cottons on I've got no hope!
His remaining teeth have moved apart as the damage to his mouth healed and it's now all stable but he gets food stuck in the gap.
I've not really tried to clean it in a while but buy human interdental disposable brushes but find them too bendy.
It needs to be something I can literally flick into the hole before he knows it's happened as I noticed today whilst making an attempt that the stuff stuck is a bit smelly.
Dentist is due and booked, tbh I don't think he's going to tolerate that unsedated either but...
Any bright ideas on what I can use (that won't stab him if he freaks out!)and maybe even how I could go about making this an ok thing to have done?!
 
hmm, frank has a gap between his front teeth and the best thing to flick it out with is a small flat head screwdriver (the same as I use for stones in his white line) however obviously not appropriate if worried about damage.

I'm wondering if you could syringe something tasty like apple juice at it? Or at least to start.
 
The original wound cleaning involved a syringe which he really hated and was the start of the fight! However it was all very sore and painful back then.
I can worm him ok so i guess that's worth a try. The apple juice or something tasty may help
 
Ask your EDT when he visits.
Mine has a gap and my dentist has given me a special little brush especially for the job. Have to brush the impacted food out twice a week. I put a little toothpaste on it! horse tolerates it better as he likes the minty taste. It also disguises the smelly build up.
 
One of my friends uses a human toothbrush but with the handle broken off so it's small enough not to be scary. She also uses really salty water, which her pony likes. He used to throw his head up and pull back until the string broke every time she tried but persevering (and I think especially the salty water!) has helped and now he stands calmly x
 
You can get beaked syringes with very long thin spouts, even curved.

I would just keep on desensitising him to mouth exploration and bit by bit he will get used to it. That's how I got my mare used to me feeling her gums etc when she needed attention in the mouth and now she doesn't care and even lifts her top lip for me.
 
molar roller said:
you can get a syringe (aka ''drench gun'') like that.

https://www.kruuse.com/en/ecom/HEST_specialiseret/Diverse_prod_hest/Drenching_hest/prod_113865.aspx
Click to expand...

I have actually got one of these,not tried it in a while so might be worth another go.
Cauda Equina, what is a water flosser?

The dentist gave it a really good clean out yesterday. It was hard and took aaaagggggeeeeessss He thinks he will still possibly loose more teeth which is a complete pita :( The original accident was back in April and i'd figured his remaining teeth were safe by now!
I agree desensitizing is going to be the key as this is obviously going to be a forever thing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top