could sore teeth make a horse lame?

[[59668]]

So, some of you may have seen my recent post about my mare's mystery lameness.

She came sound after a few days, but has been in walk only hacking since she trotted up sound in the school, as I wanted to take it slowly.

I had the dentist on Monday, and she removed a wolf tooth fragment that had broken! I feel awful....it was only very small as the tooth was only partially erupted, but it was worn smooth from the bit, and she was showing signs of tooth wear looking like she was trying to move the bit to the other side of her mouth to avoid it. I honestly had no idea! Previous dentists always said to just leave it alone.

My question is....could this have got to the point where it had made her lame? Could teeth issues make a horse lame? She was showing lame in the fore leg of the same side the wolf tooth was.

 

[be positive]

Bridle lame is a term used, often totally wrongly, that could describe what you saw, if the horse was sore it will be trying to avoid using that side properly, maybe tilting the head slightly so it could appear lame, a fragment of wolf tooth would be moving about and possibly touching on nerves so I am surprised any dentist would say leave it, even if the lameness has nothing to do with the tooth she should feel much happier for getting rid of it.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

My mare had a molar that eventually cracked from root to tip. She had regular dentist checks but I think for a long time the crack was only in the root so we couldn't see it. She used to toss her head all the time which, because her teeth on the surface looked fine we put down to seasonal/remembered pain (her teeth were originally filed down too much to expose nerve before I got her). Where she tossed her head so much and was tense she wobbled all over the place and didn't track up so whilst maybe not lame she didn't look right. My point is with that kind of pain going on they are bound to hold/move themselves differently to compensate.

Since coming out she looks like a different pony and makes a much nicer picture when moving! I hope this is the answer to your mystery lameness, always nicer to know what you are dealing with, I think!

 

[[59668]]

Bridle lame is a term used, often totally wrongly, that could describe what you saw, if the horse was sore it will be trying to avoid using that side properly, maybe tilting the head slightly so it could appear lame, a fragment of wolf tooth would be moving about and possibly touching on nerves so I am surprised any dentist would say leave it, even if the lameness has nothing to do with the tooth she should feel much happier for getting rid of it.

Shocking isn't it! I have her seen once a year, have ALWAYS asked about the wolf tooth as it was picked up at the vetting, had her 3 years, and I was never told to have it out. I am wracked with guilt over it.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Shocking isn't it! I have her seen once a year, have ALWAYS asked about the wolf tooth as it was picked up at the vetting, had her 3 years, and I was never told to have it out. I am wracked with guilt over it.

Don't feel guilty, you aren't an EDT/vet, you asked someone you trusted had more knowledge/experience than you and you took their advice. Nothing wrong with that. Chalk it up to experience and rest easy knowing that next time something like this happens (hopefully not!) you have the experience behind you to question.