Dentistry for your horse

[TPO]

Tricky isnt it.

I can see no disadvantages in getting my horse checked out by an vet dentist next time, and getting a view on the work of my EDT.

Though google isnt bringing up any vets that only do teeth in Surrey.

I found the Equine Dental Clinic but they are not close. I have messaged to see if they come my way on other visits, and if I can tag along.

I did think would be more dentist only vets in Surrey, but google not finding them.

There's no one immediately close to me either. The guy up here holds clinics for vets to refer horses to.

We travelled to one of those with mums horse who turned out to have a fractured tooth that needed removed.

I was referred to him again when the extent of the damage to Chip's mouth was discovered. Chip was really ill at that point.


Initially we thought the weight loss was because of his very painful mouth, when it was discovered, so Richard from EDC very kindly did home visits to check up on Chip. Ultimately it wasn't mouth related, that was a separate (painful) issue.


If you have transport, and it's practical it's worth contacting them.


The Fuzzy Furry's recommendations are always valuable, too.

 

[Fieldlife]

There's no one immediately close to me either. The guy up here holds clinics for vets to refer horses to.

We travelled to one of those with mums horse who turned out to have a fractured tooth that needed removed.

I was referred to him again when the extent of the damage to Chip's mouth was discovered. Chip was really ill at that point.


Initially we thought the weight loss was because of his very painful mouth, when it was discovered, so Richard from EDC very kindly did home visits to check up on Chip. Ultimately it wasn't mouth related, that was a separate (painful) issue.


If you have transport, and it's practical it's worth contacting them.


The Fuzzy Furry's recommendations are always valuable, too.

I do have transport, and it is about 2.5 hours (old slow lorry) to EDC home location. Though it seems likely they'd have something closer I can attend. Hopefully.
5 hours of driving feels a bit excessive, when he doesnt (to the best of my knowledge have a teeth issue).

 

[Tiddlypom]

My current Surrey based practice (still independent) have a vet that specialises in teeth. But dont know how good he is / how much of his work is teeth. Or if he is a normal vet with an extra teeth qualification.

Is he on this list? There are a number of vets who have done the additional equine dentistry training to become members of the BAEDT. But not being on there doesn’t necessarily mean that he isn’t a specialist vet dentist, as opposed to being a generalist vet who does some dentistry.

MEMBER-LIST

The BAEDT is an organisation for qualified Equine Dental Technicians, promoting their professional training, improving the welfare of horses and the understanding of equine dentistry to the general public

baedt.com

My vet dentist isn’t on that list, but he has the CertAVP (ED) in addition to the BVSc and MRCVS. That’s the Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice in Equine Dentistry.

ETA He only does equine dentistry now.

 

[SheriffTruman]

I use a vet who is a dental specialist…..does no other work! Believe me the difference is incredible. I’m not saying if the horses mouth is fairly straightforward an EDT or standard vet won’t do a good job but the difference in using a specialist is amazing.
I have the teeth of over 30 horses a year checked on the yard to give an idea.

I agree.

I have a vet specialising in equine dentistry. He works with sedation. Without, my horse wouldn't let any stranger touch his mouth. He is a very good, and reputable dentist, I'm really lucky to have him. That's only because he does all the horses at the (smallish) yard we're on, so it's worth his while.

We started out with once a year-visits, but horse now needs work every six months, due to sharp edges combined with an Arab dish, and small head/mouth. So every six months it is, dental care is something I'm not willing to budget on.

 

[Mrs G]

I use an EDT but get Domesedan in advance from the vet. We tried horse once without sedation - it was dangerous for all concerned so routinely use the sedation, he is checked yearly and so far all is well.

 

[minesadouble]

Just a word of warning to those using an EDT and no sedation as I notice almost half answered the poll with this option.
We had an EDT who came to our yard and did most of the horses (including my own 5).
None were sedated, he was so good with the horses, even the more highly strung individuals could be done without sedation.
He was also very good with the owners, explained everything in depth. I remember with a couple of mine him asking me to rub my hand up the outside of the teeth before and after and you really could feel the difference. We were given full charts and everyone was so happy with the service he provided.

We then (and I can't remember the reason why - possibly unavailability of the usual EDT) used a Vet specialist and BAEDT (a highly qualified one who also has training status), working together, who were appalled at the state of the horses' mouths.
One elderly livery was so bad that they were taking photos of the inside of his mouth with the intention of reporting the EDT concerned. (Who is also qualified and very popular!).


The Vet and new EDT sedated the vast majority of the horses who had previously been done without sedation.
He told us that the reason theses horses had formerly stood unsedated for the previous EDT was basically that he had been doing so little they had nothing to object to.

I'm not saying it's impossible for an EDT to do a good job without sedation but out of 30 liveries plus my own horses only 3 or 4 can be done efficiently without sedation, whereas previously only 2 or 3 were sedated.

Like @Tiddlypom my eyes have been truly opened by this experience and I too just want to make others aware that everything may not be as it seems.

 

[Fieldlife]

Equine Dental Referral - Rob Pascoe. Have Facebook page but website doesn’t work.

 

[Equi]

3 of mine are done by a qualified EDT without sedation. 1 is sedated with domosedan (heavy dose) he did have vet sedation twice but both times he sweated up shockingly and took a long time to come back to life. (I also believe he had never had the dentist u til I got him at 13 so his teeth were a bit shocking. He did try once without and nearly killed the poor edt so won’t be without sedation ever again)

The domosedan works better but needs to be timed to the minute (43 lol) I give the youngsters 1ml each just to take the edge off cause they can still throw baby moves but I plan to stop this, they’ve never really been bad and have had edt in the past without any but there wasn’t any real work to be done.

 

[maya2008]

Just a word of warning to those using an EDT and no sedation as I notice almost half answered the poll with this option.
We had an EDT who came to our yard and did most of the horses (including my own 5).
None were sedated, he was so good with the horses, even the more highly strung individuals could be done without sedation.
He was also very good with the owners, explained everything in depth. I remember with a couple of mine him asking me to rub my hand up the outside of the teeth before and after and you really could feel the difference. We were given full charts and everyone was so happy with the service he provided.

We then (and I can't remember the reason why - possibly unavailability of the usual EDT) used a Vet specialist and BAEDT (a highly qualified one who also has training status), working together, who were appalled at the state of the horses' mouths.
One elderly livery was so bad that they were taking photos of the inside of his mouth with the intention of reporting the EDT concerned. (Who is also qualified and very popular!).


The Vet and new EDT sedated the vast majority of the horses who had previously been done without sedation.
He told us that the reason theses horses had formerly stood unsedated for the previous EDT was basically that he had been doing so little they had nothing to object to.

I'm not saying it's impossible for an EDT to do a good job without sedation but out of 30 liveries plus my own horses only 3 or 4 can be done efficiently without sedation, whereas previously only 2 or 3 were sedated.

Like @Tiddlypom my eyes have been truly opened by this experience and I too just want to make others aware that everything may not be as it seems.

I think it’s just so individual: good/bad vet, good/bad EDT.

Vet examples:
- two different vets plus x-rays. Uncomfortable pony still. EDT time rolled around - two caps found stuck on and wedged in her tiny mouth - adult teeth couldn’t come through. Swelling started going down straight away, within a couple of months pony was completely normal.
- one vet sedated yet pony still uncomfortable. EDT a month later finished the job (for free, bless him) and she was instantly happier.

We have had great vets do teeth, with and without sedation. We have had EDTs not so great at keeping equines calm and those that are like magic horse whisperers.

EDT main disadvantage I find is that it takes time to get an appointment so if needing someone quickly vet is only option. Big advantage for me is that they don’t require sedation and I can get the EDT out to a previously feral pony a long time before they will tolerate a vet IV sedating them. Especially given that teaching a vet how to get a needle kindly and easily into a pony neck (which apparently has a slightly different anatomy) does not seem to be on the vet school curriculum.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

We use an EDT and neither of my two need any sedation. Mim gets bored and figety occasionally but Miri seems to almost enjoy it. She’s a strange strange little creature

I have had the vet intermittently check teeth which have been done by my EDT, once, recently, when I’d had them done on schedule but felt Mim wasn’t happy with contact, and when we had Milagra who had EOTRH. My vets have always confirmed that the teeth are fine so I’m happy to continue with my EDT. If my horses have any dental health issues, I’d include vet oversight as a matter of course. (Mim’s issue turned out to be her bit so that was easily resolved.)

My vets always sedate which my horses like less than pure dental work. It’s one of the reasons I prefer to keep general maintenance under the EDT.

 

[KatieDM]

I am a poacher turned gamekeeper on this subject.

I was formerly in the camp of believing both that sedation absolutely is not needed in most cases and that my EDT was doing a good job - my horses are well behaved, though the IDx was getting increasingly niggly.

Complete about turn after finding the mess that my pleasant, popular and very experienced EDT had left behind after he thankfully did notice decay in two molars, and referred the IDx as a non urgent case just for the fillings on to a specialist dental vet. Rest of mouth in ‘good shape’, apparently.

He is a former listed qualified member EDT but has lapsed his membership .

The mess that was found by the vet dentist was . Poor horse. Wave and shear mouth, sharp points, two dead and infected incisors in addition to the decay.

It took two sessions under standing sedation each lasting 2 hours firstly to do the x rays and the fillings, and secondly the routine rasping and the incisor extractions. The horse needed more top up sedation than any previous patient that the vet dentist had seen, she must have been in so much pain. She was 17yo at the time.

18 months on and the three monthly raspings have been pushed out to 6 months again and she is eating and wearing her teeth correctly. She’s grand.

Session 1. The initial examination, x rays and the two fillings.
View attachment 148646

Session 2. The rasping and the incisor extractions.

View attachment 148647


Vet dentist checking the fillings as he goes with the camera probe.

View attachment 148648

Vet dentist will rasp without sedation if an owner insists, but warns owner that he may not be able to do as thorough a job. It’s been light sedation and the chin rest for my neds from then on. The other two also needed a lot of remedial correction, though the EDT had said they were grand, too.

Hi @Tiddlypom - may I send you a quick message regarding the EDT? Just want to check if it’s the same person who has previously done my horse who I’m having niggles about.

 

[HopOnTrot]

I used to use an EDT but now use vet with sedation, my girls are easy but sedation just means the vet can have a really good look. No real reason I changed but it’s easy to do vaccinations and teeth at the same appointment. I’ve found the vet really good at talking me through what’s going on but it does mean certain teeth are mentioned on her vet records and now excluded from insurance.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Hi @Tiddlypom - may I send you a quick message regarding the EDT? Just want to check if it’s the same person who has previously done my horse who I’m having niggles about.

No probs.

That EDT is still out there doing substandard work .

He was formerly on the BAEDT register but let his membership lapse, so there is no professional come back apart from warning people by word of mouth.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

I think it’s just so individual: good/bad vet, good/bad EDT.

This.

A lot of people on my yard have switched to a vet who specialises in dentistry. It's pretty much all she does. She may be a good dentist but I just don't think she's very good at getting a cannula in, with the result that several horses are now needle shy. Including my own Lottie who was fine before. I aso don't think she's very good at taking a horse's perspective: she suggested putting a horse who was struggling to be sedated in a trailer to do it!! Yes let's traumatise a horse in a trailer - that would be helpful for future loading. Sometimes people just want to fix the problem right in front of them and can't see the bigger picture.

The horror stories do make me cautious, but my EDT is great, and I get a vet to check every so often. When Felix was being done for the first time at aged 2 1/2, he came to just introduce him to the tools and to feel his mouth, but did nothing. And did not charge for that either. Then came back another day to actually rasp his teeth. He is so patient and calm, horses just seem so relaxed with him. Felix needed a wolf tooth out and the EDT did that, but I got my normal vet to sedate not the dental vet. And he was so smooth and quick - there was such a difference.

 

[brighteyes]

My BAEDT registered dental technician works closely with (and refers anything outside his qualification and the legal permissions to) my vet. Mine had a slab fracture of a back molar. We called the vet to sedate as it’s not a straightforward procedure to remove it and had the practice on standby to receive us in clinic. The chip was successfully and quickly removed at home and advantage taken of the sedation for my EDT to do the rest of the job. I ticked two but realised I should have also ticked the vet specialising in dentistry with sedation. My EDT won’t risk his reputation nor the welfare of horses to work outside of his legal permissions and his clients seem really happy with that.

 

[welshcobabe]

Strange this thread has just come up I am just back from having Glenn done by lovely vet Mark and he was sedated as well pleasant for all, he just needed a good rasp and some plaque taking off apparently he has a model shaped mouth. Mark also took time out to show me inside his mouth etc and I get a full email report later so i was pleased. Up to this point had a vet to do it but not sedated he did do Ok but I think this was better for him.