Don't know what to make of this - Horse dentistry

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Hot_Toddy7

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Ok, so I booked the day off work earlier this week to get my 3's teeth sorted.
Had the vet out a couple of months ago to run bloods on my big horse (has big issues putting on weight), he had a look in his mouth under sedation and said that he felt his teeth weren't good and were likely to be the cause of his issues. Bloods came back clear, so decided that teeth must be an issue. I have had their teeth done regularly, but am now in serious doubt about the ability of the person I was using to do teeth before all of this, as she always said teeth were fine!

So anyway, booked my lot in and spoke to my ex-boss who has 2 hunters, he asked if I could book his in too and get them all done together.. Phoned the vet to ask if it was possible to have 5 done, they said this was fine, but the usual vet (one who told me his teeth were bad) was away so they would be sending another new vet, I said that was fine (as they would have records on what 1st vet had said about horses mouth/bloods results) and booked in for Thursday.

Thursday comes, I am running around like a headless chicken, with a bad cold, and chest infection, trying to get 5 horses ready for vet. Vet arrives on time, so she has a look at the 2 hunters first, I explained that they are usually ok, but may need sedation. She had a look in 1st horses mouth and said his teeth weren't good, she then said that we would need to re-book so that he could be done with the electric rasp under sedation, looked at 2nd hunter, his teeth were ok. Then moved onto my 3, explained that the mare was difficult and may need sedation again, just to get the gag in. Vet had a look in her mouth and said her teeth weren't good either and she would have to come back, this was the same story with my other TB. So, the moment of truth came when she had a look at my big one, he was fairly well behaved for gag etc, she said his teeth were ok, rasped them and explained that there was a small liasion (sp?) but asides from that he was ok to just have routine check up next year. She did say roughly the same thing as 1st vet, but said it was fine and shouldn't affect his weight at all!!!!

What the hell do I do, I have been given 2 very different opinionsfrom 2 vets from the same practice. I have one pi**ed off ex-boss, whose gripe is that surely she should have come with all the equipment as she was doing teeth, and now he will have to pay again to have his horse done properly under sedation??? Which I completely agree with, but I am left feeling responsible for all of this. Whats more is that 3/5 horses seen are going to have to have the vet back out, which means another call-out fee and more expenditure. Am I wrong to expect a vet to come out fully equipped when the reason for the visit was solely to do teeth and nothing else? Did she even look at the records to see what 1st vet had advised?

I feel totally screwed, no idea now what is causing big ones issues. I had for the first time in 3 years felt so glad (and also disappointed that previous edt may've not been doing a proper job), that I actually had an answer as to what may be wrong with big horse, but am now back to square one???

Sorry for the rant and complimentary cup of tea to anyone who made it this far.

Think my head may explode.
 
Do you not have a good EDT locally? The training most vets (unless they choose to specialise or undergo CPD) have on equine dentistry is minimal.

Regarding the visit, I would be annoyed but the vets will need to book long appointments if they are going to be sedating for teeth, the process itself takes longer than a routine 'float' and so even if they had all the equipment, it would throw out all their other consultations for the day. I would perhaps be discussing whether paying a further callout fee would be appropriate or not.
 
I would get out a qualified EDT, the training vets do in equine dentistry is minimal, only 2 or 3 days I think (if that). Most vets would rather sedate than battle with a horse (fair enough) but many seem to suggest sedation without even trying. A good EDT will be able to keep most horses quite calm and get the job done (and normally will do it a lot better than a vet who isn't also qualified in dentistry).
 
I have always used a specific EDT (not vet) in the past. The 1st vet and main vet from the practice (also practice owner) specializes in ED, so that's why I was inclined to feel he was right about big horses teeth being the case for his weight issues. I was assured by receptionist that the vet they sent out on Thursday was also a very good EDT. the appointment was initially booked for 1pm, I got a phonecall to at 11am to say that they had a cancellation so could make 12pm to give more time. I just thought that if they'd have read the report from 1st vet regarding big horses teeth, they would've seen that at least one horse would be more than a routine visit.
BAH! :(
 
My vets practice would not turn up to do teeth without the electric rasp, head stand and enough time to sedate. Especially not if booked to do five!

I think you should negotiate on whether anything is payable except for the one tooth rasping that was done, and no repeat call-out fee.
 
you have to specifically ask for the vet to bring the electric burr at out vets as they only have one and its kept around the surgery unless booked


vets are not so fussy about teeth, as long as the horse can eat and its teeth arnt causing pain they leave them alone


maybe get another edt in to take a proper look.
one with good references.
 
you have to specifically ask for the vet to bring the electric burr at out vets as they only have one and its kept around the surgery unless booked
Click to expand...

You might have to do that with your vets, but mine are EDT qualified and would not turn up without the equipment.


vets are not so fussy about teeth, as long as the horse can eat and its teeth arnt causing pain they leave them alone


maybe get another edt in to take a proper look.
one with good references.
Click to expand...


Lots of vets are edts these days. The old "vets don't care about teeth" is fading out fast in this area.
 
My EDT costs £40 a horse/visit and is nothing short of brilliant. The stuff she's been able to tell us about our horses behaviour just by looking at the teeth is amazing - she's always right & after treatment the difference was remarkable. I'm amazed that owners think nothing of spending £40 every 6-8 weeks on shoeing but don't think about spending the same on a dentist once a year.
 
Your experience is why I no longer use my vets for teeth, one was qualified as a dentist and did an ok job, then she left and the new vet couldn't rasp all the sharp teeth so said that it 'would do!' when he got tired - it was my hayman who was delivering at the time said it wouldn't do and the job needed doing properly and held the pony for him until he'd got all the sharp points done.:)

After that I managed to find a decent dentist.
 
Thanks all for your replies, think I will find another EDT, that is solely an EDT. Feel massively out of pocket after the whole experience, which quite honestly, has gotten me nowhere, if anything more confused than before.

Anyone know of a good EDT in Dorset?? :D
 
Ask on here for a good dentist... then ask for the vet to come out for sedation.

However, if any needed sedating, it may have been worth saying this to the vets in the first place. Although, I admit, I would be rather annoyed if I had booked the vet to do five horses teeth, and hadnt bothered bringing any sedation equipment, or all the dentistry stuff required!
 
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