EDT to remove wolf teeth without vet?

daisydoo

daisydoo

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I always thought a vet had to sedate/anaesthetise but my EDT surprised me by saying no probs we can easily whip these out with just a numbing spray? Is that usual?
 
Don't think this would have worked with mine - vet was swinging on the tooth for about 10 minutes don't think numbing stuff would have worked! Glad my mare was pretty much out of it.
 
I had the vet out to remove a wolf tooth recently as it was partially erupted & in the way of the bit. This is what he did:

1. Sedated.
2. Clipped some fur from his face & nerve blocked.
3. Did a local anaes into the gum.
4. Got started.
5. Did a bit more sedation.
6. Finished.

Not sure if this is usual or not cos it's the first time I've had a wolf tooth removed from a horse, but from my POV I don't think a bit of numbing spray would have done enough. Unless Trev's tooth was particularly tricky?

T x
 
My filly's only 19 months I guess he gauged how much was showing and how 'easy' they would pop out. Will see in the summer how much they've changed. She's v mouthy as to be expected for a youngster, can wolf teeth make them more so and when do they stop chewing on everything, nothing's safe?
 
Mines 3 1/2 now and only just lost the last of her milk caps and she recently lost a baby tooth- chewing has now seemed to stop and she is much less mouthy.
 
Only a few more years then! Ive given her one of those rubber balls with handle but she ignores and goes to chew on anything else! She's gnawed through a halter strap and likes taking herself for a walk with lead rope. Should be easy to bit at least. Waiting till after wolf teeth out though first.
 
Mine had the vet to sedate. one popped out easily and the other took some going at. He was sedated. Vet is a bit wary of mine i think! He turns up with sedation every time he has to do something! lol
 
Thing is I'd rather she is sedated and fully numbed rather than trying with numbing spray and risking a bad experience. I'll talk to my vet.
 
I think unless it were very loose the 'numbing spray' is unlikely to provide adequate anaesthesia of the gum. As a dentist we pretty much always need proper local anaesthesia, even when teeth are very loose. Ponies are much more sensitive and flighty than people. To prevent a bad experience I would let the vet have a look, unless there is a good reason not to sedate.
 
I use a vet who is an EDT too for my youngsters and to be honest would not really want him to have dealt with them without sedating them it is much easier all round with youngsters.
 
Both my girls had their wolf teeth removed at 2 by an EDT without a vet present. Neither had to be sedated and it was the quickest, easiest job. Particularly with Big Ears, I was waiting for something exciting to happen and he just turned around and said 'right, that's me done. Do you want to keep them?'
 
My girl will be 2 when they are removed. Keep them? As in after they are extracted, hmm not really thought about it, why not! Definitely want them out though not worth the risk of them interfering with the bit.
 
Mine had her wolf teeth removed and her caps done without a vet. Quick shot of domosedan and job done. Mare is a vile tempered, rearing, kicking, biting witch and all went perfectly :D
 
daisydoo said:
Keep them? As in after they are extracted, hmm not really thought about it, why not!
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I kept them after they were out a) because I thought they looked awesome, and b) I wanted to freak my mother out with them (which I successfully did!).

She then made me throw them away though, which was a shame. Although my ability to horde rubbish that I clearly don't need knows no bounds!
 
Two of my horses have wolf teeth and my dentist suggested leaving them alone unless they caused a problem. 10 & 12 yrs later they have been fine.
 
katherine1975 said:
When I spoke to my EDT about wolf teeth being removed he said he always does it with the vet, sedation and local anaesthetic.
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Quite right too! I don't get my EDT to do wolf teeth - we get the vet out to check mouths and remove wolf teeth just before backing (there's no need to do it earlier.) Luckily my vet is JUST as good with teeth as my EDT - so no point in having both of them for the job.

Some wolf teeth are very shallow rooted and will come out very easily - others have roots that are very deep. Size of the wolf tooth DOESN'T tell you which! Tiny wolf teeth can have huge roots - and vice versa!
 
I htink the EDT would know how much they need. My EDT has removed on a mare without and then recommended that another one needed sedated. So I think it depends on the case. You need to trust who ever is working on your horses so if you don't get someone else.
 
JanetGeorge said:
Quite right too! I don't get my EDT to do wolf teeth - we get the vet out to check mouths and remove wolf teeth just before backing (there's no need to do it earlier.) Luckily my vet is JUST as good with teeth as my EDT - so no point in having both of them for the job.

Some wolf teeth are very shallow rooted and will come out very easily - others have roots that are very deep. Size of the wolf tooth DOESN'T tell you which! Tiny wolf teeth can have huge roots - and vice versa!
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Understatement - Alice (ID x Cob 17 months old) had her wolf teeth removed in October by my vet who ended up working jolly hard to get them out, both teeth were well over an inch long, most of which was in the jaw. I was mightly relieved the filly was away with the fairies throughout the procedure.
 
I thought that wolf teeth removal was a bit of a dodgy one with regards to the legislation as they can come under the definition of 'surgical'
 
After seeing my vet literally knock them loose with a hammer so he could get them out there is no way in hell my horse wouldn't be fully sedated for removal of wolf teeth
 
Would certainly have a horse under full sedation for Wolf tooth removal. It's classed as surgical, so a vet has to be present. My older horse had them removed by an EDT, with my then vet, who wasn't really a dental expert present to oversee and sedate. My younger horse had my vet who is also an EDT do the whole job. Neither were nice pleasant jobs...
 
My edt is also a vet soncan sedate herself. Both of mine had them removed with sedation... Not sure i would be very happy with them being taken out without sedation! :)
 
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