Equine Dentist, or Vet?

I have used both. In the end I started using my vet, who has been (a) more reliable, (b) more pragmatic, (c) able to sedate and (d) has managed in the course of a year to solve an issue that the EDT told me was permanent and would require 6 monthly visits. We're back to annual visits now and the horse is no longer needing to be sedated.
 
I've used both . . . but the last two times I've had Kal's teeth done I've used a vet . . . and he's been brilliant . . . quiet, sympathetic and far more thorough than the EDT I used previously. Honestly, I think it depends on the individual vet and EDT.

P
 
Edt.
Do a million x better job.
My vet refused to do teeth without sedation- even though all,of ours are excellent. He then only gave them a cursory rasp.
Fed up with that, especially the unnecessary sedation, I have switched to a dentist. He is quiet, patient and very effective. Takes about 45 minutes an animal, and absolutely no need for sedation.
 
45 mins per animal doin wha exactly? If rasping I'd be worried about over rasping and no teeth!

I used my vets fri for teeth as sick of edts criticising each other's work and not being able to get hold of them. He had a good feel around manually removed sharp edges on all 3 and took about 40 mins for three.... Nothing else to be seen or felt so no need for any further work. Prefer a conservative approach myself
 
Vet every time as she is EDT qualified. She knows my horse and I trust her completely. Took about 40 mins but she gave him regular breaks when he was starting to get uncomfortable. So no sedation required. She also uses manual rasps which helps when you have no electric down your field.
 
Vet every time. Anyone who makes a living from doing just one thing is more likely to do it more often than necessary.
 
I have mine on an annual Health Plan - so much a month, covers annual teeth check and rasp if necessary, worm count, wormer if necessary, annual 'MOT', Vaccinations, etc. Works a treat - saves nasty surprises!! All vets at the practice I use are trained as dentists too (and of course can sedate if necessary). Plus they know our horses and vice versa.
 
cobgoblin said:
Vet every time. Anyone who makes a living from doing just one thing is more likely to do it more often than necessary.
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or be better at it :) In my experience young horses, being broken in, may need wo visits per year and others once. I don't think this is excessive.
Of three vets who did my last boy, two were useless, so that when the third vet, a proper vet, came in the third year there was a lot of rasping on the molars which needed work.
One of the earlier vets backed him in to a corner, and was a very bad handler, did not use disinfectant, the other [an employee] did not even have a speculum with her, used some sort of plastic dumbell,, apparently they have to buy their own if they want one, the receptionist had failed to tell her the teeth needed done ........ I no longer use that practice.
The EDT ws a good handler and well trained [I was one of his first customers], he used manual rasps when starting, and later used power tools
 
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For me and the horses I use
Dentist for teeth
Farrier / chiropodist for feet
Vet / doctor for all other

Just makes sense to me.
 
I have just changed to an EDT. I was happy to use my vet, however they changed the rules. Instead of coming out on a zone day and doing a check and basic care ,the vets would only check the teeth. You then had to book a double visit for any work and I was told sedation would be used. That would have cost a fortune. I booked an EDT and he came and did the work, without sedation, in about half an hour. He was kind and gentle and the price was £65, it was only that much because it was only my horse. More then one horse and the price drops to £40. I know it is not all about money but if you can get a good service for a good price, there is no competition. The quote from the vet was nearly £200.
 
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