First dentist visit... would you use a calmer?

chestnuttyy

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Got the dentist coming to visit my horse for the first time in a couple of weeks and was wondering whether I should give him an 'instant' calmer to try and make the whole thing a bit more pleasant for him.

He's generally quite a stressy horse...

If yes... which one would you recommend?

Thanks x
 
Everything pointed to the fact that my mare would be an a*se for the dentist. Doesn't like her face being fussed, impatient on the yard, flings her head around when trying to clean her nose etc. I expected it to be a stressful experience! She loved it! Stood beautifully and seemed to quite like it. I would give him the benefit of the doubt and give it a go!
 
I look after a pony that always had the vet out to sedate him for the dentist, so I arranged this for him when my dentist was due. The vet was late and the lady dentist had finished by the time he arrived. She just went into the pony and ignored his sillyness and got on with it. She wasn't rough, just got on with the job. Pony went "oh, alright then" and has been fine ever since. Not so easy with a big horse I know, but they really should behave. It is only if they are a danger to people that they should be sedated.

One horse I had LOVED having her teeth done.
 
If you'd asked me this a few months ago, I'd have said 'yes, probably sensible!'. My mare was really not happy about the dentist, and had been sedated the last few times.

The last chap who came out was just brilliant with her, with no sedation of any kind. She tried backing away, then lifting up a tad, but he kept working calmly and quietly and after about 5 minutes she was standing like a rock and relaxed.

It's all in the dentist, in my experience: having been really convinced Twig needed sedation, I'm now convinced very few horses do.

If you're in the South Midlands sort of area I'll gladly look out his details for you, I was impressed!
 
It's all in the dentist, in my experience: having been really convinced Twig needed sedation, I'm now convinced very few horses do.

This ^^^ I have a vet who does mine as she specialises with teeth and mine normally hates it (due to before I owned him never having teeth seen to until he was 8 and then had a tough few sessions) but she can get a long way with him and will only sedate if she has to do a lot of work, she's brilliant with him. But you know your horse better than us :)
 
I got my vet who is a qualified EDT out for my youngsters first experience with dental check ups. He chose to sedate them. I was quite happy with that and it made it totally stress free. He did some work on them too as a result of checking them.

You know your horse best though.
 
Hi.
I have found alot of nervous horses and just in from the filed youngsters not fased at all by the dentist, and actualy some even seem to like. :confused:
It is very much all in the dentist yes, and they will be able to make the decision for you at the time, if they think the horse would benefit from sedation so dont worry. I am sure your gg will be fine. X
 
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