Is sedation standard for routine dentist teeth rasping??

No not 'standard' practice at all.

Yes; some horses who find the experiance a little traumatic will be mildly sedated to those who need a bit more to take the edge of them. Makes it safer for horse and dentist - after all the EDT has a right to stay safe! .......however not 'standard routine' practice.

If your EDT demands this in the first instance without even attempting to treat the horse then I personally would change my EDT.

Look up reg EDT on the website http://www.baedt.com/

and pick the phone up and talk to several EDT in your area - ask questions and explain that this is the first time you have had a dentist ot to your new horse so not too sure what to expect.

Remember you are employing the services of a qualified professional and have every right to ask questions and choose who you feel comfortable with to deal with your horse and if you don't agree with them, then you can seek professional help elsewhere.

The EDT that I use and have done for a number of years is an angel ! he spends a bit of time with each horse, uses lavender oil to soothe and has never requested any of my horses to be sedated and I have five stallions.

Good luck and I'm sure your horse will be fine !
 
Frumpoon said:
My twopence worth - both my lads are over 17hh and are always sedated for dental treatment. I am lucky in that my practice has a vet who loves and does nothing BUT dental treatment so she is eminently placed to do the work.

I'm v sceptical of 'dentists', the training course is not as long or rigorous as human dentists have to be.
They are dental technicians for a reason!!
If somebody is going to put metal implements into my horse's head I'd rather they spent 6 years at vet school being continually examined than anything like what the technician course amounts to.
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I disagree with this, my EDT has constant regular training, I was among his first clients, and he only used manual tools, he spent enough time with my boy [I gave him 2ml of Sedolin] as it was his first time, there were no problems, and he had not needed it since. He now uses power tools, and explains that the teeth are not to be rounded off, but left with enough edge to cope with chewing.
The vet did my boy the last time [she was here for a jab], the horse was not happy, she backed him in to a corner, and only spent a minimum of time with the manual rasp. She did not give me any feedback, did not use Hibiscrub, and that is the last time she will be doing him.
 
Most competent EDT’s will work without sedation if the horse is happy for them to do so – on occasions it takes time and patience to reassure them. However if the horse is not going to settle to allow the work to be carried out safely for all concerned then sedation is obviously required.

The major concern I have is that I know there are EDTs (some of whom are well known and work throughout the UK) who are not qualified vets that sedate horses and many of their clients seem unaware that this is illegal. I often wonder who is supplying these EDTs with the drugs, needles and syringes and perhaps, more importantly, what would happen if the horse reacted unfavourably to the drugs used? I assume the EDT would be unlikely to have the necessary equipment and drugs necessary to treat the horse in this case and also their insurer (if they hold any) and that of the horse owner would doubtless wash their hands of any liability too.
 
I guess a lot depends on the horse. I have mine sedated as routine for dental raspings as they are big and powerful and not likely to stand quietly for 20 mins whilst a stranger sticks a selection of weird instruments into their mouth. Id rather the horse was still and the technician able to do their job 100% properly. That said, if I had a quiet and perfectly co-coperative horse or pony - Id also be happy for them not to be sedated just as long as I knew the technican had full and unhindered access to their mouth during the job.

OP: if you think your horse wont need sedation and your current technician is insisting on it (and youre not happy about that) - look for someone else to do the job but ask in advance of booking them whether they also insist upon sedation.
 
A dentist is not qualified to sedate a horse. Only a vet is. I personally use my vet for dental work, and I do get mine sedated. Simply because they don't like the gag, and I want the vet to be able to do a thorough job and I don't want to get bashed by an unhappy horse.
 
Ha ha ha! I KNOW which vets you are using OP! They ALWAYS sedate as a matter of course; then sting the hard-pushed owners for yet more on the bill, PLUS you'll see a little thing called "injection fee" which if my memory serves me right is about seven quid, added on your bill. Am I right?

My boy was done by this certain big equine/farm vets (have the name of a certain Welsh Saint beginning with D????!!!) when he was at working livery; he'd never needed sedation before and always stood fine for any dental work, so I was very surprised when they said he'd be sedated.

I would personally challenge the need for it.
 
There's an EDT local to us who won't do a horse without sedation if it so much as blinks at him in an agressive manner. So we don't use him! Our EDT only needs to sedate for dremelling etc. I've never known him need to sedate anything purely on the grounds of behaviour.
 
My dentist uses power tools on my lad while he's having his teeth done... And he falls asleep (without the sedation! hehe)!

He LOVES the dentist ... he is a bit weird tho! :D

.... So, on that basis, if my dentist had told me that I had to sedate, I would be very cross (and find another dentist!)!! I believe there is no need to sedate a horse unless absolutely necessary!

... now, clipping is a different story! lol! :rolleyes:
 
Our EDT has never had to request sedation for ANY of our ponies, even the silly old 21 year old baggage whose first response to anyone strange is to go up (which she did) came down and he said right then now you have that out of your system we will crack on! And she stood like a lamb whilst he used power tools.
BUT I asked his opinion on sedating and he will tell me truthfully if he thought one needed sedating, rather than put himself, the animal and the handler at risk.
Common Sense.
 
frozzy said:
Our EDT has never had to request sedation for ANY of our ponies, even the silly old 21 year old baggage whose first response to anyone strange is to go up (which she did) came down and he said right then now you have that out of your system we will crack on! And she stood like a lamb whilst he used power tools.
BUT I asked his opinion on sedating and he will tell me truthfully if he thought one needed sedating, rather than put himself, the animal and the handler at risk.
Common Sense.
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Thank you frozzy :)
 
Unfortunately for my boy his previous owners didnt seem to have looked at his teeth (ever) and when I got him he had to have the electric rasp and was sedated (to remove x 4 hooks). Here is is ready and waiting for the dentist:

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Before and after pics:

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I suppose it depends on how the horse behaves for the dentist but i have never had my 2 sedated and my dentist only uses it as a last resort. My friends horse used to always have to be sedated with her old dentist, however since she changed to the 1 I use she has never needed sedation :)
 
icyfreya said:
Got the dentist coming out to do my horses teeth on friday, and as he's my first, haven't actually done this before. However, at the livery I used to work at I held the horses for the dentist many a time, and I don't think they were ever sedated? (unless it's really mild and I didn't notice?)

But my dentist told my mum that it was 'standard practise', and that it's their policy to sedate all horses. My boy is generally very placid, and it's an extra £30, so if it's not necessary I'd rather not have it done, so is it general practise for all dentists or is it just this one particular dentist? :)
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Having trailed round over 130 horses in one yard (over 2 days) with the dentist, it is NOT standard practise. We try them and if it is a bad one then yes we get the vet to nip out and give it a needle. Two of mine have needles as they are very bad but we know this hence they are sedated! If your horse has a quiet disposition I would not be wanting to sedate it first time for the dentist. Can you look for another dentist in your area?
 
neither of mine get sedated. Depends on the horse but I wouldnt say its STANDARD, typical vet though, they usually sedate. I find EDT's will try without and make a judgement first.
 
My horse was seen by an EDT a handful of times and she was easy to do and really good.
The next time she was due, I couldn't get an EDT so had the vet come out. She put her head up slightly and he said he was going to sedate her. I was shocked but agreed. They did her the next year and again, went straight to sedation.

A couple of months ago I had an EDT in. She was fantastic and spent time with my litte one getting her used to the gag etc without doing any work.
She then came to Tilly. Well, one hour later and the job still wasn't complete. The horse was throwing her head up and down. EDT advised that she has seen this a lot. Horses that are no problem, have a vet out who immediately sedate and then the next time they're done wthout sedation, they fight.

The pro has to stay safe as they have to be able to work but why sedate in the first place if the horse doesn't need it.

My EDT is coming out again and we're doing the work in stages on Tilly. EDT is calm and quiet with her and absolutely brilliant. She was getting tired and at one point admitted defeat and reccommended sedation. I was heartbroken (pony is quiet and fab) but understood. I wasn't willing to put EDT at risk.
Well, EDT continued and managed to get somewhere with Tilly. They left it on a good note.

Afterwards, she said the disappointment on my face when she mentioned sedation urged her to persevere. I'm lucky to have an EDT who is willing to help with patience and take the time it takes to get pony settled again.

It's just my luck youngster had wolf teeth and had to be sedated for these to be removed. Fingers crossed she is ok next time.

With vets, yes I would say it seems to me to be standard practice.
With EDT, no it doesn't seem to be standard practice.
This is just my opinion from my experiences and what I've heard. :)
 
My horse was seen by an EDT a handful of times and she was easy to do and really good.
The next time she was due, I couldn't get an EDT so had the vet come out. She put her head up slightly and he said he was going to sedate her. I was shocked but agreed. They did her the next year and again, went straight to sedation.

A couple of months ago I had an EDT in. She was fantastic and spent time with my litte one getting her used to the gag etc without doing any work.
She then came to Tilly. Well, one hour later and the job still wasn't complete. The horse was throwing her head up and down. EDT advised that she has seen this a lot. Horses that are no problem, have a vet out who immediately sedate and then the next time they're done wthout sedation, they fight.

The pro has to stay safe as they have to be able to work but why sedate in the first place if the horse doesn't need it.

My EDT is coming out again and we're doing the work in stages on Tilly. EDT is calm and quiet with her and absolutely brilliant. She was getting tired and at one point admitted defeat and reccommended sedation. I was heartbroken (pony is quiet and fab) but understood. I wasn't willing to put EDT at risk.
Well, EDT continued and managed to get somewhere with Tilly. They left it on a good note.

Afterwards, she said the disappointment on my face when she mentioned sedation urged her to persevere. I'm lucky to have an EDT who is willing to help with patience and take the time it takes to get pony settled again.

It's just my luck youngster had wolf teeth and had to be sedated for these to be removed. Fingers crossed she is ok next time.

With vets, yes I would say it seems to me to be standard practice.
With EDT, no it doesn't seem to be standard practice.
This is just my opinion from my experiences and what I've heard. :)
 
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