Oldest you have known a horse to lose a baby tooth?

[horsemadelsie]

Have done a bit of googling but can't find anything- what is the oldest you have known a horse/pony to lose a baby tooth?
I have owned my Shetland since 18 months, and he has always been a complete wimp when a baby tooth has come out- once he wouldn't eat hay for a week, any feed he did eat had to be soaked until liquid. He is now 7 years old, and the last couple of days has started to be reluctant to eat his hay, spitting quite a bit out- exactly the same as when he last lost a baby tooth. He had his teeth done by the vets a few months ago and all was fine, I will give them a call for their advice, but don't want them running over here for nothing!
He did eat more yesterday, and funnily enough manages to eat long, lush grass perfectly well, even though he isn't allowed it because of his EMS! (Shetland pony has learnt he is stronger than my Dad, so takes him for trips to grassy spots, but behaves impeccably for everyone else!)
Is 7 too old for a tooth to be coming out? Should I be worried it's an abscess or something? He is perfectly bright and happy in himself, and eats hard feed and grass fine, it's only the hay he is having issues with. Thank you

 

[horsemadelsie]

Update: He is eating fine this morning! Strange pony. Would still love to hear peoples experiences regarding baby teeth though

 

[JillA]

If his teeth were done a few months ago and he had still retained some of his milk teeth at 7 years of age I would have expected them to mention it - normally, incisors shed at 3, 4 and 5 years of age (inner, middle and outer respectively) that's how they tell a young horse's age. Are you sure he hasn't got a block of food wedged between his molars?

 

[horsemadelsie]

Are you sure he hasn't got a block of food wedged between his molars?

Possibly this was the problem. I couldn't see anything unusual when I had a look in his mouth, but then he squirms a lot and has a very tiny mouth, it's impossible to see right to the back! Whatever it was seems to have cleared itself yesterday morning, he has eaten every scrap of food in the past 24 hours, Shetland style!