Removal of caps in horses for owners and edts...

[Queenbee]

Hi there, I've got the dentist coming out on Wednesday for Ben, partly because we are now 5 months since his teeth were checked, but moreover because I'm slightly worried about one of his second/intermediate incisors, it would appear that the cap is a bit reluctant to shift... He lightly knocked his mouth when being clipped, and started to bleed... Only a little bit, but it was what prompted me to have a good gander and it looks like the cap is kind of stuck there, he is eating fine and has been working quite well lately in the saddle, although I have not ridden him since his clip as I want to wait for the edt to give him the all clear. Of course it may all be nothing and the edt will probably tell me I've got myself in a tizz for nothing, but you know what it's like when you get a feeling...

Anyway, has anyone had to have their horses caps physically removed by a dentist/vet? Or are there any dentists/vets who can tell me what i should expect if it needs doing?

Edited to say thanks tfc for the Christmas name change

 

[JanetGeorge]

Anyway, has anyone had to have their horses caps physically removed by a dentist/vet? Or are there any dentists/vets who can tell me what i should expect if it needs doing?

Retained caps can be a serious problem - and you're quite right to be concerned. We always get our 3 year olds checked for them - and check even earlier if there is any sign of unlevelness in the mouth, quidding, loss of condition etc.

A horse with retained caps has an unlevel mouth - the LEAST you can expect is that he will get some very sharp edges rather quickly as the tables of the teeth aren't meeting properly. At worst the horse may end up with a severe diastema (gap between two teeth) which will accumulate food and become infected.

A vet or skilled EDT may be able to prise them off carefully - but it HAS to be done carefully because of the risk of damaging the permanent tooth below. If a cap won't come off, then the mouth needs to be checked again in a month or two when - with luck - it will either have dropped off - or have loosened enough to enable its removal.

 

[Queenbee]

Retained caps can be a serious problem - and you're quite right to be concerned. We always get our 3 year olds checked for them - and check even earlier if there is any sign of unlevelness in the mouth, quidding, loss of condition etc.

A horse with retained caps has an unlevel mouth - the LEAST you can expect is that he will get some very sharp edges rather quickly as the tables of the teeth aren't meeting properly. At worst the horse may end up with a severe diastema (gap between two teeth) which will accumulate food and become infected.

A vet or skilled EDT may be able to prise them off carefully - but it HAS to be done carefully because of the risk of damaging the permanent tooth below. If a cap won't come off, then the mouth needs to be checked again in a month or two when - with luck - it will either have dropped off - or have loosened enough to enable its removal.

Thanks JG, the others fell out with ease... I have three of them as keepsakes both my vet and edt are really well respected down this way so pretty sure if the bugger is an awkward one they can sort it with relative ease... As I said he was all ok five months ago, but this little sucker at the front, well it was just the ease at which he bled from a slight knock, and also I can see a straight line at the bottom of the tooth, which is what made me realise it was a cap, only a small space between it, but not taking anything to chance, I'm picking up some sedaline tomorrow as he only a babe and the edt has power tools he was sedated the last time his teeth were floated and if there is anything going on in there I want the edt to have as easy a time having a thorough look etc. yeah, I'm pretty sure it's going to be a retained one, but I'm also positive that its been caught really early so that's a huge bonus. Will take some pics tomorrow and update on Wednesday post dental visit

 

[Queenbee]

Just to add, currently no evidence of diastema or quidding, he is a good weight and eats everything up with ease

 

[Queenbee]

Just to post a pic... It's a bit blurry but shows the tooth in question... The one on the left seems to be shifting nicely, but the one on the right doesn't... The dentist cancelled tomorrow and is now coming out on Friday...

Hope this comes out ok as am on my ipad