So what would you do with horse that needs teeth doing but complete nightmare

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Hi
I have a mare that is a complete and utter nightmare having her teeth done. She see a vet and attacks if she sees a needle, she has a complete phobia with needles and vets.
So how do I get around the problem, tried sedatives and they don't work. So advice sort.
 
Take her to the vet and get them to put her in the stocks whilst she's sedated and has her teeth done.
 
Whereabouts are you?

I have seen Paul Waudby from Cumbria do a horse that in the past needed sedating by the vet.

I'm sure there must be other EDT's who are patient and experienced in awkward horses who will be able to help, if Paul doesn't cover your area.
 
Wouldn't recommend using the stocks - it will just her worse the next time round.

My boy will only have his teeth rasped whilst he's walking round in a small circle. Guess it stops him feeling trapped.

Sedation doesn't work on him either.
 
Tbh if she needs her teeth doing then I would just get the vet out to sedate, if she has to be twitched to get a needle in then so be it. You need to get a plan of action with your vet anyway for if anything more serious ever requires him to have to come and stick a needle in her, you need a tried and tested method that can be used in an emergency if ever required! If she seems to have a particular phobia of one specific vet then try a different practice/vet.
 
Sorry but wouldn't be able to get mare in to trailer or horsebox and we'd both be stressed out. My vets are great, but she wouldn't let them in her stable even when she had colic, had to mix bute and black treacle and rub it on her gums, it did work wonders. but still back to square one. She has a phobia NEEDLES,VETS and FARRIER not far behind!! She is getting better with farrier as long as she Muzzle on. Vets as long as they just talk to her, rub her ears and no instruments. Have to worm her with either powders or tablets as, as soon as she a syringe you take your life into your own hands.
 
Do you have a very sympathetic dentist in your area who'd be prepared to spend some time working with her? Even if the first few times nothing much gets done it would at least make it a less scary procedure for her. Other tips (from dealing with my own stress head)
- try to pick a time of day that she's most relaxed in
- try not to restrict her more than is absolutely necessary, often they react better if given a chance to make their own decision
- have you tried Rescue Remedy for a few days before hand? It works on some, not on others
- can you give a small amount of Sedalin before each treatment? Wear latex gloves & smear it on your fingers to put in her mouth rather than syringe it in
- stay calm yourself & praise everything she doesn't do wrong
- I find a good scratch on the withers can be very calming. Following today's dentist visit I have no nails left on my right hand!
 
nothing positive to add but i feel your frustration!! i to have a vet phobic needle phobic horse that no form of sedation works on!! luckily he likes my farrier!!im too facing the fact he needs the dentist and dont know where to turn!! people can simply not comprehend that no amount of sedalin or twitching-(intravenous sedation out of question) will work when he just does not wnat to do it-i defy anybody to do any better with 16.1 hh of ID! i hopeyou find a solution
 
irishdraftlover my "special" one is full ID too so I feel your pain! Seriously, if he's anything like mine try to break it down into small pieces, don't rush or put pressure on & be prepared to do a little bit over several visits rather than all in one hit. And most importantly of all keep yourself calm & relaxed.

If you need some restraint because something absolutely has to be done at once then I find holding his nose as tightly as possible to apply a hand twitch is the best option with mine - the cramp in your hand will go away eventually!
 
Racing_Gal while I can't speak for the OP I'll answer your question for my lad.

No, he isn't impossible to inject but it's difficult & can be dangerous. Unfortunately it means IV sedation is pretty useless because he's so wound up from the injection that he fights off the sedative very quickly. He's also far less predictable when doped & that can create more problems than it solves.
 
as a suggestion which may or may not work in regards to sedation as depends on the fear level. One of our ponies would squash vet (and anyone else in vicinity) if came near him whilst in the stable due to fear developed from having two bouts of nasty compaction colic and associated treatement. But he is absolutey fine to be approached by vet outside of the stable. This is the only way can give him his flu jabs etc now! Haven't bothered pressing him with vet in stable as no point when he is fine (well bit nervous but doesn't try to squash anyone or run off!) outside.
 
My Arab hates having his teeth done, so he is sedated (a lot) for the vet to do his teeth. My old mare, when we bought her with foal at foot had teeth so bad that the vet had to actually knock her out and use a hacksaw blade on two of her teeth so that the poor pony could eat.

You really do need to train your horse to accept the needle - supposing he needs a jab as an emergency? You could try clicker training to get him to accept a syringe near him/touching him then use Richard Maxwell's trick of an empty syringe and an elastic band over it to ping to simulate the sting of the injection.

One of my horses died of anaphylactic shock. He did get an adrenalin injection, but sadly too late to save him. But at least we tried, and I would never forgive myself now if one of mine wouldn't accept injections as a matter of course.
 
My mare is the same and my vet lets me give her the injection, I only do it in the muscle so it takes longer to have an effect but she doesn't expect me to do it so I get away with it. I tend to put it in her neck while she has her head over the stable door so no risk to me if she did cotton on!

I also stuff her full of acp beforehand to take some of the edge off.
 
Oh poor you my horse has been through the needle, farrier phobias. I also cant worm with a syringe. I managed to get his vaccination done by bringing him in from the field and as he was walking the vet done it in his bum without him realising. He then reared when the vet came near his head.
Dreading sedation.
Farrier came with practice no shoes just trimming but stand like a lamb, hopefully get front shoes on nect time.
I made sure I got a really patient gentle dentist out as I wasn't sure he had been done before luckily it went fine, he done it outside and took his time doing everything slowly.
To be honest nothing can be worse then his reaction to needles so I wasn't willing to try that for teeth or hooves.

Could you try getting the dentist to come over several sessions to break the process down, maybe do it in the school so if he really freaked use can get out the way and he won't hurt himself.
 
Would twitching help to allow the vet to sedate?

My TB is an absolute pain as soon as he sees a pulling comb, but he'll stand still perfectly for a few minutes and allow me to pull his mane if twitched. If I try to attemp to pull his mane without twitching he lunges violently about and does half rears until I give up. It's amazing how much effect it has on him.
 
My mare was a nightmare and would see off vets and EDT's. What worked with her was the element of surprise. So my vet who knew her well would get ready out of sight, then walk in jab and go before she had a chance to get wound up. The locum who knew better and tried to make friends wasted over an hour trying to calm her down AND I was charged for the return call out then finally, head vet had to come out and follow normal vet's procedure. My mare had been AI'd before I had her which I think is why she was so awful with vets. Might not be the best course having read other replies but with my mare, was the only thing that worked. Needed to be sedated for teeth and clipping but 100% with shoeing.
 
sedative can be given intra muscular too ..easier but takes longer to take effect,,,sedalin beforehand is a possibility,,,,on another note

dentists arnt guini pigs for mis behaved horses so if ones bad surely its better for all concerned to get it sedated somehow,,,amazes me how many people want you to try do a profesional job on a nutcase when ever other profesion would say err dont think so...owners lay out so much money on shoes every 8 week but are hesitant to get a vet out every 6 mnths to sedate for a dentist if needed...seems crazy to me but maybe im just wrong and all dentists should go and crash test mad horses just so they can say they did it whithout sedation!!! but how well is it done as it carears around the stable ect ect there is no real excuse for bad manners but unfortunatly there is a increasing number around with them,,,,,,,,, rant over,,,,must be male pmt
 
if you are in the midlands I use Adrain Brazier - he is a qualified eqiune dentist and horse whisperer. I have personally witnessed him do the most angry or scared of horses, he is amazing to watch....
 
You have my sympathy - I have one like that too.

Luckily, after 12 years he can now be injected (there is hope :) ) but for a long time I used to jab him in the field myself, easy enough if they're a cob with a big behind and the dentist or farrier would do him in the field once the sedatives took effect.

The vet also mentioned that there is a syringe and needle all in one combo that is smaller and can be hidden in your hand so that you don't have to do the place needle and chase the horse round the field so you can attach the syringe to the needle game but I have never used it myself.

This sounds quite extreme but if her teeth are that bad, would it be worth getting someone to dart her? - I've seen this done by the RSPCA about 15 years ago - yes, the TV cameras were there - but it did work in catching a wild colt who had a headcollar ingrown on his head. Mind you, the bit they didn't show on Animal Hospital was that they darted the wrong horse by mistake first time round...........
 
Where are you located John?

Agree with Chris, there is only so much "thrashing around" an EDT can take. Additionally it is dangerous for the owner, horse and EDT and there is only so much an EDT can do when the ned wont keep still.

However, I think you need to find a good EDT who is willing to come out and asses a recommend a plan of action. An experience EDT whom is good with horses will know straight away as to whether it is a no go or not.
 
I got a small pony from a rescue center last year to keep my cob company I was told she had a ''slight dislike for vets but she was getting better'' she was happy to watch the vet do my cobs teeth and vaccinations next door to her and was reaching over the stable to lick the vet. She Was fine when the vet then went into her stable and she was ok so he decided to do her teeth without sedation and she went crazy took 3 lots of sedatoin as she kept breaking the needles she reared up and wraped her legs round my neck and then trod on me when i feel over and kicked me in the head. luckly she dosent need doing again till december:D
 
I agree that you shouldn't be careless and put people in danger. But I don't think sedation is always the answer, especially if your horse has a real issue with needles as this in its self is dangerous and if done frequently could make it nion impossible to do should the horses really need it. Obviously in some case it is the only option but in others working slowing over time to desensitize the horse can work. Finding a professional willing to put in the time and effort and paying for the whole thing is not easy though.
 
i have a similar problem, my mare sees any one who looks like a vet and is on a mission to kill! i had her teeth done last week by the vet i had someone blindfold her (calmly) to she wouldn't be as stressed, she was then sedated and everone got out the stable quick! this seemed to work much better than the vet just running in and jabbing her and no one got hurt :)

you could maybe try this?
 
Many Thanks to everyone, several good ideas, which I shall try as she is a loving mare and slowly gotten better over the years. Did a weightband measurement on her this morning and her weight is 503KG, she's 16hh but not in work with her sweet-itch and breathing problems, and touch wood she hasn't coughed much this winter or spring, but there again the pollen isn't really out yet(she has pollen allergy).:D:D:D:D
 
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