Stressful equine dentist visit....bit worried!

cblover

cblover

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Hi all, my 3 get their teeth done every six months. My 13 yr old cob and 8 yr old shettie are fine with the dentist and I've worked with my dentist each time he has been here to make my youngster teddy ready for his teeth done. He's been introduced to the gag and both hand and power tools. He's had the odd anxious moment but on the whole he's been ok and accepting of it...albeit non of them like it of course!

Today as he is rising 3, he had his first proper session and he had to have 4 caps removed. Bless him it was a bit stressful and quite a bit blood but we managed. Anyway.....it become more difficult and his behaviour got worse. He's very strong and no amount of reassurance made any difference. I was a bit deflated after all the prep work we'd done. Dentist couldn't continue and he's talking about needing a sedative when he comes back in October.

How are your horses with the dentist? Do you need sedation? Have your youngsters got better with age? He tried for ages not to lift his front legs up but in the end he did rear up a couple of times. I don't want that starting. Thanks folks.
 
Hi there,

I used to have the vet do Shy's teeth (every six months as a baby), BUT he needed so much sedation, he was practically slumped over the thing they stand in. He was terrified, and it was such an ordeal.

When I moved to my current yard, I switched to the lovely old chap they use, who is a real horse whisperer type, wonderful with all the horses. He came on Saturday, and Shy almost leans into the rasp, and he needs no gag at all.
 
I have 2 ponies that I get sedated for dentist. I do this as we have tried on numerous occasions and they get too stressed. So, dentist vet and I decided it was safer, quicker and Dentist can do what he needs to do properly.:)
 
I would always sedate now. We had our ex racer's teeth done as he was head shaking when ridden, all was fine at first, gag in etc, rasping under way, when he suddenly reared up and flipped right over onto the concrete yard, he knocked himself and came to spinning in circles on the ground with blood pouring from his nose. I had to get an emergency vet out, didn't help that the metal gag was still in his mouth at the time. He had fractured his face in 3 places, dislocated his eye socket, broken a piece of bone that was floating behind his eye socket, fractured his shoulder, suspected slip shoulder, took layers of skin and hair off his body and we had to turn him away for 6 months with the understanding that he may never be ridden again. I have had his teeth done twice after that incident and each time, had my vet come out to sedate and watch while his teeth were done by an equine dentist. If your horse has shown any signs of threatening to rear, then I would strongly suggest sedation, a horse will go up if frightened.
 
exracehorse said:
I would always sedate now. We had our ex racer's teeth done as he was head shaking when ridden, all was fine at first, gag in etc, rasping under way, when he suddenly reared up and flipped right over onto the concrete yard, he knocked himself and came to spinning in circles on the ground with blood pouring from his nose. I had to get an emergency vet out, didn't help that the metal gag was still in his mouth at the time. He had fractured his face in 3 places, dislocated his eye socket, broken a piece of bone that was floating behind his eye socket, fractured his shoulder, suspected slip shoulder, took layers of skin and hair off his body and we had to turn him away for 6 months with the understanding that he may never be ridden again. I have had his teeth done twice after that incident and each time, had my vet come out to sedate and watch while his teeth were done by an equine dentist. If your horse has shown any signs of threatening to rear, then I would strongly suggest sedation, a horse will go up if frightened.
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PS, he did recover thank goodness and is doing very well
a>
 
That is what I'm worried about. He did so well for ages and kept his feet on the floor, but poor lad he just had emotion overload and had nowhere else to go. It wasn't a full rear but his feet did leave the ground. I watched him trying to do the right thing tho.
 
I've found different EDT's work better with certain horses. One mare would rear and get very tense but taking her out of the box and doing her on the yard made a big difference. When the pressure got too much, she was free to move and the EDT gave her a moment to compose herself. She did become very good.

Baby used to be stabled with her foster dad while he was being done and she'd be sticking her cheeky little nose in to see what was happening so when she was done, she took it all in her stride, especially with dad standing by.

Haven't had to resort to sedation for rasping yet, but sometimes, getting the right person to match the horse makes the difference.
 
Had my 3 year olds teeth done only last week I was worried stiff but he was a little star my dentist is a lady and is very good with horses she uses the new diamond cutters and they are a brilliant peice of kit he do's have 2 wolf teeth that need to come out and we have booked him in for june to be sedated as she didn't want to do a lot of work at the same time on such a youngster, she wouldn't do it without. He also had his feet looked at had a little rear but the farrier took control and backed him up straight away and turned in a circle he did nothing else again I can't beleive my look as I was so worried about having both these things done after having my cob for 8 years and he's a star !! maybe ive just found 2 people who just have the nack and we all have a way with our horses my friend had her fillys feet done by another farrier and he had to leave her back feet as he couldn't get near her my farrier wouldn't have left that till it was done so I suppose it depends on the people who are dealing with your horses as well if you are not happy move on and find someone who is better, I suppose ive had a lot of dealing with horses and found people who suite me and my horses and don't mess about !!!
 
My current horse is so good to have his teeth done that my vet asked me yesterday if I'd mind his about to qualify to do them. It was students first time and apparently the most difficult thing to learn. Max was great but at one point I think the student was feeling a bit nervous and he started trying to barge through us so they swapped back to the proper vet and max practically fell asleep! It sounds like your dentist is very experienced but could he have been getting frustrated or tense because his muscles were tired if it was very hard work? Just a thought :)
 
Please check your dentist is appropriately qualified, a good place to look is http://www.baedt.com/?c=5357
EDTs should only be removing very loose teeth (unless directly supervised by a vet) therefore there should not be a lot of blood?
With referance to the chap who doesn't use a gag - how does he check to back cheek teeth? Maybe ask next time if you can have a feel to check he is getting the back teeth?
There are a lot of good dentists out there but there are also alot who appear good until you actually inspect the horses mouth, afterall you cannot actually see what they're doing. If they're not registered you have no-one to complain to should things go wrong.
Did your dentist finish the job to his satisfaction? If not he should be coming back sooner then 6 months or refering the case.
Please don't worry about sedation, a light sedation and a good experience is far more educational then a battle.
 
My pony has been abused in the past and certain things send him into a terror. Luckily, my dentist is excellent and makes friends first, gives him regular breaks and massive wither scratches. I have had the dentist today and my pony is better off in an open space so he can move around when he gets worried. He sweats up a little, but generally is very good considering. Did find out today he needs a wolf tooth removing though :( Coming back on Monday with the vet to sedate him. Now needles are a whole new world of terror...
 
Rather than full vet sedation I use Domestin, it's one of the drugs the vet gives IV but you can buy it direct from the vet and give it a bit like a wormer (but under the tongue), works wonders and much much cheaper than vet call out!
 
don't worry
i always insist they bring sedation, and my dentist knows my lad by now and brings plenty otherwise he'll get a hoof through his forehead and his arm bittern off.

It's the only thing my gentleman of a horse can't stand, he seriously wants to kill the dentist. :rolleyes:
I know it's not the dentist as i've tried more than one and all nice folk that without the dentist tools i'm sure my lad would be happy to be around.

still other than that he's perfect and i guess nobody is 100% perfect eh:D
 
I have an EDT who is very good with the horses but of the 9 we have on the yard one of mine has to be sedated (either withnDomosedan gel or vet giving IV sedation)) but the other eight don't need sedation. Zinks isn't afraid he just doesn't like the vibration on his teeth. Without sedation it wouldn't be possible for the EDT to do a proper job. Funnily enough they were all done yesterday.
 
Shysmum said:
Hi there,

I used to have the vet do Shy's teeth (every six months as a baby), BUT he needed so much sedation, he was practically slumped over the thing they stand in. He was terrified, and it was such an ordeal.

When I moved to my current yard, I switched to the lovely old chap they use, who is a real horse whisperer type, wonderful with all the horses. He came on Saturday, and Shy almost leans into the rasp, and he needs no gag at all.
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Whereabouts are you? I am interested to know who your old chap is as sounds very much like our dentist. However, we are trialling a couple of others as I am worried that the little old guy is just that - getting on a bit - and I am worried a bit as last time he tried to do my youngster it was a bit fraught and we had to use a twitch but then there was a wolf tooth to come out that I didn't know about - that just popped out it was very loose!

I have another dentist coming on Tues as i want to know my youngster's teeth are ok as we're doing more proper work now. I am concerned as no doubt he'll use a gag and I am not sure what reaction that will get!!

Polonaise - as for how they get to/see the back teeth, our dentist has his 'assistant' hold the tongue out the side of the mouth and then he can reach the back of the mouth and lets you feel sharp edges etc. All our horses have been done like this over the years and all have been brilliant for the dentist. Only one dentist really upset a horse of ours - it was really a case of "all the gear, no idea". Sure he had the theory and technical knowledgem qualifications etc - was he confident around horses? No. The usually calm horse was terrified when this man entered the stable as he was obviosly nervous and the horse sensed it. That is the only time we've ever had to have a horse sedated and he needed nothing more than routine work. We never had that dentist back again!!!
 
I had my horses's teeth done last April not long after I got him. The dentist turned up, all 5' of him and was a bolshy and mouthy w****r. Horse was 4 at the time and 18 hands and a nervous wreck. Dentist boldly announced my horse was too big and what a stupid woman I was for buying him. Then proceeded to tell me horse needed a good beating to get him into line and let him know who is the boss. Needless to say I hit the tears and ran off. Horse and I were both a complete mess afterwards.
Found a new dentist recently. Completely different story. Horse now 18.3 and started shaking and backing away the minute he saw the dentist's tools. Lovely dentist gave my horse a treat and spent a good ten minutes patting my horse and talking to him in a calm manner. Horse was happy, I was happy and he did his teeth with no worries, no tantrums and with no sedation required for either of us :D
 
The guy I use certainly does them all, and talks me through what he is doing, as I am so nosey about teeth. He's a long way from Leeds, lol.
 
Shysmum said:
The guy I use certainly does them all, and talks me through what he is doing, as I am so nosey about teeth. He's a long way from Leeds, lol.
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Ha! Well, there must be 2 of them then! I don't even know if ours is qualified (with the new type qualifications anyway). I imagine he has just learnt his trade over the years, he usedto be a stable lad many, many years ago and he just has a 'way' with horses from what I can see. Ours have always just been so calm with him, even those who have previously been nervy of other dentists we have before him.

I think much of what makes a great dentist is how they are with the horse. Some are heavy handed and others just don't seem confident. Neither traits work well with horses though!
 
Thanks for all your replies. I feel so guilty that I let it go on for so long. How do you apologise to a horse?

I watched him really try not to rear up but a couple of times he really felt there was no other option. I suggested stopping and the dentist was fair with him...certainly not hitting him or anything. But it was an ordeal and now I feel very guilty that I didn't stop it sooner. I could of totally ruined it forever and I wonder how it will affect mouthing him and putting his bridle on.

In fact I felt more worried that my horses behaviour would embarrass me, rather than looking after him and his experiences. How bad is that ....I'm ashamed!
 
Don't feel bad, we all feel responsible when our horses protest about a procedure. I had a different vet turn up one day in green overalls and a silver bag over his shoulder. He barged straight into my mares stable and went to stick a needle in her without any warning. She protested but finally submitted to having the jab.
She had never reacted like that before or since, it was quite obvious that the vet's approach was to blame, but I said nothing at the time in her defence.
I apologised to her afterwards and never had the vet back but I should have stopped him.

I doubt your horse will have a lasting problem because of one event, a bit of reassurance and patience next time may restore his confidence again.
 
Agree with having the right equine dentist out, we were having head tossing while ridden and I put it down to him being an ex race horse but, when I used a new lady, she showed me how some of his teeth had been missed in the past at the back (under full sedation) and the very back ones were digging into his cheeks and were at the wrong angle. Now, he is working in an outline.
 
I always use sedation a couple of ml for the horse and a couple for me!! I did have an old racehorse who used to rasp his own when the rasp went in he nodded his head. All my others I sedated.
 
It's about getting the right dentist IMO. First one I had out (on the approved list :rolleyes:) just carried on even though my mare was rearing and obviously distressed (this was after heavy sedation) and she was nervous with her bridle, headcollar and even if you tried to brush her face for weeks.
Second one (not on the approved list - recommended him through word of mouth) took his time, gave her a pat and a fuss then tried in the stable first but she started to get wound up so took her outside so she could move if she wanted to. She relaxed straight away and was fine through the whole thing without any sedation. He also explained what he was doing, showed me what he had done and let me have a feel and generally had a good way around horses. Made all the difference :)
 
This is why I always use a dental trained vet you can sedate the horse if you feel the need even after your started.
And thats without my two very bad experiances with EDTs that left one horse damaged permanently.
 
One of mine used to be twitched so we could get the sedation in in order to go anywhere near him....he was simply dangerous .

The vet has worked with over time.....now he just has a light sedation. Next time we are trying him without anything at all.....its down to the vet/EDT I think. My horse is very wary but the vet I use gets him really relaxed and makes a big fuss of him...I'm so pleased how he's coming on.

QQ....how is it possible to do teeth properly without having the gag on?
 
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