Wolf teeth - dentist or vet?

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Allie5

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I had the vet out this morning and for his own interest he had a look at Tommys teeth as he's just a baby (two in July) Vet said Tommys wolf teeth were enormous and would need taking out. I'll be honest and say despite 22 years around horses I've never been in this situation! They don't look that big to me but then I don't know how big they should be! I trust my vet though and Tommy has been a bit uncomfortable in his mouth the past few weeks so I think they do need to come out. So the question is do I get the vet to do it? Or a dentist? My gut is saying vet as it's such a big procedure to get the roots etc out. On the other hand a dentist is specifically trained to deal with horses teeth/mouth conformation etc. What do you all think? Vet or dentist?
 
Vet.

Wolf teeth dont look big compared to the other teeth but their roots can break off on removal. Definately vet, then the horse can be sedated and have pain relief.

I wouldnt like a tooth to be removed without drugs!
 
Had my 2yo boys wolf teeth out last week. The vet came and sedated but the dentist removed the teeth. My vet actually said it was better if a qualified EDT did the job as she feels that is their area of specialty. Also the EDT said some teeth have roots but others are attatched to the jaw bone. My vet said she had seen 2 horses with broken jaws where the "dentist" had chipped away to get these "roots" out. Apparently if they are attatched directly to the jaw you just sort of clip them off. (Bet I have got that wrong:p). Anyway her point was a good EDT will know. A vet or a bad EDT may not.
Both my lad and my friends boy had them done easily and were happy and eating that evening.
 
So maybe have them both there? I wouldn't want anyone ripping teeth out with drugs. But then again I have heard a few horror stories about bad EDTs. Do you think the two would actually work together to do it?
 
I would say a vet for sedating and a qualified EDT to remove the wolf teeth. It is usually a quick procedure, at 2 years old they *should* be pulled out quite easily as they have shallow roots....however you never know how it is going to go/root longer than originally thought until you get stuck in!

Vets and EDTs work together frequently so should be no problem. Most owners will try to synchronize dentist and vet together so whilst the vet is there to sedate you can also get your vaccinations done :)
 
My vet does teeth as well - he was brilliant when he did Jack's wolf teeth - they proved to be quite a challenge for him!! and poor Jack had to be double dosed with sedative but he was a 4 year old & so the roots were pretty big. Required some effort, quite a bit of blood but Jack was back doing what he loves... eating the same day.

In fact got the vet coming out on Tuesday to sort his teeth out because i think they're causing him some grief yet i couldn't get the qualified EDT out until beginning of June beause she is so busy... popular lady i do believe.
 
Mine had his wolf teeth removed a few years back he had top and bottom wolf teeth vet sedated him an stayed present throughout but had the dentist take the teeth out
 
The wolf teeth actually have very shallow roots (they are used for fighting and therefore in the wild have to be expendable) and I have know dentists just remove them there and then, but despite this I would still want some sort of anesthetic for my horse therefore vet should be involved.
 
Def dentist, in my opinion. Vets are not specifically trained to do teeth. I know it's double whammy money wise as vet needs to sedate, but i'd go for it. Dentist does all mine. I think you wouldnt go to your gp to have a tooth out, so why send horse to vet!!!
 
how much roughly does this cost, to have sedadtion and then to remove the wolf teeth, by boy is 2 now and i want them out but ive gone with vets advice and they said to only remove them if there causing him any discomfort, hes not showing any signs but should i still have them out??

p.s sorry for hijacking your post ;)
 
Orionstar said:
The wolf teeth actually have very shallow roots
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SOME wolf teeth have very shallow roots - some do not!! I always have my vet take out wolf teeth - as he is at LEAST as good as my good EDT on teeth generally - and sedation is essential. Why have two people there to do a one person job.

If your vet ISN'T much good on teeth, then vet and EDT together.

how much roughly does this cost, to have sedadtion and then to remove the wolf teeth, by boy is 2 now and i want them out but ive gone with vets advice and they said to only remove them if there causing him any discomfort, hes not showing any signs but should i still have them out??
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I always have them done as if they DO cause trouble, it then - at best - interrupts the backing process; at worst, it causes discomfort - even pain - at backing time!

The last couple I had done, the total was under £80 per horse including the drugs (which are expensive) and a full floating, incluing putting in bit seats. But that was with just a part-visit charge as we virtually never (except in after hours emergencies) have just one horse seen.
 
By the book there is a set procedure that should be followed ;

X-rays should be taken before the extraction to establish the length of the tooth , its possition below the gum line , and in the case of wolf teeth to established that there hasnt been a "joining" of the 5th(wolf) and the 6th(premolar).

The Extraction should be performed taking great care in relation to the palatal artery. One slip and you damage this and you are in a world of trouble as there is a lot of blood flow through this vessel , your going to be glad you have a VET working on the horse if this happens.

After extraction a x-ray should be taken to establish that the tooth is whole and that no fragments have been left. It is impossible to say for certain that this is the case with out this follow up xray.

How many VET's and EDT's follow this procedure though ?
 
VETVETVETVETVETVET!! Deff vet, if theres any complications such as the root snapping horse would need sedating etc therfore have the vet do it!!
 
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