Wolf teeth discussion

Irishcobs

Irishcobs

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 August 2005
Messages
6,174
Visit site
A few weeks ago the EDT came out to remove wolf teeth from a 5yr old. This horse had reared with his owner so came to us to sell, we found the wolf teeth and his back was out so no wonder he reared!
The vet was there to sedate the horse.
I was talking to the EDT about wolf teeth and he said that this particular horses wolf teeth were asymmetrical, the left was bigger than the right, which is why he was crooked to ride.
He then said, wolf teeth should be removed as they cause a lot of problems and don't do anything.
The vet disagreed and they had a "discussion" about wolf teeth, the vet saying if they don't effect the horse then they don't need to be removed and the EDT saying most wolf teeth will cause problems later in the horses life etc.
Now my vet told me a few years ago that my Gypsy had one wolf tooth but it wasn't effecting him so we should leave it. I noticed how crooked he was to ride but put that down to him being wonky. When I told the EDT he said it would be the wolf tooth making him crooked and he came to have a look. It actually turned out Gypsy had lost both of his wolf teeth on his own but probably had a few years of discomfort in his mouth while he was loosing them.
The same EDT removed the wolf teeth from my 3yr old last year before we started to back him, on my request.

So what are your views?
 
I have 7 horses, only one of them had the wolf teeth removed as I believe that if they don't interfere with bitting, they should be left alone.
Surely, if they don't cause any issues, it's only subjecting a horse to an unnecessary sedation and procedure AND wasting money...
Although I'm not sure if you should listen to me as I also use my vet for the teeth...
 
my old horse had wolf teeth, and was put to sleep in her 20's and they never caused her any problems, the EDT visited her every 6 months for the 12 years i had her and said that unless she had any problems with them they should stay in her mouth. i have noticed recently that there is a 'fashion' to have them removed - i'm not sure how i feel about it, the old saying 'if it aint broke, dont fix it' springs to mind. although if they are causing pain or discomfort then i do think they should come out...
 
I’m with your EDT on this one, take them out always. It’s generally (I know there are always exceptions) an easy procedure, and in my opinion taking them just means the issue of discomfort just isn’t there. Both Bodey and Badger had theirs out, all very straight forward.
 
I like the idea of keeping them in if they are not interfeering, but sooner or later they prob will- so might as will take them out when you have the chance instead of wondering for ages why your horse is misbehaving? Indies were taken out as a three year old- vet did it he came for jabs and teeth check- said her wolf teeth are through I'll just wip them out for you- and he did!
 
I think wolf teeth cause more of a problem when they stay just under the surface of the gum or only slightly erupt. However where they lie in the mouth is very close to the bit so i personally would have them removed in a ridden horse. They have shallow roots and if done by a competant vet they rarely cause a problem to be removed. I think there is more chance they will cause a problem if left than they do being removed.
 
My 4 yr old had hers taken out last Weds, felt a bit sorry for herself when she was coming out of sedation but has otherwise been fine
smile.gif


She will properly start work with a bridle tomorrow / weds with a bridle / bit back on.

I had my EDT remove them and it was v. quick (though vet sedated
smile.gif
) Wasn't tremendously expensive either and I'd rather they were removed now than caused problems later.
 
My EDT removed Genie's wolf teeth in January/February. Didn't take very long, and she was fine. Rode her for just over a week afterwards in a headcollar, and then put a bit back in and she's happy as larry.
 
I would always have them taken out before the horse starts ridden work. My last one had his out as a 3yo by my vet
 
wolf teeth do not really need to come out unless they cause a problem,they are basically baby teeth and unfortunatley if you remove them then the permanent wolf tooth could grow down and will also be bigger,hence why we try and leave them,saying that they can come out on their own which cause the permanents to grow anyway natrually !! we like rasp the wolf teeth down so they are close to the gumline but not on the gumline,so they will not cause a problem to the horse,taking teeth out is a procedure that incures risks,its a if its not broke dont fix it scenario !!
 
[ QUOTE ]
wolf teeth do not really need to come out unless they cause a problem,they are basically baby teeth and unfortunatley if you remove them then the permanent wolf tooth could grow down and will also be bigger,hence why we try and leave them,saying that they can come out on their own which cause the permanents to grow anyway natrually !! we like rasp the wolf teeth down so they are close to the gumline but not on the gumline,so they will not cause a problem to the horse,taking teeth out is a procedure that incures risks,its a if its not broke dont fix it scenario !!

[/ QUOTE ]

Interesting my EDT said you couldn't rasp wolf teeth. He also said that they are just one tooth, not babies that are replaced by adult teeth. Very interesting I will give him a ring in the morning to ask him.
 
yes the fact that wolf teeth are the first premolar tooth means they have the potentuality to have a second permanent tooth,if the first wolf tooth is taken out,by leaving the baby tooth in it can stop the adult tooth erupting,they dont always have an adult wolf tooth come through but there is always a possibility,yes you can rasp down a wolf tooth,there have been no problems doing this,unless it falls out whilst rasping !!!!
 
[ QUOTE ]
yes the fact that wolf teeth are the first premolar tooth means they have the potentuality to have a second permanent tooth,if the first wolf tooth is taken out,by leaving the baby tooth in it can stop the adult tooth erupting,they dont always have an adult wolf tooth come through but there is always a possibility,

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm no EDT or Vet, but what I have read on teething in horses and on wolf teeth disagrees with this. The wolf teeth do not have any deciduous pre-cursors (baby teeth) and so there is no potential for a second wolf tooth to grow where one is removed. Also if it was a baby tooth then surely it would fall out in 100% of cases - I haven't ever heard of horses retaining incisors or molars, so why would they retain 'baby' wolf teeth?!
My youngster had a large wolf tooth removed in January before he was backed, and I would do the same again with future youngsters, as I would rather there wasn't anything there to cause a problem in the first place, and from what I have witnessed it is a fairly simple procedure to remove the wolf tooth.
 
yes wolf teeth are a premolar and some cases i know of that a wolf tooth can grow a permanent one,as i said above not all cases,yes they can retain incisor and premolar caps.
 
I don't think they should be removed unless they are causing a problem or are in a position/state to cause one in later life. But unfortunately in most horses in whom they erupt, they DO cause a problem and as such should be taken out as soon as possible.
 
[ QUOTE ]
yes wolf teeth are a premolar and some cases i know of that a wolf tooth can grow a permanent one,as i said above not all cases,yes they can retain incisor and premolar caps.

[/ QUOTE ]

Caps are probably the biggest worry with youngsters because they can interfere with the permanent teeth coming through and cause diastema.

I have wolf teeth removed before backing. They cause problems in a lot of cases - often not the ones you expect trouble - and you only know they're a problem when the horse gets 'difficult' in his mouth.

This is the collection that came out of the mouth of a 3 year old filly we are just backing. Three wolf teeth - two with VERY deep roots - and five caps!

teeth 002.JPG
 
Always take them out - it doesn't take much to remove them and nine times out of ten they cause problems.

They have very shallow roots and if knocked they hurt!

Most horses are quite happy to have them removed without any sedation, especially if they are small.
 
Whatever the age of the horse, it can have wolf teeth. Did you know that horses could have up to as many as 10 wolf teeth? They date back to the first horse, Eohippus, when horses had 7 molars in each arcade. The wolf tooth is actually a remnant of the roots of a premolar, or the 7th molar. As a premolar it has the capabilities of having a baby or deciduous tooth. These teeth can occur on the top and bottom arcades.

this was taken form a website,they are a premolar and can have an adult tooth,as i have said all along,they do not all have another that will erupt ! also unless the tooth is causeing a propblem they do not need to come out,experiance has shown us that the wolf teeth are becoming more deep set in to the bone and if broken when removing it could be a worse situation than being left intact,with proper bitting you can avoid contact with the wolf teeth unless the teeth are quite big.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top