Wolf teeth removal.

[Laddy]

Hi I’m sure this has been ask before but I would really appreciate some advice, opinions on wolf teeth removal. My raising three filly was checked today by my dentist and has thembut he was of the opinion views have changed and it’s probably best to leave them, unless they become an obvious problem. My ridden mares were removed by my vet at three prior to backing. Very Undecided. Photo for reference.

 

[ycbm]

My vets have been following the line that unless they are causing problems they should be left alone for at least 10 years. They are are generally tiny and nowhere near touching the bit.
.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Hm. Interesting. I had my long yearlings wolf teeth extracted. I've always just sort of done it by default with a horse that will be ridden with a bit. Vet was out for vaccines and a float/dental check, so he just removed them then.

Perhaps I'll be more tempted to leave them in the future.

 

[Sossigpoker]

My gelding had his removed at around 4.
He had some other issues so I thought the last thing he needs is potentially dental issues on top. It's such an easy procedure that I thought why not.

 

[JBM]

My gelding still has his at 5..I don’t see a problem currently as the bit doesn’t seem to go anywhere near them. They seem to build up tartar a lot faster than his other teeth is the only thing I’ve noticed
3yo unknown dentist be coming in summer to have a lookie
21yo mare had them removed before I got her

 

[Caol Ila]

Wish I'd gotten Hermosa's removed before bitting her. She was really accepting of the bit, until one day she wasn't. I called the vet and he said they were loose and probably uncomfortable. Whipped those suckers out, but horse has been dubious about the bit ever since. I'm starting her bitless.

 

[Gamebird]

My gelding still has his at 5..I don’t see a problem currently as the bit doesn’t seem to go anywhere near them. They seem to build up tartar a lot faster than his other teeth is the only thing I’ve noticed
3yo unknown dentist be coming in summer to have a lookie
21yo mare had them removed before I got her

I suspect that if you can easily see them, and they have tartar on, that you're looking at your horse's canines, not his wolf teeth.

 

[Birker2020]

Lari had his wolf tooth out last year, the EDT seemed very keen to remove it. I think it traumatised him a bit, the EDT wanted to take it out without the vet as he said they were just 'caps' and would come out easily enough. I said no, it wasn't fair and I felt he should be sedated as was suggested on here.

He said that some of his bottom teeth were missing, cheek teeth I think he said, but he said that he could have been born with this.

This last time he did his teeth he said if he had to rasp them again he would need sedating as he was very difficult. I think he was traumatised, not saying the EDT or vet were at fault, I just think he found it very intimidating with two burly men in his stable at the same time.

 

[ycbm]

Wolf teeth are usually tiny and usually only on the top immediately in front of the first cheek tooth. I've always found it difficult to understand why they would interfere with a correctly used bit so I was happy my vets won't normally remove them. They did take them out of a young horse I bought where they were far bigger than normal.
.

 

[Gamebird]

Lari had his wolf tooth out last year, the EDT seemed very keen to remove it. I think it traumatised him a bit, the EDT wanted to take it out without the vet as he said they were just 'caps' and would come out easily enough. I said no, it wasn't fair and I felt he should be sedated as was suggested on here.

That is actually illegal. Wolf teeth (and only those that are fully erupted and non-displaced) can only be removed by a qualified and DEFRA-recognised EDT with direct and continuous supervision from a vet. Apart from the legalities, not having the horse sedated and given a local anaesthetic block is a) inhumane, and b) massively increases the chances of the roots fracturing off and being left if the horse moves.

I know that back in the day non-professionals removed wolf teeth without sedation all the time (my husband and his father used to take wolf teeth out of the breakers that were sent to them back in the 80s and early 90s), however that doesn't make it right. Back then horses were also gelded by non-professionals too, without sedatioin or local anaesthesia or pain-relief, but we wouldn't dream of doing that now.

With something so delicate (it's a mouth...!) and so important to the ridden future of the horse I cannot even begin to countenance why anyone would go taking teeth out on a wing and a prayer like that. There's even a law against it!!

 

[Sossigpoker]

That is actually illegal. Wolf teeth (and only those that are fully erupted and non-displaced) can only be removed by a qualified and DEFRA-recognised EDT with direct and continuous supervision from a vet. Apart from the legalities, not having the horse sedated and given a local anaesthetic block is a) inhumane, and b) massively increases the chances of the roots fracturing off and being left if the horse moves.

I know that back in the day non-professionals removed wolf teeth without sedation all the time (my husband and his father used to take wolf teeth out of the breakers that were sent to them back in the 80s and early 90s), however that doesn't make it right. Back then horses were also gelded by non-professionals too, without sedatioin or local anaesthesia or pain-relief, but we wouldn't dream of doing that now.

With something so delicate (it's a mouth...!) and so important to the ridden future of the horse I cannot even begin to countenance why anyone would go taking teeth out on a wing and a prayer like that. There's even a law against it!!

A dentist can remove teeth as long as they don't need to cut into anything.
But this would be done without sedation so not sure why any owner would choose this option.

 

[twiggy2]

My vets have been following the line that unless they are causing problems they should be left alone for at least 10 years. They are are generally tiny and nowhere near touching the bit.
.

Mine too, that said my mare had hers removed as they were huge and after telling me about how they would normally leave them and they are rarely a problem ha had a look amd changed his mind, had to take her in for the EDT to remove them with vets in attendance amd administering drugs.

 

[Birker2020]

That is actually illegal. Wolf teeth (and only those that are fully erupted and non-displaced) can only be removed by a qualified and DEFRA-recognised EDT with direct and continuous supervision from a vet. Apart from the legalities, not having the horse sedated and given a local anaesthetic block is a) inhumane, and b) massively increases the chances of the roots fracturing off and being left if the horse moves.

I know that back in the day non-professionals removed wolf teeth without sedation all the time (my husband and his father used to take wolf teeth out of the breakers that were sent to them back in the 80s and early 90s), however that doesn't make it right. Back then horses were also gelded by non-professionals too, without sedatioin or local anaesthesia or pain-relief, but we wouldn't dream of doing that now.

With something so delicate (it's a mouth...!) and so important to the ridden future of the horse I cannot even begin to countenance why anyone would go taking teeth out on a wing and a prayer like that. There's even a law against it!!

Well I'm glad I made sure he was sedated and had pain relief, even though they were only small.

 

[Birker2020]

A dentist can remove teeth as long as they don't need to cut into anything.
But this would be done without sedation so not sure why any owner would choose this option.

Because my horse was scared of men (probably apprehensive would be a better word) and was 'quite flighty' so it was considered less traumatic to him to sedate him and it was safer too.

I'd only had him a couple of weeks and he was in his stable kicking the door. I raised my finger to him and said in a stern voice NO. Then a few seconds later with the incident forgotten about I went into his stable to get his feed bowl and he shot to the back of the stable rolling his eyes, obviously anticipating a good beating. So somewhere in his life he's been mistreated by a man or men, he isn't like this anymore by the way, it was just how he was at the time, I have tapped him on the nose from time to time when he has bitten me and he's never reacted like this. I don't 'beat him over the head again and again and again' as was reported on this forum by some lovely kind soul

When the EDT came out to him a few weeks ago he said next time he would need sedating. He was going to the blood bank at the time so I wasn't that bothered. Now he's going to retirement it will be something I will bear in mind for next time.

I would like to say my EDT is very professional in what he does. I rate him highly, its not his fault Lari is apprehensive but nor is it Lari's.

Sorry to hijack post OP, just felt I had to answer the question as it was a fair comment S made.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Because my horse was scared of men (probably apprehensive would be a better word) and was 'quite flighty' so it was considered less traumatic to him to sedate him and it was safer too.

I'd only had him a couple of weeks and he was in his stable kicking the door. I raised my finger to him and said in a stern voice NO. Then a few seconds later with the incident forgotten about I went into his stable to get his feed bowl and he shot to the back of the stable rolling his eyes, obviously anticipating a good beating. So somewhere in his life he's been mistreated by a man or men, he isn't like this anymore by the way, it was just how he was at the time, I have tapped him on the nose from time to time when he has bitten me and he's never reacted like this. I don't 'beat him over the head again and again and again' as was reported on this forum by some lovely kind soul

When the EDT came out to him a few weeks ago he said next time he would need sedating. He was going to the blood bank at the time so I wasn't that bothered. Now he's going to retirement it will be something I will bear in mind for next time.

I would like to say my EDT is very professional in what he does. I rate him highly, its not his fault Lari is apprehensive but nor is it Lari's.

Sorry to hijack post OP, just felt I had to answer the question as it was a fair comment S made.

I meant that a dentist removing teeth would be doing so without a sedation as they can't sedate, so I don't know why any owner would choose tooth extraction by a dentist , without sedation,.over extraction by a vet , with sedation.

I know sometimes dentists work with vets so the vet will sedate and the dentist will extract though.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Mine just had his removed at age 3. I didn't really have any choice because they were lower wolf teeth and huge. It took about 3 weeks to heal over. The specialist EDT is only consulted on unusual cases and he said he only sees a lower wolf tooth once a year, sometimes once every two years. Getting two huge ones was very rare and they needed xrays before removal to check how much tooth there was under the gum. I was surprised to see they just have tiny little stalks rather than a root so I can see why they would normally be removed.

Only the rememnants of an upper wolf tooth remained and that was taken out while he was sedated too, because it was affecting the gum.

 

[twiggy2]

I meant that a dentist removing teeth would be doing so without a sedation as they can't sedate, so I don't know why any owner would choose tooth extraction by a dentist , without sedation,.over extraction by a vet , with sedation.

I know sometimes dentists work with vets so the vet will sedate and the dentist will extract though.

Many vets prefer a certain dentist to do the actual removal, as my vet said the dentist we used does teeth all day every day and does a bloody good job the dentist operated and removed teeth are various clinics weekly my vet did not, the vet was the more experienced in the field of dental work and my vet was happy to acknowledge that.

 

[Birker2020]

I meant that a dentist removing teeth would be doing so without a sedation as they can't sedate, so I don't know why any owner would choose tooth extraction by a dentist , without sedation,.over extraction by a vet , with sedation.

I know sometimes dentists work with vets so the vet will sedate and the dentist will extract though.

Probably because they are told "oh its only a quick job, no roots, won't hurt" type of scenario. Which to be fair at the time I would have accepted but then when I came on here everyone was aghast at the suggestion.

I had to walk away, I'm useless with teeth, makes me feel very squeamish.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Mine had fairly large/larger than normal wolf teeth according to the vet, and there was some root there. Obviously, not as much as other teeth though.

I do have a photo, but nothing for scale, so it's hard to tell the size. He was sedated, and healed up well. One was a bit difficult to extract because it wasn't as straight as the other. He healed just fine, and didn't appeared to be bothered.