Wolf Tooth

[Kate260881]

I have had the vet out today and discovered the reason Penny doesn't want her bridle on is because she has a wolf tooth that the bit is banging against. So now I feel horribly guilty for riding her when there was a problem. On the good side, the vet is out again on Wednesday to operate and take it out.

I just wondered if anybody had had any experience of wolf teeth or the operation to take them out. I know I won't be able to put a bit in for about 2 weeks so will be trying her out in a hackamore.

Poor girly

 

[pinktiger]

as far as my experience with wolf teeth goes, unless they are inbedded or infected (at root), is a simple case of popping them out, horse sedated a little and vet has to make sure has whole of wolf tooth and no debris left bhind!!

 

[GillianStone]

Hi I'm an EDT. Wolf teeth are a bit of a mixed bag. Some horses have real problems with them, other none at all. I always recommend removing if the horse has mouth problems and would leave well alone otherwise. It's a very straightforward procedure to remove them and I'm suprised you have been told not to bit for 2 weeks. Normally a couple of days is fine. In the racing barns in the USA they remove them in the morning and the horses are on the track racing in the afternoon! (The do think we mollycoddle our equines!).
As pinktiger says, it is IMPERATIVE the whole tooth is removed as fragments are ofen the cause of very bad behaviour - they feel like slivers of needles in the mouth. Good luck I'm sure Penny will be fine.

 

[laura_1983]

my pony had 2 wolf teeth out a few months ago, equine dentist done it with freeze on his gums and it took 10 mins if that, it was done in his field and he was back grazing straight away then bridled and walked in hand 3 days later and ridden the day after that in walk, back trotting and cantering over week after that!! i wouldnt say 2 weeks before you bridle/ride again and operate is a strong word for it. i know vets will sedate rather than freeze but other than that i cant see what difference there is.

 

[pocket]

Ralph has wolf teeth and the vet has advised me to leave them be unless they cause problems....touch wood so far so good and that was about 4 years ago. He's ridden in a snaffle with flash or double and ok.

However, my pony back in the 80's had his removed and that was done under sedation, so no drama's