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Most horses need a professional dental exam every 8–10 months. Young horses under 5 and seniors over 15 usually benefit from checks every 6 months because their teeth change or wear faster. At Equifarm Vet, we recommend routine preventive care rather than waiting for problems to appear.
Every visit includes:
This allows us to assess every tooth, not just the front ones.
Equine dental floating smooths sharp enamel points and corrects uneven wear. We use modern lightweight motorized instruments. This improves chewing comfort, digestion, and performance under saddle. It also allows us to diagnose and treat dental disease, improving the welfare for your horse.
Sedation allows a thorough, safe, and precise exam of the back teeth. Without sedation, important problems are often missed and treatment quality is reduced. We use registered products and not compounded products for sedation, allowing us to get a very consistent, reliable and safe sedation every time. We prioritize safety and quality care at every appointment.
Compounding is the process of combining, mixing, or altering ingredients to create a medication tailored to the needs of a patient. They are not reviewed for safety or efficacy, therefore may pose risks, including contamination or inaccurate potency.
In veterinary medicine we are forced to rely on compounding to create a drug that has a stronger concentration e.g. to have the smallest volume of drug to fit into a dart or make a medication that we can give into the mouth instead of injections for long-time therapy. It is generally not used when a registered product is available and therefore we use registered drugs for sedation and not compounded drugs.
Horses are prey animals and they do not often show signs of dental pain. Therefore your horse's mouth needs to be examined with a dental mirror or video oroscope every 8–10 months to look for signs of pain.
Sometimes you might see the following:
If your horse did not have a dental where he was sedated with his head rested on a headstand and each tooth examined with a dental mirror or oroscope, book a dental exam with Equifarm Veterinary Practice.
Wolf teeth in horses are small, upper-premolar teeth that erupt just in front of the first cheek teeth. As evolutionary remnants, they are often 1–3 cm in size and serve no functional purpose. If they are causing pain or discomfort by interfering with the bit, removal is recommended. Your vet should apply local anesthetic when removing these and they should not be removed by a dental technician.
Routine visits usually take 30 to 45 minutes. More complex treatments may take longer. As a mobile equine veterinary service, we perform dentistry at your yard for convenience and minimal stress to your horse.
We use modern lightweight motorized instruments. We have received the proper training in order to use these correctly and safely as a lot of damage can be caused if used incorrectly.
Once fully awake and swallowing normally, usually 1 to 2 hours after the procedure.
You should use a professional that has had training in modern equine dentistry to be responsible for your horse's dental health. Not all veterinarians have further training in dentistry. Another important consideration is that dental technicians may not sedate horses. It is a serious criminal offense for a layperson to sedate a horse. We received training in modern equine dentistry and have done over 600 dentals thus far.
Core vaccines typically include African horse sickness, tetanus, and rabies. Equine influenza is required for competing in equestrian events. To keep track of your vaccinations and make sure you are eligible for competing, we send you vaccination reminders before they are due.
There is no one-size-fits-all program. Strategic deworming based on a risk assessment and fecal egg counts is more effective and reduces resistance. We help you design a stable plan that targets the right parasites at the right time.
A body temperature at or below 38.6°C in mature horses is considered normal. Anything above this may indicate infection or inflammation. Lethargy, poor appetite, or nasal discharge are also warning signs. Call us if you are unsure.
Call early for colic signs, lameness, wounds (especially near joints), breathing difficulty, fever, eye injuries, or sudden behaviour changes. Early treatment is usually simpler, cheaper, and more successful.
Pawing, looking at the flank, lying down and getting up repeatedly, rolling, reduced appetite, no or little defaecation, or quiet behaviour. Any of these can be early colic.
Remove feed, walk the horse if it is safe to do so, take vital signs if you can, and call us straight away. Do not wait to see if it passes. Do not administer any medication.
Yes. We offer emergency equine veterinary services because some problems cannot wait until morning.
If lameness lasts more than a few days or keeps returning, book an exam. Early diagnosis prevents small issues from becoming chronic injuries.
Pain often shows as resistance, bucking, short strides, reluctance to work, or behaviour changes. You know your horse best so if you pick up any change in behaviour you should ask your veterinarian to investigate.
Yes. Teamwork between vet and farrier gives the best outcomes. Hoof balance is critical for soundness.
Coughing, nasal discharge, reduced stamina, flared nostrils, or laboured breathing. Performance horses may simply feel flat.
Some horses benefit from it as part of a broader plan. It is supportive, not a replacement for good management and veterinary care.
Common causes include parasites, allergies, or sweet itch. We identify the cause before starting treatment.
Sweet itch is an allergic reaction to insect bites. Prevention is key. Fly control, rugs, and early treatment reduce flare-ups.
Deep, gaping, contaminated, or joint-adjacent wounds should be seen quickly. Early stitching improves healing and reduces scarring.
Start with good quality forage, then adjust energy and protein to match work level. We tailor diets to your horse's needs.
Aim for at least 1.5 to 2 percent of body weight per day in forage. More is usually better for gut health. For a 500 kg horse that is 8–10 kg of good quality grass.
If pain is severe and the horse does not take weight on the limb, swelling extends up the limb, or it does not improve in 3–5 days of poulticing.
Yes. Exams include a five-stage pre-purchase exam. Survey radiographs, ultrasound, and dental and oral examination are not included in the price but can be requested.
History, examination, gait assessment in hand and ridden, flexion tests, nerve and joint blocks. This pinpoints the source of pain. Then we use digital X-rays or ultrasound to look for the pathology.
Yes. We are a mobile equine practice and treat horses on your farm or at the stables. We however do have a purpose-built facility with stabling available.
We cover a wide service area. Contact us to confirm availability for your location.
Compassionate care. Modern medicine. Helping horses live longer, healthier, and more competitive lives.
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