Higdon Large Animal Services

Ever wonder how big a horses teeth are? Look at this x-ray and you can see they are very large! This x-ray was actually taken of an older mini horse. Horses are very unique in that they have hypsodont teeth meaning their teeth continuously erupt throughout their lifetime. Watch a horse chew the next time you see it eat. Unlike us, they chew in a circular motion to grind their food rather than an up and down motion. This method of chewing causes their teeth to grind down as they chew. Horses on a lot of pelleted feed, as opposed to pasture/hay, will alter the way they chew causing an irregular dental arcade. As a result, horses occasionally need their teeth “floated” to correct these irregularities. Many horses also have what are termed “wolf teeth” which are very small teeth sitting just ahead of the first premolar. These teeth can be easily irritated by the bit in their mouth, so often times owners elect to have these pulled at an earlier age. If you think your horse may need some help with their dentition, please give us a call today to schedule an appointment. Watch for signs such as quidding (dropping a lot of feed) or changes in how they would normally chew. We would like to take care of your horse friend!

Can’t deny that I have a pretty awesome mother-in-law. When asked what I wanted my grooms cake to be I said it should be veterinary related since my entire line of groomsmen are veterinarians and this is what she surprised me with. Did I mention my wife is in vet school, too?