Dental care is an important part of a horse’s health maintenance program. Did you know horses may eat up to 12 hours a day?  Eating wears the teeth down, but unlike dogs and cats, horse (and cow) teeth keep growing and therefore, uneven edges can develop. This causes sores on the cheeks and tongue. “Floating” the teeth is when a metal rasp is used to file down these rough edges. The filing doesn’t hurt as there are no nerves there. 

Signs of dental problems can include dropping of food while chewing, excessive drooling, chewing with head tilted, bit discomfort or resistance, head tossing, abnormal head carriage while ridden, nasal discharge, facial swellings, bad breath, choke, weight loss and poor performance.  

Horse teeth should be examined annually and floated if necessary, by a professional veterinarian.