Very Common
Less Common
OTHER DIAGNOSES CONSIDERED
Other conditions or ailments that might also need to be ruled out by a vet.
Diagnosis
Conditions or ailments that are the cause of a problem that you see - your observation.
Your vet may diagnose
Geriatric Dental Disease
Synonyms: Old Horse Dental Conditions
Summary
Old horses tend to suffer from a variety of dental conditions, some of which can cause other health related problems including weight loss, signs of abdominal pain (colic), and large colon impactions.
Dental overgrowths that contact soft tissues can cause pain; lost and loose teeth reduce the grinding area available for proper processing of feed; periodontal pockets forming from gaps between teeth (diastema) can cause eating to be painful.
Geriatric dentistry involves preserving the teeth and their pain-free function for as long as possible. This is not simply a "float." It involves periodic careful examination and treatment of problems.
Treatment of periodontal disease and diastema can greatly improve the quality of life for older horses. Vets often evaluate the general health of old horses (not just their mouth and teeth), to ensure that they can tolerate sedation and any dental procedures performed.
Dental overgrowths that contact soft tissues can cause pain; lost and loose teeth reduce the grinding area available for proper processing of feed; periodontal pockets forming from gaps between teeth (diastema) can cause eating to be painful.
Geriatric dentistry involves preserving the teeth and their pain-free function for as long as possible. This is not simply a "float." It involves periodic careful examination and treatment of problems.
Treatment of periodontal disease and diastema can greatly improve the quality of life for older horses. Vets often evaluate the general health of old horses (not just their mouth and teeth), to ensure that they can tolerate sedation and any dental procedures performed.
my vet's role
Diagnostics Used
These are tests that might be helpful to make this diagnosis or further characterize the condition.
Treatments May Include
These treatments might be used to help resolve or improve this condition.
PROGNOSIS AND RELEVANT FACTORS
Prognosis depends on how much useable dental surface still exists and the severity of periodontal disease.my role
I might observe
You might make these observations when a horse has this condition.
Very Common
Less Common
Skills I Might Need
I might need these skills if my horse has this diagnosis.
further reading & resources
Helpful Terms and Topics
Written, reviewed or shared by experts in equine health
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