Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
A clinical survey on the prevalence and types of cheek teeth disorders present in 400 Zamorano-Leonés and 400 Mirandês donkeys (Equus asinus).
Abstract: Dental disease is now recognised as a major but often unrecognised disorder of equids, including horses and donkeys. However, very few large clinical studies have documented the prevalence and type of dental disease present in different equid populations and no dental studies have been reported in Zamorano-Leonés or Mirandês donkeys, two endangered donkey breeds. Clinical and detailed oral examinations were performed in 400 Mirandês and 400 Zamorano-Leonés donkeys in Portugal and Spain. It was found that just 4.5 per cent had ever received any previous dental care. Cheek teeth (CT) disorders were present in 82.8 per cent of these donkeys, ranging from a prevalence of 29.6 per cent in the 25-year-old group. These CT disorders included enamel overgrowths (73.1 per cent prevalence but with just 6.3 per cent having associated soft tissue injuries), focal overgrowths (37.3 per cent), periodontal disease (23.5 per cent) and diastemata (19.9 per cent). Peripheral caries was present in 5.9 per cent of cases, but inexplicably, infundibular caries was very rare (1.3 per cent prevalence); this may have been due to their almost fully foraged diet. The high prevalence of enamel overgrowths in these donkeys, most which never received concentrates, also raises questions about the aetiology of this disorder. This very high prevalence of CT disorders, especially in older donkeys, was of great welfare concern in some cases and emphasises the need for routine dental care in these cases on welfare grounds and in order to help preserve these unique breeds.
Publication Date: 2013-12-02 PubMed ID: 24296357DOI: 10.1136/vr.101747Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research investigates the occurrence and types of cheek teeth disorders in two endangered donkey breeds, the Zamorano-Leonés and the Mirandês. The study found a high prevalence of such disorders, especially in older donkeys, underscoring the need for regular dental care for these animals.
Study Overview and Methodology
- The research was conducted on two endangered donkey breeds, the Zamorano-Leonés and the Mirandês, populations residing in Spain and Portugal respectively.
- The study involved clinical and thorough oral examinations performed on 400 donkeys from each breed.
- The aim was to determine the prevalence and types of cheek teeth disorders in these animals, as dental disease in equids (horses and donkeys) is increasingly recognized but often overlooked.
Previous Dental Care and Prevalence of Disorders
- It was found that a minimal 4.5% of these donkeys had received any previous dental care.
- Cheek teeth disorders were surprisingly common, found in 82.8% of the examined donkeys.
- The prevalence of these disorders varied with age group, ranging from 29.6% in donkeys under 2.5 years to 100% in those over 25 years.
Types of Cheek Teeth Disorders
- The observed cheek teeth disorders included enamel overgrowths (73.1% prevalence), focal overgrowths (37.3%), periodontal disease (23.5%), and diastemata (gaps between teeth, 19.9% incidence).
- Only 6.3% of enamel overgrowths cases had associated soft tissue injuries.
- Peripheral caries (tooth decay) was found in 5.9% of cases, and infundibular caries (cavities within the inner structure of the tooth) were rare, with a 1.3% prevalence, possibly due to the donkeys’ largely foraged diet.
Significance of Findings
- The high occurrence of enamel overgrowths even in donkeys who did not receive concentrates as a part of their diet raises questions about the origin of this disorder.
- The extremely high frequency of cheek teeth disorders, especially in older donkeys, is a significant welfare concern and highlights the importance of regular dental care for these animals.
- Providing routine dental care is essential not only for the welfare of these donkeys but also for the preservation of these endangered breeds.
Cite This Article
APA
Rodrigues JB, Dixon PM, Bastos E, San Roman F, Viegas C.
(2013).
A clinical survey on the prevalence and types of cheek teeth disorders present in 400 Zamorano-Leonés and 400 Mirandês donkeys (Equus asinus).
Vet Rec, 173(23), 581.
https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.101747 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - University Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisbon, Portugal; Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Genomics and Biotechnology, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (IBB/CGB-UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Data Collection
- Equidae
- Portugal / epidemiology
- Prevalence
- Prospective Studies
- Spain / epidemiology
- Tooth Diseases / epidemiology
- Tooth Diseases / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Samad L, Tavanaeimanesh H, Mehr Azin H, Moadab SH, Vajhi AR. Clinical dental finding in Iranian horses. Vet Med Sci 2020 Nov;6(4):679-685.
- Proost K, Pardon B, Pollaris E, Flahou T, Vlaminck L. Dental disease in alpacas. Part 1: Prevalence of dental disorders and their mutual relationships. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Mar;34(2):1028-1038.
- Valle E, Raspa F, Giribaldi M, Barbero R, Bergagna S, Antoniazzi S, Mc Lean AK, Minero M, Cavallarin L. A functional approach to the body condition assessment of lactating donkeys as a tool for welfare evaluation. PeerJ 2017;5:e3001.
- Masebo NT, Benedetti B, Angeloni MG, Lee L, Bigi D, Padalino B. Systematic Literature Review on Donkeys (Equus asinus): Husbandry and Welfare in Europe. Animals (Basel) 2025 Sep 23;15(19).
- Occhiogrosso L, Capozza P, Buonavoglia A, Decaro N, Trotta A, Marin C, Corrente M. Bacterial Periodontitis in Horses: An Epidemiological Study in Southern Italy. Animals (Basel) 2023 May 30;13(11).
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
