Dental and oral cavity alterations in Quarter Horses of Vaquejada: retrospective study of 416 cases (2012-2022).
Abstract: Oral and dental diseases are common in horses, as evidenced by the results of incidence studies of dental diseases carried out on abattoir specimens or sports horses. Thus, periodic dental examinations in horses are essential to ensure the maintenance of dental health and proper use of ingested food. A retrospective study of the dental records of 416 Quarter Horses (256 males, 160 females), distributed in the western region of the Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, was conducted. Horses were examined between July 2012 and August 2022. The variables collected were age, sex, type of diet, dental alterations identified, and history of colic in the last 365 days. The animals were divided into three groups according to age: group I (2 to 6 years old), group II (7to12 years old), and group III (13to 24 years old). Pairwise comparisons were performed using Tukey's correction. The most frequent dental alterations were excessive tip of the tooth enamel, limited/asymmetric lateral excussion, oral ulceration, eruption of the first premolar tooth, and rostral hook. Statistical differences (p<0.05) were observed between the age groups in the following alterations: excessive tip of the tooth enamel, limited/asymmetric lateral excussion, eruption of the first premolar tooth, rostral hook, palatitis, step, caudal hook, retention of deciduous cheek teeth, wave, tartarus, underbite, periodontal disease, and incisors of the dorsal curve. Dental disorders in horses are of major clinical importance.
Publication Date: 2023-07-05 PubMed ID: 37484205PubMed Central: PMC10359046DOI: 10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm000323Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The study analyzes dental records of Quarter Horses in Brazil to investigate the prevalence and types of oral and dental diseases, as well as their relationship with factors such as age, diet, and colic history. The findings suggest a variety of dental issues are common across different age groups, highlighting the importance of regular dental check-ups for maintaining horse health.
Research Methodology
- The study is retrospective and uses dental records of 416 Quarter Horses located in the western region of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The examined horses included both males and females, and the data was collected over a period from July 2012 to August 2022.
- Factors such as age, sex, diet type, identified dental alterations, and history of colic in the past 365 days were noted.
- The horses were grouped into three brackets based on age: Group I (2-6 years old), Group II (7-12 years old), and Group III (13-24 years old). Pairwise comparisons were performed using the Tukey’s correction method.
Findings
- The most frequent dental alterations included excessively tipped tooth enamel, limited/asymmetric lateral excussion (sideways movement of the jaw), oral ulceration, eruption of the first premolar tooth, and rostral hook (an overgrowth on the front part of the tooth).
- Statistically significant differences were observed between the age groups for several dental alterations, including excessive tooth enamel tip, limited/asymmetric lateral excussion, eruption of the first premolar tooth, rostral hook, palatitis (inflammation of the palate), step (misalignment in tooth rows), caudal hook (an overgrowth on the back part of the tooth), retention of deciduous cheek teeth (baby teeth), wave (irregular chewing surface), tartar, underbite (lower jaw protruding beyond the upper jaw), periodontal disease, and dorsal curve incisors.
Conclusions
- The study concludes that oral and dental disorders in horses are clinically significant and common. Periodic dental examinations in horses are essential for maintaining oral health and optimizing their food intake.
- Differences in dental issues between age groups indicate that the horse’s age may play a role in the type and prevalence of dental diseases. This information can guide veterinarians in the dental care management for different age groups of horses.
Cite This Article
APA
de Melo UP, Ferreira C.
(2023).
Dental and oral cavity alterations in Quarter Horses of Vaquejada: retrospective study of 416 cases (2012-2022).
Braz J Vet Med, 45, e000323.
https://doi.org/10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm000323 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- 1- Veterinarian, D.Sc., Centro Universitário Mauricio de Nassau, Natal, RN, Brazil.
- 1- Veterinarian, D.Sc., Centro Universitário Mauricio de Nassau, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Conflict of Interest Statement
Conflict of interests: None.
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Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Medeiros PR, Figueiredo LS, de Melo UP, Mariz ALB, de Brito EL, Araújo IRDS, Silva ALDC, Costa MHDS, Ferreira C, Assis DB, da Silva CRM, de Souza AL, de Souza MPDS. Survey on sanitary practices and knowledge about infectious diseases among equine owners in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Braz J Vet Med 2023;45:e003323.
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