Dental disease in geriatric horses.
Abstract: The dental management of geriatric horses can be a rewarding challenge to the practitioner. Owners become dissatisfied when their expectations are unrealistic. Consequently, communication between the owner and the practitioner is essential prior to the start of any dental procedure in a geriatric horse. Owners often expect the practitioner to correct what has been neglected for years. It is critical that the owner understand the possible complications associated with dental procedures and that some procedures (e.g., trephination) may necessitate protracted care. Often, when a tooth has been removed, there is a need for more frequent masticatory examinations to curtail any potential problems (i.e., development of step mouth). The owner needs to be aware of the extra dental maintenance costs that must be included in the upkeep of the horse.
Publication Date: 1998-09-22 PubMed ID: 9742669DOI: 10.1016/s0749-0739(17)30203-1Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article discusses the challenges and practical implications of dental management for geriatric horses, emphasizing the importance of clear communication between the horse owner and the vet to manage expectations and offer optimal care.
Dental Management of Geriatric Horses as a Challenge
- The paper outlines the challenges vets face in managing dental health in older horses. One of the main issues is the fact that these horses may have had dental care neglected for years, leading to significant problems that cannot be swiftly corrected.
- Moreover, the author implies that it’s a rewarding task for practitioners because of the complexities associated with geriatric equine dentistry. The potential to significantly improve the horse’s health, well-being, and quality of life can be a professionally fulfilling experience.
The Importance of Communication
- Clear and effective communication between vets and horse owners is a central theme of this study. Setting realistic expectations before starting any dental procedure is critical to avoid dissatisfaction on the owner’s end.
- The owners may expect the vet to correct years of neglect in a short period which, unfortunately, may not be feasible. This issue of conflicting expectations reinforces the importance of clear, detailed communication about the nature and potential outcomes of procedures.
Potential Complications and Aftercare
- Owners should be prepared for potential complications related to dental procedures in older horses. For instance, procedures like trephination may require extended care and follow-ups, necessitating owners to allocate more time and resources for their horse’s dental health.
- Post-procedure care is also crucial, especially in cases where a tooth has been removed. Regular masticatory examinations could be necessary to prevent issues like step mouth, where one tooth grows longer than the others due to an absence next to it.
Cost Considerations
- Lastly, the study calls attention to the financial aspect of dental maintenance for geriatric horses. Managing an older horse’s dental health can be costly, particularly when frequent examinations and procedures are required. So, owners need to consider this when budgeting for the upkeep of their horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Lowder MQ, Mueller PO.
(1998).
Dental disease in geriatric horses.
Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract, 14(2), 365-380.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0749-0739(17)30203-1 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Aging / pathology
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
- Animals
- Bicuspid / pathology
- Cuspid / pathology
- Diagnosis, Oral
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Incisor / pathology
- Malocclusion / diagnosis
- Malocclusion / therapy
- Malocclusion / veterinary
- Medical History Taking / veterinary
- Molar / pathology
- Nerve Block / veterinary
- Periodontal Diseases / diagnosis
- Periodontal Diseases / therapy
- Periodontal Diseases / veterinary
- Sinusitis / therapy
- Sinusitis / veterinary
- Stomatognathic Diseases / diagnosis
- Stomatognathic Diseases / therapy
- Stomatognathic Diseases / veterinary
- Tooth Extraction / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Górski K, Borowska M, Stefanik E, Polkowska I, Turek B, Bereznowski A, Domino M. Selection of Filtering and Image Texture Analysis in the Radiographic Images Processing of Horses' Incisor Teeth Affected by the EOTRH Syndrome. Sensors (Basel) 2022 Apr 11;22(8).
- Krebs BL, Marrin D, Phelps A, Krol L, Watters JV. Managing Aged Animals in Zoos to Promote Positive Welfare: A Review and Future Directions. Animals (Basel) 2018 Jul 13;8(7).
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