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Equine veterinary journal2025; doi: 10.1111/evj.14563

Possible association of short-term complications and antimicrobial use in standing equine cheek tooth extractions 2018-2022.

Abstract: Despite growing concerns about antimicrobial resistance, prophylactic antimicrobials continue to be routinely administered in many procedures, including dental extractions. Further evidence-based research is needed on whether their use influences post-operative complication rates. Objective: To identify risk factors for short-term complications, associations between complications and antimicrobial use as well as factors leading to antimicrobial use in equine (standing) cheek tooth extractions. Methods: Retrospective analysis of clinical records. Methods: Data were extracted from records of horses undergoing cheek tooth extractions (2018-2022). Multi-variable logistic regression models examined associations between clinical variables and the occurrence of complications and antimicrobial use. Results: Three hundred and five cases undergoing 447 dental extractions were included. Of these, 197 cases (64.6%) received antimicrobials. Complications occurred in 56 cases (18.4%); these were considered mild and transient in 39 cases (12.7%) and severe, requiring veterinary treatment, in 18 cases (5.6%). Occurrence of complications demonstrated an association with increased antimicrobial use (OR 2.69; CI 1.20-6.04; p = 0.02), presence of concurrent diseases (OR 4.32, CI 1.89-9.84; p = 0.001), extraction of mandibular teeth compared to maxillary teeth (OR 2.20; CI 1.14-4.23; p = 0.018), warmer seasons (OR 1.97; CI 1.03-3.76; p = 0.04) and the reason for extraction being either dental infection (OR 6.37; CI 2.39-16.97; p < 0.001) or dental fracture (OR 3.90; CI 1.53-9.91; p = 0.004) versus periodontal diseases. Antimicrobials were more frequently used when more than 2 teeth were extracted (OR 5.96; CI 2.26-15.70; p < 0.001), when dental infection was the reason for extraction (OR 3.75; CI 1.76-8.02; p = 0.001) or when the extraction was performed in warmer seasons (OR 1.96; CI 1.17-3.29; p = 0.01). Conclusions: Complication rates were comparable to previous studies and in large numbers of horses antimicrobials were not administered, which did not result in higher complication rates. Antimicrobials might be justified in horses suffering from concurrent diseases.
© 2025 The Author(s). Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2025-07-13 PubMed ID: 40653684DOI: 10.1111/evj.14563Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This study aims to identify risk factors and possible associations between short-term complications and the use of antimicrobials in the extraction of cheek teeth in standing horses, with the aim of determining whether the outcome is influenced by their use.

Methodology

  • The study conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical records of horses that underwent cheek tooth extractions between 2018 and 2022.
  • Variables such as the use of antimicrobials, occurrence of complications, concurrent diseases, the reason for tooth extraction and complicating factors such as the number of teeth extracted and seasonality were examined using multivariable logistic regression models.

Results

  • Out of 305 cases involving 447 tooth extractions, 64.6% of cases were given antimicrobials.
  • Short-term complications occurred in 18.4% of cases. These were mild and transient in 12.7% of cases, but were severe and required veterinary treatment in 5.6% of cases.
  • The study found a significant association between the occurrence of complications and the use of antimicrobials, presence of concurrent diseases, extraction of mandibular teeth as opposed to maxillary teeth, warmer seasons, and the reason for extraction being either because of dental infection or dental fracture.
  • Antimicrobials were more commonly used when more than 2 teeth were extracted, when dental infection was the reason for extraction, or when the extraction was conducted in warmer seasons.

Conclusions

  • The rate of complications was similar to those reported in previous studies.
  • Despite the absence of antimicrobials in a large number of cases, there did not appear to be an increase in complication rates, suggesting prophylactic antimicrobial use may not be universally necessary in equine dental extractions.
  • Nevertheless, the use of antimicrobials might be justified for horses suffering from concurrent diseases to reduce the risk of complications.

Cite This Article

APA
Schnierer M, Nekouei O, Huber LC, Jehle M, Biermann N. (2025). Possible association of short-term complications and antimicrobial use in standing equine cheek tooth extractions 2018-2022. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14563

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Schnierer, Marlies
  • University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
Nekouei, Omid
  • Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Science, Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Huber, Lisa Christina
  • University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
Jehle, Matthias
  • Equine Clinic Gessertshausen, Gessertshausen, Germany.
Biermann, Nora
  • University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.

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