Horse Dentist Tools
Horses require regular dental care in order to prevent serious health problems and to make eating and performing more comfortable. Without regular maintenance, a horse can contract a dental disease, will stop eating and may develop behavioral problems. Veterinarians and equine dentists use simple tools to help horses maintain healthy teeth and gums.
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Tranquilizers
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Equine dentists always have a supply of tranquilizers on hand to subdue a rambunctious horse. Tranquilizers are not always necessary, but make it safer an easier for a dentist to perform a thorough examination.
Dental Halter
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A dental halter consists of a nose band that allows the horse to open its mouth wide enough for the dentist to perform an examination and provide treatment.
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Speculums
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A Speculum is a metal wedge that is placed between the upper and lower molars of the teeth. These help the dentist prop the horse's teeth apart to allow for a better visual inspection. However, speculums can be dangerous and cause trauma to a horse's teeth. They should never be left open in a horse's mouth for more than 30 minutes.
Head Support
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Usually a strap or a specially designed stand is necessary to keep the horse's head elevated at the level required for the dentist to provide treatment.
Dose Syringe
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A syringe is used to clean food particles out of a horse's teeth during an examination.
File/Float
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A large flat metal file, sometimes called a "float" is used to file down a horse's teeth when they become too sharp. If a horse's teeth are allowed to grow too sharp they can cause pain for a horse when it tries to chew or when a bit is placed in its mouth.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit horse image by Henryk Olszewski from Fotolia.com
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