Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Horse having trouble eating due to gum growth
By Handy, L H et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1993·Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Focal gingival hyperplasia in a horse.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 22-year-old Quarter Horse gelding had trouble eating hay due to a large growth in his mouth. The mass, measuring about 13 cm long, was found on the inside of his jaw and was affecting his lower molars. After examining the horse and taking X-rays, the veterinarian determined that the growth was likely caused by irritation from his teeth and food getting stuck after losing a molar. The horse underwent surgery to remove the mass, and it was successfully resected.
People also search for: horse mouth growth · Quarter Horse dental issues · difficulty eating hay in horses
Abstract
A diagnosis of gingival hyperplasia in a 22-year-old Quarter Horse gelding was confirmed by histologic examination. Clinical signs included difficulty eating hay, and a large, intraoral soft tissue mass measuring 13 x 8 x 4.5 cm. The mass was located in the mucosa on the lingual aspect of the caudal left portion of the mandible, ventral to the base of the tongue, and covered the second and third lower molars, extending rostrally along the buccal mucosa to the premolars. The left maxillary second and third molars were overgrown with sharp edges. Lateral radiography of the mandible revealed absence of the left third molar, with associated bony irregularity and sclerosis. The horse was positioned in right lateral recumbency under general anesthesia, and the entire mass was resected. It was speculated that the lesion developed secondary to chronic irritation from opposing teeth and food-packing after loss of the lower third molar; this would not be an unexpected development in a species with continuously advancing molars.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8496089/