Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Horse with bad nasal discharge - tooth extraction helped
By Clarysse, Michèlle et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary dentistry·2025·Department of Large Animal Surgery·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Oral Extraction and Nasal Retrieval of a Fragmented Maxillary Fourth Premolar Tooth in a Horse Using Endoscopic Guidance: A Case Report.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 9-year-old Warmblood mare was brought in with a bad-smelling nasal discharge that had lasted for 14 months. After examining her, the vet found that she had a fractured tooth and an oronasal fistula (an abnormal connection between the mouth and nose). To remove the broken tooth fragments, the vet used a special endoscopic technique that allowed them to access the tooth through the mare's nose, avoiding a more invasive surgery. After the procedure, they sealed the area to prevent food from causing further issues. The mare's condition improved, and she was able to recover without major complications.
People also search for: horse tooth extraction · nasal discharge in horses · equine dental problems treatment
Abstract
This case report presents the removal of the left maxillary fourth premolar tooth (208) which had a chronic complicated crown root fracture in a 9-year-old Warmblood mare. Following a 14-month history of malodorous nasal discharge, clinical and radiographic examination allowed the diagnosis of a comminuted crown root fracture of 208 and oronasal fistula. Some root fragments inaccessible for oral extraction were subsequently removed using a transnasal approach through the existing oronasal fistulous tract using bronchoesophageal forceps under endoscopic guidance. The oronasal fistula was surgically debrided and the alveolus was occluded with polyvinyl siloxane to avoid postoperative food contamination. This minimally invasive approach prevented the need for more extensive external approaches, reducing the risk of complications. This case highlights the value of careful surgical planning and demonstrates the feasibility of minimally invasive techniques for complex equine dental extractions in particular cases.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40296711/