HORSES · Condition guide
Equine Dental Disease in Horses: what real veterinary cases show
Equine dental disease is a common but often overlooked condition that can significantly impact a horse's overall health and performance. Horses rely heavily on their teeth for grinding food, and any dental issues can lead to problems with digestion, weight loss, and even behavioral changes due to discomfort.
Regular dental check-ups are crucial for maintaining a horse's oral health. Symptoms of dental disease in horses can include difficulty eating, dropping food, bad breath, and visible signs of discomfort. Early detection and treatment are key to preventing more serious complications.
What vets typically check for
- Perform a thorough oral examination using a speculum.
- Take dental radiographs to assess tooth roots and jawbone health.
- Conduct a complete blood count to check for signs of infection.
- Implement regular dental floating to maintain proper tooth alignment.
- Consider dietary adjustments to accommodate any chewing difficulties.
Not a replacement for veterinary care. Use this to walk into the conversation prepared, not to self-diagnose.
Real cases from the veterinary literature
Peer-reviewed reports our semantic search surfaces for Equine Dental Disease. Click into any case for the full abstract — or run a personalised search with your pet's exact details.
- Ectopic eruption of a permanent mandibular tooth in a miniature horse: case report.
Veterinary research communications · 2026 · Brazil
A 2-year-old female miniature horse was brought to the vet with a hard swelling on her jaw that had been growing for three months. The vet discovered that a permanent tooth was stuck in a horizontal position and not erupting properly, causing the swelling. They decided to extract the problematic tooth while leaving the baby tooth in place to help prevent food from getting stuck
- Unilateral vision loss associated with corneal opacity and posterior lens luxation in the right eye of a Thoroughbred gelding: Case report.
Journal of equine veterinary science · 2026 · Japan
A 15-year-old Thoroughbred gelding was brought in because he had a cloudy area on his right eye that had been there for several years. A thorough eye exam showed that the cloudiness was severe and that the horse couldn't respond normally to light in that eye, although he did have a reflex to bright lights. Tests showed that the eye's lens had moved out of its normal position in
- Full Clinical Pathological and Bacteriological Investigation of a Giant Nasal Polyp Associated With the Developing Apex of the Permanent Fourth Premolar (Triadan 108) in a 3-year-old Connemara Filly: A Case Report.
Veterinary medicine and science · 2026 · United Kingdom
A 3-year-old Connemara filly was taken to a horse hospital in the UK because she had a runny nose on one side and swelling in her face. Tests showed that there was a soft tissue mass in her right nasal area that was blocking her nasal cavity, along with problems related to one of her teeth. Further examination of the tissue confirmed that the mass was a type of growth called a
- Surgical Removal of a Large Maxillary Sinus Mass Containing Three Dental Structures in a Standing Horse.
Journal of veterinary dentistry · 2026 · France
A 14-year-old warmblood gelding was brought to the vet because he had been having a long-term problem with a runny nose on the right side. After some imaging tests, the vet found a large mass in the horse's right maxillary sinus (the space behind the cheekbone) that contained three extra teeth that shouldn't have been there. The vet performed surgery while the horse was standin
- Modified Medial Canthoplasty for Correction of Euryblepharon in Two Horses.
Veterinary ophthalmology · 2026 · United States
Two horses underwent a surgical procedure called medial canthoplasty to fix a condition known as euryblepharon, which involves abnormal eyelid positioning. The first horse, a 1-year-old thoroughbred mare, had small eyes and was experiencing chronic eye discharge, while the second horse, a 2-year-old Appaloosa gelding, had a smooth mass near his eye and also showed signs of eury
- Controlling drug-resistant bacteria in Arabian horses: bacteriophage cocktails for treating wound infections.
Frontiers in veterinary science · 2025
A group of Arabian horses with infected wounds were treated with a combination of bacteriophage therapy and gentamicin, an antibiotic. The horses had severe bacterial infections that were resistant to many common antibiotics, making treatment difficult. The bacteriophages, which are viruses that target bacteria, helped improve wound healing significantly when used alongside gen
Frequently asked questions
- How often should my horse have a dental check-up?
- Horses should have a dental check-up at least once a year, or more frequently if they have known dental issues.
- What are signs that my horse might have dental disease?
- Signs include difficulty eating, dropping food, bad breath, and visible discomfort.
- Can dental disease affect my horse's performance?
- Yes, dental disease can cause pain and discomfort, leading to decreased performance and behavioral changes.