Page 10 - Equine Matters - Autumn 2013

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Mandy has been with her owner for 12 years
and has received annual routine dental care
during this time. She has always maintained
a good body condition but has lost weight
over the last winter, now weighing 568kg
(she had previously been over 600kg). She
foaled six weeks ago. Her owner was also
worried because she had noticed that Mandy
was quidding some of her hay, so called her
vet for advice.
A detailed examination of Mandy's mouth
was completed after the administration of
a sedative and pain relief by intravenous
injection. This improved her relaxation,
comfort and tolerance during the examination.
It was discovered that four diastemata (gaps
between the molar teeth) were present in
Mandy's mouth, two in the left lower jaw and
one in the right upper jaw. One was towards
the back of the mouth, making access difficult.
Fibrous feed was trapped in the small gaps
between the teeth, eroding into the gums,
which bled when the food was removed with
a dental pick. The gaps were flushed with a
low-pressure pump-action washer. Sometimes
this is all the treatment which is required, but in
this case, the gum infection and recession was
too severe and it was decided to widen the
diastemata using a drill so that food was able
to escape if it got forced into the gaps by the
grinding action of the molars. The widened
gaps were filled with dental putty, which
provides a protective bandage over the gums,
helping the inflammation to subside.
Antibiotics and painkillers were prescribed,
and Mandy obligingly ate these when mixed
into her normal feed with a little garlic powder
added to cover any odour produced by the
medicines. Her hay was soaked and all hard
feed dampened for a fortnight so that it was
softer on her sore gums.
The vet examined her mouth again a week
after treatment and replaced two of the putty
'bandages' which had come loose. Mandy
had already begun to quid less hay.
Thankfully, the spring grass had finally arrived
so Mandy could be turned out 24 hours a
day, which was easier on her gums as grass
is easier to chew than hay and is less likely to
become entrapped between cheek teeth. Her
condition improved and she weighed 579kg
six weeks after treatment.
Mandy's owner was delighted with the change
in her old friend and was pleased to know
that she was no longer suffering with dental
pain. She promised to book her in for an
examination six months after the initial treatment
for follow up examination and treatment before
the winter. Mandy's owner was warned that
this condition was likely to require long term
management; but rest assured that her horse
should be able to continue an active and
happy life with regular treatment.
DENTAL CARE
Veterinary surgeon
Louise Cornish
XLVets Equine practice
Clyde Veterinary
Group
CASE REPORT...
Louise Cornish BVMS CertEP MRCVS
Clyde Veterinary Group
Dental diastemata in
a
geriatric horse
'Mandy'
18 year old
16.3hh brood mare
Mandy had lost weight
9
EQUINE MATTERS
A gap (diastema) in the molar teeth with
food packing
Diastema bur used for widening a diastema
to prevent food impaction
Putty bandage to prevent further food impaction
Quidding (dropping hay during eating)