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Discussion on Equine dentist
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Member:
image
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Posted on Monday, Feb 19, 2007 - 11:59 am:
Kind of a long story here so please bear with me. I need to get my mares teeth floated. The last time they were done, I had a regular vet come out to do the job. I had noticed some difficulties chewing and figured it was time. My then 5 and 8 year old mares were fine through the procedure. The vet then checked out my then 16 year old mare and said she had an upper molar missing and that the opposite bottom tooth was growing up into that space and would start giving her more problems if not addressed. He sedated her pretty heavily and started working with the regular floats and then went in with a dremel(?) tool. He couldn't get back to the tooth well enough with the dremel so he got this odd looking handle device out. It reminded me of a guillotine in the way it functioned. There is a hole at the end that goes around the tooth and a bar that slides through the handle that he pulled back and basically rammed into her mouth to break off the long tooth. She started to bleed, he rinsed her out for a few minutes, said she was done and that he wouldn't need to come back again for 2 years. It took both of us to get her back into her stall, I paid him and he left.
About 15 minutes later, she broke into a "black" sweat. (she is a light sorrel and I have never seen her turn so dark before from sweating.) I called him and he said it was the sedative wearing off, not to worry. It turned out that I was very lucky. A good friend of mine had a guy out to do her horses teeth. (not the same guy but someone who goes around and just does teeth) While he did sedate her mare, he was very rough with her. The mare wouldn't eat for several days. She wound up colicking and died. The necropsy showed severe bruising, lacerations against the back of her mouth and a broken tooth. This was an excellent working AQHA mare, very gentle.
I have had horses for nearly 30 years now. It used to be, the only time the vet wanted to do teeth was if there were chewing problems. They used floats and sedation and there were never any problems but I gotta admit, I am scared. My friends have all gotten out of horses and it's just me and my daughter now with our "girls". I no longer know anyone to give me a good reference. What is the best way to check out an equine dentist? I found one in the Barn Book (an everything equine directory we have here in central Florida) who had been in business at least the 2-3 years I have been getting the book. He's still in business so I guess that says something. Any ideas for checking him out further? Sorry for the trilogy book all-in-one.
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Member:
ilona
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Posted on Monday, Feb 19, 2007 - 5:17 pm:
Charlayne,
Firstly, your recount is just horrible, and I feel very badly for the horse that suffered and died and too for its owner.
I recommended an article in another thread. In that article there are many suggestions as to how to evaluate an equine dentist or vet who does equine dentistry.
It is a 'special report' in EQUUS Magazine November 2006 issue 350.
The report is titled "Healthy Teeth Healthy Horse".
It is very good. Dr. O, this is not to say that your data on Equine dentistry is not excellent. It is. I just found this to be a particularly helpful report covering anatomy, tooth growth, dental exam, dental tools, common bite problems, age related problems case studies etc. It also includes wonderful, graphic photographs that helped de-mystify much for me personally.
I hope this is helpful.
You may want to look at the other thread which heads "Disparity among vets regarding floating" There is much discussion regarding some of your concerns.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, Feb 19, 2007 - 6:24 pm:
Charlayne, if you do not trust your current veterinarian's opinion on this, I recommend you get references from horse owners around you. If you do not know any personally try calling on a commercial barn who you like the looks of.
DrO
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Member:
image
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Posted on Monday, Feb 19, 2007 - 8:03 pm:
Thanks Ilona and Dr O.
I am going to head right over to the thread that Ilona mentioned. I don't have the issue of Equus that you pointed out but I bet they have a back issue at the library. They keep back issues up to a year and I have seen Equus there.
Dr O,
I do trust my vet in everything but the teeth. He has admitted to me that teeth are not his best/favorite and as he is getting a little "long in the tooth" himself, he doesn't even believe people should self-vaccinate their animals. He figured out that I give my own vaccs and you should have heard the lecture I got! I'm not about to ask him about a possibly non-vet dentist! lol He is a great vet in all other matters!  Thanks for the advice on the local farms...I think I will go 'cruising' next weekend! 
Charlayne
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Member:
vickiann
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Posted on Monday, Feb 19, 2007 - 8:10 pm:
First of all, I am not at all impressed with anyone who says a horse is "done for two years." To think a horse need not be checked for two years is to me rather stupid. As horses age, conditions change. I believe it wise that they be examined twice yearly, or at a minimum, once. I have had unopposed teeth also, but never such a horrid outcome, though one year of poor dental care can -- and for my horse prone to this problem -- did result in extra stress and more extreme measures being required a year later. I was out of State for two plus months, due to circumstances beyond my control. Friends had my horse floated the old-fashioned way. Months later, I did not know he was having mouth sensitivity, though a clue would have been how easy he was to stop anytime, plus showing some resistance to going forward. When my regular Vet. floated with the power tools and corrected the unopposed teeth (had to bute for a couple of days after, and ride him with a rope halter for a couple of weeks), the difference was amazing. Horses may not need much dental care for years, but over time that can change drastically.
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New Member:
teddyj1
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Posted on Monday, Feb 19, 2007 - 9:01 pm:
Charlayne, go to the University of Florida's Vet school web site, or Google a Vet named (don't laugh)
Dr. Toots Banner. Dr. Banner was a past President of the IAED, and now teaches an advanced Dentistry course to Vet students at UF, that's Gainesville my hometown. Another certified Dentist is Bess Darrow, I'm sure if you contact either of them they would be more than happy to help you in any way possible.
Very sorry for your loss, my heart breaks for you.
Best of luck.
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Member:
corinne
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 - 8:02 am:
SO sorry to hear what your mare went through and also for that mare that died. I agree with Dr. O. Call the reputable large barns in the area and ask who they use, then you might want to do an internet search. Good Luck!
Corinne
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Member:
sonoita
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 - 10:05 am:
Are you near a vet hospital? Check with them.
Happy Trails
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Member:
vickiann
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 - 5:31 pm:
Charlayne, Reread this thread more carefully, and want to say how very sorry I am to hear about your terrible experience. That is a heart-breaking story. It is no wonder you are concerned about competent dental care for the future. A neighbor of mine also had a bad experience many years ago and now refuses to float her horses teeth at all. Regular care, however, does help to prevent a more serious amount of work being required, with potentially bad side-effects. TOD has a very good idea, and UF Vet. School is always very helpful to answer any questions if you call them. It is very good to have a Vet. doing the dental work who has taken an interest in the teeth and has done some extra studying and taken extra training about this aspect of care. I know a couple of Vets. who do very rough floating jobs, and one of them will even tell you having him do it might not be the best choice, but he is able to recommend another Vet. from his office.
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Member:
image
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Posted on Wednesday, Mar 21, 2007 - 11:59 am:
Update:
I found an excellent DVM who specializes in teeth! He came out today and did my two younger mares and is coming back next month for Tardy. What a difference! He is a very nice guy and so patient and gentle with my girls. When I told him of our previous experiences he said that there is no need to have blood pouring out to get the job done right. He started to bring out his equipment and I kept waiting for the floats which never even appeared. He sedated Image first, grinned and told me that we are not in the stone age anymore. He puts the speculum in, rests their jaw on a padded band and hoists their head up only enough for him to get in there with a power tool. The power tool has a long neck with a circular diamond bit on the end. He goes in there and gets it all done pretty quickly. My daughter and I got to feel the "before" and "after" job...such a difference. He said both horses had bad hooks but not the worst he had seen. They had ulcerations in their cheeks but he said they will heal fast as he did the back teeth. He said "get 'em looked at every six months" and I surely will. He then sedated Legacy and finished her up. I asked when they could eat. He said "At their usual time and feed them their usual stuff. If you want to, you can ride them in a couple of hours after the sedation wears completely off." (they'll get the day off anyway! lol) Like I said, what a difference from the last time! And what a relief! I will be happy to recommend him but I wasn't sure what the forum rules are for that kind of thing or how Dr O feels about it. If it's ok with Dr O, I'll come back on and post his name etc.
Thanks for the support, advice and encouragement!
Charlayne
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Member:
corinne
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Posted on Wednesday, Mar 21, 2007 - 7:28 pm:
Charlayne so good to hear! I am so happy for you and wish I could use that guy. We just had the vet out for annual exams and when he was looking at my horse's teeth an equine dentist just floated he said the bit seat looked severe. Come to find out the equine dentist they used (I was at work) was not a DVM even though I thought I asked that and someone told me he was. I guess I misunderstood. Needless to say, not disparaging his work, but I will be using the vet because I only use providers with appropriate credentials (sorry don't mean to offend horse dentists who are not vets...it's just how I roll with my animals). I hope I get lucky with this new vet like you have! Congrats!
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Mar 22, 2007 - 6:54 am:
Hello Charlayne, you are welcome to publish his name. However I do take issue with the once every 6 month deal. The vast majority of horses do excellently on once yearly checks, Research into mastication and digestion of floated and non-floated teeth suggests even less often is needed.
DrO
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Member:
image
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Posted on Thursday, Mar 22, 2007 - 9:26 pm:
Hi Corinne and Dr O!
Corinne, I know how you feel about "only providers with appropriate credentials". After the past experiences of me and my friend, only DVM dentists get my business. Besides, I don't have anyone work on my teeth without at least novacaine, I'm sure it's easier on the horse to be tranquilized while the job is done. Non-DVM's can't do that. Best of luck with your new vet! I sure do like mine!
Dr O, thanks for the advice of the once a year check! I feel that way too and once the new vet and I get to know each other better, I'll see if he still really feels that a 6 month check is still needed. I'm hoping it's just something he feels he must say because that's how alot of people seem to do it here. He did say that while the hooks were bad they weren't the worst he had seen and it has been 2 years since their last dental work.
Ok, for all you Florida and Alabama folks. (he did mention that he was getting back from work in Alabama and that he travels.)
His name is Dr. L.A. Britt of Roadrunner Vet Clinic in Plant City, Fl. 813-752-0224 Equine dentistry is his specialty.
Thanks again everyone!
Charlayne
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Member:
mcbizz
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Posted on Friday, Mar 23, 2007 - 12:50 pm:
Just want to add my two cents worth here. Equine dentists may be one of the only things NOT legal in Nevada, so here only a DVM can do equine dental work. I am fortunate enough to have a vet clinic with 5 very qualified people. They do a spring and fall clinic where they do health checks, shots, examine teeth, deworm and clean sheaths. I do the deworming and sheath cleaning but leave the rest to them and am very comfortable with that.
When dental work is necessary, they do another clinic day for that. This omits the farm call fee when done with the clinic schedule. My horses are floated every 2 or 3 years and whichever vet does the float uses the least aggressive methods possible with sedation. I am very glad you have found someone you can trust, Charlayne. It gives such peace of mind.
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