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Discussion on Pulled tooth - no hay for 2 weeks??
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Member:
Arvane
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 19, 2005 - 9:55 am:
Hi Dr O and everyone,
My horse had one of his lower incisors pulled 2 days ago (it was cracked and there was some bone decay). The dentist who performed the work is very sane and competent (i.e. no "weirdo") but her instructions are a bit concerning. She insisted that he can't have any coastal hay or alfalfa for 2 weeks, because it could get stuck in the hole/socket. She said grain and alfalfa cubes were ok. So I switched him from oats to Equine Senior (for the fiber) and alfalfa pellets. Obviously I have to be careful with how much Equine Senior I give him since he is not used to it; he gets around 4 lb /day at the moment. He is on 12 h. turnout a day which the dentist said was fine. But the pasture is very poor and has hardly any grass. He is really frustrated as you can imagine. I am confused because I would imagine that if you pull an incisor, you should probably avoid pellets but not hay? I just wanted to get some additional thoughts because I don't know that I want to do this to him for 2 whole weeks if it is not necessary.
Thanks!
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New Member:
Turning
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 19, 2005 - 4:53 pm:
Hi James,
We have an older Arabian (28) that had a lower molar pulled a couple of years back.
There were no restrictions or cautions on what he could eat and he did fine on his regular rations of Equine Senior and hay.
That being said, I'm wondering if your vet is concerned about what my dentist called "dry socket" when I had a broken tooth pulled some years back.
Apparently it can be very painful if food gets stuck in the socket and he strongly urged me to rinse often and to be careful of what I ate.
Hope all goes well.
kat
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 20, 2005 - 6:22 am:
I too think that hay is unlikely to get stuck in this situation James but I only pull and incisor every 5 years or so. I would follow the dentists advice, perhaps she has seen this happen.
DrO
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Member:
Arvane
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 20, 2005 - 3:02 pm:
Thank you Karol Ann and Dr. O for your responses. My regular vet came out yesterday and she said that it made little sense since it was the incisor and not a molar that was pulled. Based on all the input I am taking a "middle road" and giving him 1 flake instead of 3 flakes/night. Karol Ann, funny you mention dry sockets. I asked the dentist about that and she told me that is not a concern with horses (why? who knows!)
Thanks again!
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Member:
Qh4me
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Posted on Monday, Oct 24, 2005 - 3:54 pm:
My yearling somehow lost 2 incisors within 2 weeks of each. Not sure how it happened or what he had done, but they didn't fall out, they were just hanging there. We had to have the vet out to sedate him and remove the one. She said not to worry, and gave no feeding restrictions.
2 weeks later he did the same on the next one beside it. Again it was removed with no feeding restrictions.
I kept an eye on things, but nothing ever came of it. He was on pasture during the day and alfalfa/timothy hay at night, with no issues.
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Member:
Arvane
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 - 10:25 am:
Shawna, what a strange situation, but that aside, your comment makes me feel a lot better. I think my horse's socket has healed already but the dentist freaked out when I told her that he has been getting hay. I respect her recommendations but it is HARD to keep a horse off hay for 2 weeks..
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Member:
Qh4me
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 - 3:58 pm:
Yes, James, I agree, a strange situation. And he is stalled at night, and in a paddock alone, so no way of getting kicked. He must of tried to chew on something we think. But 2 teeth...
Worst part of it, it was right in the middle of show season. Thank goodness he is a gelding, and they don't ask to show the teeth. 
I hope your guy heals up quickly and the hay doesn't cause you any grief. It is hard to disobey the dentist, but as you say, it is hard to keep him off hay, especially this time of year!
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