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  Discussion on Uneven molar wear
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Member:
corinne

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 14, 2012 - 9:50 pm:

Dr O,
We moved Demetrius to a barn almost three weeks ago where he was put out on free choice hay and therefore is chewing for hours and hours a day. Prior to that we were in boarding situations where he only got 2 flakes three times daily. Since moving to the new facility I noticed he seemed sore in the mouth when I put the bridle on. This started about one week after moving in. We had the vet out immediately and an equine dentist who did a full power float. Demetrius had a very large hook on one of the left back molars, the same side he seemed to be irritated with with the bridle and he lacked lateral excursion (he was in training in SE VA so I did not know he had needed to be floated sooner) I suspected it was dental right away. On exam they showed me that he has a chipped bottom molar that is causing the top one to wear down at a slower rate than the other teeth. The dental tech said his TMJ was sore on that side and to give Bute for a few days. I gather his jaw muscles (no heat or signs of infection) are just sore from inability to masticate properly especially since he is on free choice hay now. I should note that regardless he has never been off of feed. I gave him two days off. When I rode tonight he is still reluctant in the bridle (we are in the double) especially to pick up canter to the left on a circle, trot work is beautiful. I can only surmise that going on the right lead causes the left side of his jaw to be in more of a stretched position than the right which is in more of a bend and perhaps he is still uncomfortable from being sore in that TMJ on the left. He seems to pick up canter on the straight no problem. He goes on the left lead straight and on circles no problem. He is not lame at any gate and will free lunge at all gaits. If it is just soreness from overuse on uneven teeth when I can expect he will no longer be sore? I have no frame of reference because I have not head to deal with this before.
Any suggestions for what to do in the mean time? Go back to a snaffle? Just walk and trot work which doesn't seem to bother him? No bridle and free lunge? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

v/r
Corinne
Member:
corinne

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 - 5:01 pm:

Ok well the farrier just left and apparently he was unbalanced in the front. He asked me if he was having trouble picking up the right lead! I said Oh my goodness yes! He was two weeks past due because we wanted to establish in MD with a certified farrier and couldn't find one willing to travel. Well we did..he wasn't cheap but wonderful! Spot on. So I gather between the feet and the teeth he was just having a heck of a time. Well will let you know if we have any continued issues. Hopefully all will be well from here on out. Just back from training so it's nice to be able to have my boy again!
Member:
frances

Posted on Thursday, Feb 16, 2012 - 1:16 am:

Good to hear Corinne. Happy training to you and Demetrius!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Feb 18, 2012 - 9:27 am:

Hello Corrine,
To address some of these issues a little more, I have not seen a horse that got sore from just chewing hay. I guess it would be possible if the horse is not use to chewing but would not put it as a likely rule out for a horse having gait issues.

Concerning the vet/dentist conclusions, I see lots of horses with far bigger tooth problems than you describe without any gait issues and as you note the corrections did not change anything. You have to be very careful interpreting a horses actions. Many things folks want to chock up to pain are just the normal variations of a horses behavior. The easily bridled horse that all of a sudden resists bridling could just as easily have something else on his mind as to be having pain.

Lastly I wonder about the farriers finding also. I am presuming the feet were not grossly imbalanced or your would have noticed. I see mild imbalances all the time that do not cause significant gait problems. A far worse problem is overly long feet, this will effect gait noticeably. Has the last trim fixed your difficulties? If so consider the frequency of trimming may be need to be a touch more frequent.
DrO
Member:
corinne

Posted on Sunday, Feb 19, 2012 - 9:37 am:

Thanks Dr O. To clarify the dental tech just said he was sore in the TMJ and it was due to the large hook. I was speculating it was from increased chewing on the uneven surfaces from what he has been used too for the last five years but that was just a guess. As to the feet he is done every six weeks however we had to go two weeks over schedule this trim for the first time ever as he recently moved to a new barn and we couldn't find a certified farrier so yes he was quite long in the toe although the farrier mentioned the toe length he was focusing on the club foot said he would pop that shoulder left as a result and have trouble picking up the right lead. Additionally he has been on the highest quality footing that had rubber in it for the last three years and this footing doesn't and is not graded completely flat (although it's not bad) so I think it's been harder for him to stay as uphill and balanced as third fourth level dressage work requires in this arena however I gather he will build up strength working in it and it will eventually come together. We rode outside yesterday on completely even footing in the snaffle and he went beautifully. Some of the best work we have done since we moved. We will keep dental to every six months since he won't wear evenly with that chipped bottom molar and his feet to every six from here on out because we found the farrier. I think it's just been a combination of things and once he was acting differently I may have as well and lost a bit of confidence which HE might have taken advantage of. We are on our own for the first time in years at a casual riding facility. No mirrors, no regulation sized anything, no Olympic caliber footing, no instructor and so not my comfort zone however it's very peaceful, he gets to go out for 12 hours a day and in the summer, will have 50 acres of rolling hills pasture on beautiful fields that are currently in seed (he is on dry lot until they are ready late spring). And there is a fishing pond for the hubby to fish in with the kids while I ride so all in all we are happy and just adjusting. Thank you for the input!
Member:
lilo

Posted on Sunday, Feb 19, 2012 - 11:59 am:

Corinne - your new situation for Demetrius sounds very lovely. Good luck!
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