Maintaining the oral health of your horse requires regular flossing of their teeth – but this task can be time consuming and complex, often necessitating sedation as well as knowledge of equine dentistry.
Cost estimates of floating a horse’s teeth vary based on various factors. Equine dentists may charge higher fees based on reputation, demand and years of experience.
Floating Procedure
Floating is an integral component of equine dentistry and involves smoothing off any sharp points that arise on the sides of premolars and molars, either by hand or using a power floating tool attached to their mouth with a spinning guarded disc. Additionally, floating smooths out occlusal (chewing surface) surfaces of teeth which may interfere with eating or digestion processes; by eliminating sharp points or ridges that have developed, floating improves eating efficiency as it aids digestion processes more.
Horses require their teeth to be floated regularly to prevent overgrowth and other dental problems, including too-large or poorly fitting molars that interfere with chewing effectively, or grind against the inside of their mouth, leading to ulcers. Finding an affordable equine dental professional who possesses all of the appropriate equipment is key – many even offer discounted rates when combining multiple services such as vaccinations, Coggins tests and extractions for multiple horses at once!
Estimates vary, but most horses typically possess 30-40 teeth that grow an estimated two to six millimeters annually, creating discomfort for both horse and rider. Floating teeth is an effective solution that removes sharp points while shortening length of molars; during the floating process a veterinarian uses a full mouth speculum to inspect condition of molars.
While horses do not possess nerve endings in their teeth, some parts of the procedure may still cause pain if their mouth moves freely during floating, or if they attempt to chew during it. Sedating can reduce both pain and discomfort significantly.
Some horses may go many years between teeth floating procedures, but it is essential that all horses receive this exam on a regular basis. If your horse begins losing weight or throwing its head around then now might be an opportune time to schedule one.
Veterinarian’s Fees
There are various factors that impact how much a floating procedure will ultimately cost you, starting with the vet’s fee for providing this service; certain veterinarians may have more renowned expertise than others and this can affect both dental work performed and overall cost prices.
Professional equine dentists will maintain comprehensive records of your horse’s oral health. In addition to floating, they will take time and care in checking for other dental issues that need addressing – keeping this data handy can help ensure future exams show how the situation has progressed as planned, enabling you to keep tabs on their dental well-being while making sure any treatments or services provided don’t exceed or undercharged for.
Frequency of floating will also play an integral role in overall costs. Horses between 2-5 years typically require their teeth floated at least twice annually due to rapid tooth growth and wear of permanent teeth, with performance horses or those used for bitting at increased risk of dental issues that must have their teeth checked more frequently and floated more regularly for optimal health.
Location will also play an integral part in determining costs associated with floating your horse’s teeth, since some areas require more travel expenses for vets to reach.
Although the cost of floating your horse’s teeth will eat into your budget, it’s essential that this service be done regularly for their wellbeing and overall health. Horses often develop serious dental issues which could become expensive to treat without proper dental maintenance; so regular floating visits should be scheduled as preventive maintenance measures.
Try scheduling multiple procedures at the same time to save on veterinary fees. For instance, having Coggins testing, vaccinations and tooth flopping done simultaneously could save money by eliminating call out fees, travel expenses and sedation charges.
Veterinary Sedation
Wild horses eat grasses that naturally wear down their teeth, while in captivity most horses only receive two flotation sessions per year to remove any sharp points or hooks that could cause discomfort when chewing or swallowing food. Furthermore, this practice stimulates gums while helping maintain good oral hygiene and good-looking teeth.
An individual without proper training and licensing cannot legally perform dental work on horses without first consulting with a veterinarian. Non-vets who offer this service to clients could put the horses they float at significant risk by improperly handling, sedated and administering anesthesia; additionally this service is unlicensed and unregulated; any adverse reactions or accidents/injuries incurred will not be covered by insurance or public liability policies.
When the floating process begins, an equine dentist inserts a mouth speculum into a horse’s mouth to hold open and enable a veterinarian to carefully examine all of its teeth in detail. After conducting this examination, tools are then used to file down and float each individual tooth so that its condition can be assured as well as any sharp edges that could scratch and harm its tongue or cheeks.
Most horses don’t experience any discomfort during a tooth float due to its nerve endings being located so far back on their teeth. On rare occasions, however, veterinary sedatives may be needed for increased comfort; this will increase the cost of having its teeth floated.
Routine flotation services typically range in cost from $80 to $220 per horse, depending on both location and equine dental professional. You should compare prices among providers in your area before choosing one to work with; you should also request before and after pictures from each float to better assess whether their work was thorough enough and whether it met all the required standards.
Additional Procedures
Horses require their teeth to be floated on an ongoing basis due to continuously growing teeth that cause protrusions of sharp protrusions, leading to discomfort for them and their owners. This procedure, known as floating, may be performed either by a veterinarian or equine dental specialist and should only be performed by experienced dentists who hold membership with recognized equine dentistry organizations.
A skilled floater should have all of the tools required for an in-depth job. He/she should show before/after pictures so you can clearly see any differences, while additionally it is wise to find someone capable of providing complete dental float services (including removal of any rear molar hooks ).
During a floating process, an equine dentist typically observes the condition of a horse’s teeth as well as inspect its head for signs of TMJ disorder or joint issues. They use a full mouth speculum to look inside its mouth and assess any problems in relation to molars; sharp teeth are filed down further before special rasps are used to smooth edges on upper and lower cheek teeth – although no horse’s teeth will ever become completely smooth due to grinding food effectively!
Equine dentists will then inspect to make sure that a horse’s canine teeth do not extend too far into opposing gums and press into them, pressing into opposing gums. If this is the case, special tools will be used to grind down or cut these canine teeth using files; some horses may also possess small premolars on their upper jaw which must also be ground down with special dental tools.
After the floating procedure has been completed, the horse’s mouth should be rinsed with warm water and lightly salted to aid healing. Sharp edges of molars usually feel relieved immediately upon completion. Sedation administered to keep horses calm and relaxed during this procedure; however some horses are especially sensitive and may fight back against being sedated; in these instances the equine dentist must use different halters, blindfolds or harnesses in order to secure the animal safely so work can continue safely.