One of the many responsibilities of horse ownership is providing your horse with proper dental care. Cleet Griffin, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, clinical associate professor of Equine Field Services at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, said regular dental check-ups will protect your horse’s overall health, comfort, and well-being.

“Important dental procedures for horses include an oral examination and floating, the process of smoothing sharp enamel points on the teeth,” Griffin said. “Horses between 1 and 5 years old should have a dental exam twice a year, and mature horses should be examined once a year,” unless the animal’s veterinarian recommends more frequent evaluations.

Regular dental check-ups are the best way to protect your horse’s health, but sometimes oral health concerns, such as broken teeth or periodontal disease, can arise between appointments. In this case, more frequent exams and treatments might be necessary.

Griffin said some signs of dental disease in horses include slobbering more than usual, having difficulty chewing hay, and a foul odor coming from the mouth. If your horse is showing these signs, contact your veterinarian