If you own a horse, sooner or later you'll have to have your horse's teeth floated. The term may not make sense are first as it conjures up images of teeth being loosened or floating in the horse's mouth. However what it actually entails is filing down the teeth of the horse so they even and give your horse an even bite for eating.

A vet or equine dentist will use a specialized dental rasp which is also called a float to file down the teeth. You will need to have your horse's teeth floated at least every few years and some horses will need it even more often. The only way to know for sure is to check your horse's teeth on a regular basis and make sure he or she has healthy, even and aren't causing your horse pain.

Unlike your teeth which come in and won't grow any more, horse teeth will grow throughout their lives as in the wild they eat foods that grind down teeth and that is nature's way of combating the problem. However domesticated horses don't eat fodder that wears down their teeth as quickly so they need to have their teeth floated on a regular basis to stay healthy.

If you've never floated your horse's teeth, early signs it needs to be done will include difficulty eating, inability to hold food in his mouth and shunning anything to do with his mouth including taking treats from your hands as his teeth have developed sharp edges and are cutting and painfully poking the inside of his mouth.

Having his teeth floated will return your horse to his old self in a short period of time along with his previous appetite.

Labels: horse, horse-care