Suzanne Redford
Equine Dental Services
Hooks in the Horse's Mouth! - Is This a New Form of Fishing?
No doubt we all agree that the horse is an amazing creature. This not only applies to their nobility and grace, but also their ability, despite any problems they may
have, to carry on eating! Take mouth sores for instance, if we had mouth ulcers we would probably gargle with mouthwash, apply Bonjela, and generally let everyone around us know of our
pain. On the other hand, if a horse had a mouth sore, they would no doubt continue eating, whilst showing no obvious signs of discomfort in their behaviour or condition!
Amongst the most common dental problems that can occur, are what are known as Hooks and Ramps. These do not refer to fishing tackle or skate parks, but to unnaturally high
sections of teeth within the mouth, that can cut into the cheeks or tongue, and cause immense pain.
The Horse's Mouth Showing Hooks and Ramps
Hooks and Ramps vary greatly in their exact location, size and shape, and without dental treatment, create an imbalance and prevent the natural movement of the jaw. As the Hooks
have nothing to grind against, they continue to erupt, becoming larger, sharper and more uncomfortable in the horse's mouth. As with many dental problems however, unless you open their
mouths and have a good look, they can easily go undetected.
The presence of Hooks and Ramps can also effect the horse's riding. For example, when we ask the horse to go on the bit, amongst other things we are asking them to round and
hold their head in a vertical position. When we ask for this, the lower jaw should naturally slide forward allowing their incisors and cheek teeth to meet, however, with hooks present
such as those in the diagram, it would be extremely difficult and uncomfortable for the horse to reach this position with their mouth closed. Therefore, they are often left with no alternative
but to open their mouth, to relieve the pain.
Although horses often try to tell us how they are feeling in their own unique way, it is not always easy to interpret. With regard to their mouths, they may look well and be eating fine,
however without calling in Doctor Dolittle, the only real way to check for problems is to have the teeth checked regularly by a
qualified Equine Dental Technician.