21/10/2026
🦷🐴 DENTAL CARE FOR THE OLDER HORSE
As horses age, their dental needs change — and regular dental examinations become increasingly important.
Dental disease can affect your horse’s comfort, ability to chew and overall health, and some problems may be difficult to spot until they’ve progressed.
🔎 Common issues we can diagnose and manage include:
🦷 Periodontal disease
🦷 Sharp enamel points & abnormal wear
🦷 Endodontic disease
🦷 Fractured or diseased teeth requiring extraction or referral
🌿 Senior horses with PPID (Cushing’s disease) or other ongoing health conditions may be at increased risk of complications associated with dental disease.
🐴 Signs to look out for include:
• Quidding or dropping food
• Difficulty chewing
• Weight loss or changes in body condition
• Bad breath
• Excessive salivation
• Facial or jaw swelling
• Nasal discharge
• Changes in behaviour or bit acceptance
Importantly, older horses can compensate remarkably well, meaning significant dental disease may be present before obvious signs appear.
Regular dental examinations help us detect problems early, manage ongoing disease and support your horse’s comfort and quality of life.
📍 Yass Valley Veterinary can assess your older horse’s dental health and develop an appropriate long-term care plan.
📞 Contact our team to book your horse’s next dental examination.
