Bescoby Equine Dental Vets

14/10/2026

This gorgeous 3 year old Welsh Section A came to us with a persistent discharging abscess on the left side of her face. Despite antibiotic treatment, the discharge wasn’t resolving so the referring vet sensibly considered a tooth root infection of a partially erupted upper cheek tooth as the most likely differential. Xrays confirmed this was the diagnosis. Examination of the extracted tooth revealed the cause of the infection was a patent infundibulum- an abnormal opening that allowed infection to reach the root. This is an uncommon cause of tooth root infection. The infection spreads to the surrounding area and in this case pus was found within the pulp cavities of the teeth confirming that extraction was our only option. This is a developmental condition so could not be prevented. It differs from infundibular caries which involves erosion of the cavity from years of decay and affects many more horses.

12/10/2026

We’ve had a couple of last-minute slots become available this week and next!

If your horse is overdue for their routine dental check, or you’ve noticed anything concerning with their mouth, now is a great chance to get them seen - our usual waiting time is 2–3 months, so these appointments offer a chance to get seen much sooner.

To secure one of these slots before they’re gone, email Rosie [email protected] or call 01275 403123

30/09/2026

Another montage 😆

17/09/2026

This young horse with a lump on its face and very smelly breath was referred to us for further investigations. X-rays and an oral scope revealed the problem was tooth 207, an upper cheek tooth, that was deformed and had erupted at the wrong angle. Infection at the root caused swelling & bony remodelling of the maxilla, which will resolve overtime now the tooth has been extracted.

09/09/2026

A slab fracture to this upper cheek tooth caused food and bacteria to gain access into the pulp cavity and infection developed at the root. Chronic inflammation destroyed the periodontal attachment and a drainage tract was formed so the pus effectively leaked into the horse’s mouth. Therefore there was no swelling to the horse’s face or discharge from the horse’s nose- in fact the owner noticed no issues with her horse. Luckily the fractured tooth was picked up at a routine dental by the horse’s Equine Dental Technician, because it would have been painful. A reminder that horses are very good at hiding signs of oral pain!

08/09/2026

Cushings & Dental Disease: What is the link?

PPID, better known as equine Cushing’s disease, is particularly common in older horses and ponies. While many owners are familiar with signs such as a curly or non-shedding coat, muscle loss, increased drinking and a greater risk of laminitis, PPID may also have important implications for dental health.

Horses with PPID can have altered immune function, potentially making them more susceptible to infections and slower to heal. Research has identified a specific association between PPID and periodontal disease - inflammation and infection of the tissues surrounding the teeth.

Dental problems are already more common as horses age, and because PPID predominantly affects older horses, the two conditions can occur together. Painful or loose teeth, periodontal disease and fewer teeth in general can all make chewing difficult, contributing to weight loss - something that can already be a concern in horses with PPID.

Regular dental examinations are therefore an important part of caring for horses and ponies with PPID. Equally, Sam may recommend getting your horse tested (and treated where relevant) for PPID by your regular vet if he identifies symptoms that suggest this may be an underlying cause of dental issues.

Our routine dentals need booking 6-8 weeks in advance. Contact us to book in - 01275 403122 or [email protected]

06/09/2026

Random selection of some of our work highlighted here 😃

26/08/2026

Our website has been down for a couple of weeks but is now live again - new client registrations and advanced dentistry referrals can be submitted online:

Welcome to Bescoby Equine Dental Vets Bescoby Equine Dental Vets, based in and around Bristol and North Somerset, provides quality routine dental care by experienced and highly qualified vet Dr Sam Bescoby MRCVS. A mobile and clinic-based referral and second-opinion dental service is also offered to...

16/08/2026

Because horse teeth continually erupt, one missing tooth causes a huge issue - there is no opposing grinding surface. Without regular rasps (or “floats”, depending on where in the world you are), a tooth with nothing opposing it will end up digging into the soft tissue. This tooth had got so long that a rasp couldn’t even fit under it, so conservative treatment wasn’t an option. It needed to come out for the pony’s comfort. Although he was not showing any obvious signs of oral discomfort & was eating well, there’s no doubt being this “long in the tooth” 😉 damage inside his mouth showed it must have been painful.

14/07/2026

A quiet moment with gentle giant Walter at Garrett Saddlers today whilst filling in his dental chart in the shade ☀️ 😍