Buckingham Equine Vets

28/08/2026

𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 🐴🌸

Happy Friday!!! The bank holiday weekend is finally here 😊⭐️.

This is just a reminder that we will be closed on 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟑𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭. As always if you need anything our on call vet will be available to provide 𝟐𝟒/𝟕 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞, please don’t hesitate to call us on 𝟎𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟖 𝟓𝟔𝟎𝟕𝟖𝟗.

What are you and your horse up to this bank holiday weekend? We’d love to know! - please share your pictures in the comments 📸👇🏼

Have a lovely weekend! ⭐️

26/08/2026

Monthly Theme - 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐎𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐲𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬 (𝐄𝐎𝐓𝐑𝐇)

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐭?
Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis, also know as EOTRH, is a painful dental disease affecting the front teeth (incisors and occasionally canines) in older horses. Tooth resorption occurs from the horse's immune system mistakenly dissolving and breaking down the tooth roots. Hypercementosis then occurs, which involves excessive, bulbous layers of cementum (calcified tissue) to be laid down around the roots to attempt to stabilise them. As well as being painful, it can cause infections and fractures of affected teeth.

𝐒𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐬:
🦷Reluctance or refusal to bite down on hard treats such as carrots. �
🦷Gum changes, such as swelling, redness, receding gum line, visible draining tracts
🦷Quidding
🦷Bad breath
🦷Excessive salivation�
🦷Unexplained weight loss

𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬:
Although there are many visual signs which will be noticed on a routine dental examination, a definitive diagnosis for the severity of the disease, requires X-rays to assess the integrity of the tooth and root.

𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭:
Many treatments have been tried for EOTRH however, there is currently no cure or treatment to halt the progression of the disease. The only effective solution is surgical extraction of the affected teeth, which horses adapt incredibly well to. In some cases, this can require extracting all the incisors. This may seem drastic, however horses suffering from advanced EOTRH are often in a lot of pain when eating. After extracting these horses often eat better and put on weight.

24/08/2026

Monthly Theme-𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

𝗖𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗵:
Trauma
Caries
Tooth root infections
Abnormal wear

𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀:
Quidding
Reduced appetite
Poor performance or not accepting the bit when worked
Facial swelling
Malodorous breath
One-sided foul smelling nasal discharge if root infection and sinusitis is present

Or no signs at all! We frequently find fractured teeth on routine dentals where no clinical signs have been reported. Horses, ponies, and donkeys are prey animals, designed to keep eating through discomfort and may not show signs of dental pain until it is severe. So even if they are eating well, their mouths can still be painful. This makes routine dental examinations and treatment,at least once a year, even more important!

𝗠𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗵,𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁?
If identified by a dental technician, they will refer you to your primary care vet or a dental specialist where x-rays and oral endoscopy may be required to determine if the whole tooth needs extracting, or just a loose fragment. Some extractions may be performed by your primary vet, however this depends on many factors such as age, which tooth/teeth are involved, how loose the tooth is, underlying infection and presence of any fractures. We are lucky to have a great relationship with visiting equine dental specialist 𝗡𝗲𝗶𝗹 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗱,who frequently performs advanced procedures at our clinic.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱?
Your horse will require pain relief after the procedure, in some cases they may also need a course of antibiotics. Depending on the age of your horse and length of the tooth root, there may be packing placed in the socket. This requires changing by a veterinary surgeon every 10-14 days until adequately healed. We usually advise at least 2 weeks with no bit in the mouth but this can be longer depending on healing progress. Once the socket has healed and your horse has been signed off from us,they are likely to require routine dentals every 6 months to keep on top of opposing overgrowths.

21/08/2026

Monthly Theme - 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗮? 🦷

In a normal equine mouth the teeth are positioned closely together, without significant gaps. If abnormal gaps develop between the teeth, these are known as diastema (or diastemata if there are multiple). There are two main types of diastema: 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘃𝗲 and 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻. Valve diastema are close at the top and wider towards the base, creating a triangular-shaped space. Open diastema are approximately the same width at the top and bottom. Food can become trapped in these spaces, leading to inflammation and infection of the structures surrounding the tooth and, eventually, 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗱𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲. This is particularly common with valve diastemata. Both cheek teeth and incisors can be affected. In severe cases bacteria can enter these gaps which can cause abscesses and eventual tooth loss.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗼𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿?
Both young and older horses can develop diastemata. 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗮 occur in younger horses and may result from abnormal tooth formation or alignment. 𝗔𝗰𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗮 can develop in adult horses and this can occur when the normal ridges in a horse’s teeth (known as excessive transverse ridges) are enlarged and push food between the opposing teeth, or through tooth loss, displacement or fracture. 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗮 occur in older horses as age-related changes in tooth shape, wear and eruption can result in spaces developing between the teeth.

𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿:
A vet/ equine dentist (BAEDT) will be able to spot diastemata whilst doing a routine dental, sometimes before the horse develops any obvious signs but it’s important to look out for:
🦷Quidding
🦷Weight loss
🦷Swelling of the cheek or jaw
🦷Bad breath

Diastemata can be 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗳𝘂𝗹, particularly when food becomes tightly packed into the space, so prompt identification and appropriate management are important.

They can be challenging to manage, and treatment will depend on the type and severity of the diastema. Your vet or equine dental professional may recommend there following:
🦷𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 to remove and flush food from the diastema.
🦷𝗗𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀, such as feeding soaked feeds or diet-replacement mashes, where appropriate
🦷𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘀, where these are contributing to food trapping.
🦷𝗗𝗶𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, which enlarges the space to prevent food becoming tightly packed and allows it to pass more freely between the teeth. This is performed under appropriate sedation and is a non-painful procedure.
🦷𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹, which may be only be considered in selected severe cases or where widening is not appropriate. The material can wear down over time and may need to be replaced.

20/08/2026

𝐀 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦, 𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭-𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐖𝐈𝐍! 💜🏆

Horse of the Year Show Qualifying Story💜

From losing her brother to chasing a dream that once felt impossible… Sarah and her daughter Bella have bagged their ticket for HOYS 🥹

After a heartbreaking loss, Sarah admitted that the dream of qualifying had slipped further away, but with the support of family and friends, she found the strength to keep going - determined to make her brother proud and continue their family name.

Then came Stoneleigh… a frantic 45-minute late departure, arriving by the skin of their teeth - and they won 🏆

Now Bella Lee and Fawsley Temple-Hill are heading to HOYS for the Annabel's Deliciously British Lead Rein Pony of the Year Championship💜

Read their story here 👉 https://hoys.co.uk/qualifying_stories/sarah-bellas-story/

Qualified for HOYS this season? We'd love to hear your journey too. Share your story for the chance to be featured and win an exclusive VIP prize 👉 https://hoys.co.uk/qualifying-stories/

17/08/2026

Monthly Theme - 𝗪𝗼𝗹𝗳 𝗧𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗵 🐺🦷

🦷𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗹𝗳 𝘁𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗵?
Wolf Teeth are small, functionless premolars that sit just in front of the cheek teeth. They are usually found in the upper arcade, although they can occasionally be present in the lower arcades of your horse’s mouth. They usually erupt between the age of 6-18 months, although this can vary, along with their size, shape and position. In some horses they can also interfere with the bit.

🦷𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱?
If they are small and sat in the correct position just in front of the first functional premolars, then they are unlikely to cause an issue for your horse. There is also no need to remove them if you have a horse who is ridden away with no bitting issues. They may shed themselves around the age of 3 when the first cheek teeth caps are shed. If your horse has large, displaced, fractured, present in the lower arcade or blind (sat jut under the gum) wolf teeth then removal may be appropriate after discussing with your vet.

🦷𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱?
Wolf teeth can be removed by a veterinary surgeon or a qualified equine dental technician; however the latter must be done under direct and continuous veterinary supervision. The horse is sedated, pain relief will be given, and local anaesthetic is injected around the wolf teeth, the periodontal ligament attachments around the tooth are broken down until the tooth is loose and can be removed. The length of the procedure can vary greatly depending on size and strength of attachment of the teeth. It is also important that your horse is up to date with their tetanus vaccinations.

🦷𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱?
Each horse is different, so your vet will advise you on the appropriate aftercare. Antibiotics are not indicated in routine wolf tooth extraction but your vet may provide pain relief for a few days following the procedure. They will also recommend that the horse is not ridden in a bit for around 2 weeks to allow time for the sockets to heal.

13/08/2026

Monthly Theme - 𝐎𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐞

As equine dentistry continues to evolve, visual dentistry is becoming an increasingly important part of providing the best care for your horse.
We're fortunate to have a specialist 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗲, designed specifically for equine dentistry. The oroscope gives our vets an even more detailed view inside the mouth, and allows them to take videos and images to be reviewed. It's a fantastic tool for providing a thorough dental assessment.

The endoscope is 𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲, but it's not always carried on every visit. If you'd like it to be used during your horse's dental appointment, just let us know when booking your appointment.

💷𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 💷 :
Take full advantage of our new dental offer!
𝗔 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 (𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗲𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻) 𝗽𝗹𝘂𝘀 𝗮 𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺 - 𝗳𝗼𝗿 £𝟵𝟬.

11/08/2026

Last Monday, we held our 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗞𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴! ☀️

Through a mix of hands-on activities and interactive learning, those who attended learnt all about colic, anatomy, wounds and much more!

It was fantastic to see the parents getting involved too, joining in with the activities and learning alongside the children. We hope everyone enjoyed their time with us and had lots of fun while learning something new! 🐴

Keep an eye on our social media for future events.

Also, a big thank you to Sarah for bringing Cindy and Bonnie along for everyone to learn with—and, of course, to draw their organs on! Both were very colourful by the end of the day 🎨

06/08/2026

Monthly Theme - Meet Neil

All of our vets at Buckingham Equine are experienced in providing routine dental care to the highest standard. If your horse requires more advanced dental treatment, we have several vets with additional expertise in equine dentistry. For the most complex cases, our dentistry team is supported by 𝐃𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐢𝐥 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐒𝐜 𝐁𝐕𝐒𝐜 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐄𝐒 (𝐒𝐨𝐟𝐭 𝐓𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞) 𝐃𝐢𝐩𝐄𝐂𝐕𝐒 𝐃𝐢𝐩𝐄𝐕𝐃𝐂 (𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞) 𝐅𝐑𝐂𝐕𝐒, one of only a handful of specialists worldwide to hold European Diplomas in both Equine Surgery and Veterinary Dentistry.

𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐢𝐥
After graduating from the University of Bristol as a Vet and picking up an intercalated degree in Equine Science along the way, Neil worked in a mixed practice in Somerset for 18 months before beginning an equine only career. This then took him to the University of Liverpool for an internship and the University of Edinburgh as a resident in Equine Surgery. He rejoined the University of Liverpool as an Equine Surgeon and gained his European Diploma in Equine Surgery in 2012 and Veterinary Dentistry (Equine) in 2014. Neil then worked in a large equine practice in Gloucestershire from 2015 before setting up his own business in 2023.

He is interested in all aspects of equine dentistry and head surgery and he has over 20 peer reviewed publications and 8 book chapters published along with numerous article in the lay veterinary and public press.

Neil regularly visits the clinic to perform advanced dental procedures, ensuring our patients have access to specialist care without the need to travel elsewhere whenever possible.