Why Would a Yearling Horse Lose Its Front Teeth?

Deciduous and Permanent Teeth

• All horses have two sets of teeth. The first set of teeth, the deciduous teeth, begin to form in the mouth of a young horse during her first months of life. A full set of deciduous teeth, also known as milk teeth, will have developed within the first nine months of life. The deciduous teeth can remain in the mouth for as little as a year or up to five or six years, depending on the specific horse. These teeth fall out naturally as the permanent adult teeth develop underneath them in the gum and push up into the mouth. By the time the horse reaches the age of six he should have a fully developed set of adult teeth in his mouth. The adult teeth will continue to grow as needed for the rest of the horse's life.

Trauma

• In some occasions, a yearling horse may be missing teeth due to some type of accident or trauma that has occurred. It is possible for a horse to have its teeth knocked out by a misplaced kick from a pasture mate, a fall or any other incident that involves significant force impacting the horse in the mouth. In the case of trauma-related tooth loss, there is nothing a horse owner can do to help the situation except wait for the permanent teeth to grow in and replace the missing ones. If your yearling has a visible injury along with sudden tooth loss, it is important to obtain proper veterinary care for her as quickly as possible to minimize potential problems.

Equine Dental Problems

• Common signs of equine dental problems include an unexplained weight loss or difficulty maintaining weight, poor coat condition, undigested feed and grains in the manure, dropping feed while eating, eating slowly or a lack of appetite. It is not considered normal for a yearling that is shedding its milk teeth to experience significant dental problems. If you notice your yearling appears to be suffering from any of these conditions, you will need to contact your veterinarian and an equine dental specialist to determine the specific cause and what treatment options you have for addressing the issue.

Equine Dental Care

• In order to ensure your horse remains healthy, it is important to begin regular equine dental care when the horse is a yearling. Your veterinarian or equine dentist will check for dental or physical abnormalities with the jaw and mouth, and make corrections as necessary. It is commonly recommended that a horse's mouth be checked for uneven tooth wear and other problems every six months and no less often than once a year. If necessary, your veterinarian or dentist will file down sharp edges that have formed on your horse's teeth as well as remove and treat any teeth that are causing problems or have the potential to cause problems by becoming infected, impacted or getting in the way of the bit.