Equine Wellness Exam & Dental Float

Service Description

Thorough wellness exams are one of the most important aspects of preventative care. We offer spring and fall exams, traditional hand rasp dentistry, thorough palpation of all musculoskeletal systems and core vaccines. You will receive a report of our findings at the end of the exam. Routine dental examinations are an essential part of your horse’s health care, but are unfortunately often overlooked. A horse’s teeth are one of the best indicators of early disease and by undertaking regular examinations, severe, painful dental-related problems can be minimized or prevented. We recommend that all horses undergo a dental examination at least once a year. Some horses, such as those expected to perform at a high level and those with specific dental abnormalities, might benefit from more frequent examinations, especially since many will tolerate dental abnormalities and not show symptoms. Performance horses may not maximize their performance due to the smallest of dental abnormalities. At Massie Veterinary Services, we’re proud to offer hand rasp dentistry techniques, without the use of power tools. Our dental care is completed through a thorough oral and dental examination, where an assessment of teeth and soft tissue is carried out with Dr. Massie using his fingers to feel every tooth individually. Dental floating is conducted using hand rasps, and more serious dental abnormalities may require the use of a flashlight, speculum and sedation. We are trained in administering sedatives, local anesthetic, and pain killers, allowing for safer and more comfortable treatment when treating dental abnormalities, however in routine dental care sedatives are rarely needed. Check out Dr. Massie's blog about equine dentistry here.

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