The domestic horse needs regular dental care. A horse’s mouth contains over 40 teeth and these need to erupt, then wear, at precise times. Younger horses may struggle with erupting teeth and sharp points limiting their performance at what should be the peak of their career. Older horses may struggle with damaged, worn, loose or missing teeth. Any dental problem can cause pain, weight loss, wasted feed, poor performance, resistance to the bit and a change in attitude (for the worse!)

Our teams in Malanda, Innisfail, Edmonton and Charters Towers are skilled to perform routine and non-routine dental examinations for you and your horse. Our dental examinations include:

• Professional care – our veterinarians have completed post-graduate training in equine dentistry ensuring your horses get the best out of the dental examinations.
• Licensed and safe sedation – Veterinarians are the only persons legally able to administer sedation to horses in Australia. Sedation ensures the safety of both horses and vets and allows for a thorough oral examination without stress.
• Nutritional and health guidance whilst on farm or in clinic.
• Further diagnostics and recommendations as required.

Procedures and cases that our equine veterinary dentists regularly perform include:

• Annual dental checks and dental floats.
• Wolf teeth extractions.
• Examinations of facial swelling, nasal discharge, dropping feed and weight loss.
• Dental radiographs.

Oral Surgery and Dental Extraction Services

Veterinarians are the only professionals in Australia qualified and licensed to perform dental extractions in horses.

Procedures offered by our team include:

• Extraction of incisors, canines, premolars and molars.
• Extractions under standing sedation and nerve blocks.
• Extractions under general anaesthetic and surgery.

As for all our routine and elective equine cases, we request that horses are up to-date with Hendra virus vaccination prior to their visit or willing to vaccinate at their first consultation. Please see our Equine Services page for more information regarding our Hendra Policy.