How do you float a horse's teeth?

What equipment is needed to float a horse's teeth %26amp; how is the procedure done? What can happen if this is not done?

How do you float a horse's teeth?
Okay, you'll want to float the horse's teeth when you start noticing your equine dropping his food quite frequently or when you notice grain not being fully digested in his poop. Also at 2 and a half years you'll want to remove any wolf teeth, baby teeth that are already falling out, and if you are going to be using a bit, have a bit bed put in.





Normally around 4-6 years you'll start having their teeth floated every 6 months. If you have a gelding or stallion a good thing to do is have the equine dentist meet you at the vet, and have his teeth worked and his sheath cleaned and bean removed all at the same time.





There are a lot of tools needed to have teeth floated. There are standing files, flushers, mouth jacks, and now mechanical files. The dentist will first remove any loose teeth or baby teeth that may be falling out. Then he'll flush the mouth out removing any hay or grain left in side. Then he'll place the jaw jack between the jowls and put his hand in the mouth to feel out any sharp areas that need to be filed down. Depending on what he is more comfortable with, the filing will begin. Then after all the filing is done, a second flushing will occur. Then the jaw jack will be put in place again and a second look will happen. Depending on if more work needs to be done, there will be more filing. Then its all done.


This normally costs any where from $75-350. And the dentists has to be certified.





If floating is not done, it can lead to mouth sores, loss of weight, and colic from hay and grain not being chewed properly.
Reply:This is a procedure best left to professionals- you can screw up a horse's teeth so badly he is in pain and cannot eat if you do it wrong!!
Reply:You pay someone to do it every 6 months that is a professional and is qualified in that particular field.
Reply:Floating teeth refers to using a file or rasp to correct a horse's bite. Malocclusions are corrected by removing areas of overgrowth. If a horse's teeth are not floated periodically (especially in older horses), the horse may become unable to eat properly and will lose condition. As previously noted, this is a job for a vet with the proper training.





If your horse is losing weight but has clean fecals; is dropping bits and pieces of hay from his mouth; or appears to have mouth pain it is time to check teeth.
Reply:With a big file that looks like a huge fingernail file. Vets normally do it cause you don't have the instrument to help keep the mouth open when you do file. If you don't float, your horses teeth will grow sharp and he or she will not be able to chew food properly and can bit him or herself in the inside of the mouth. I always got a vet to do my horses.
Reply:mostly you will need a float(or dental rasp)it is about 3 inches long and has a long handle that you can interchange the floats in.first thing and most important is a helper.somone to hold the head still while the procedure is done.next is to feel along side of the teeth inside of the mouth to see if the molars and premolars are sharp,if they are they probably need floated next open the mouth and place the tongue on the opposite side you will be rasping.rasp the teeth on that side enough so the sharp points have been taken off.spit and repeat on other side and rinse.thats it.that should be done every six months untill they are two then every year.doing this helps the horse chew the food better so it gets more of the nutrients out of the feed.
Reply:a vet files down the overgrowth of teeth with a large file/rasp. This is especially necessary in mature horses to allow them to properly chew, so that they can maintain proper nutrition and weight
Reply:You use a long file called a rasp, depending on the vet/horse, you can use electric ones or normal rasps. If it is not done, the horse's teeth most likely grow very long and then the horse can't eat. A lot of horses get pointy ends on their teeth if they aren't floated, which causes cuts and sores on the inside of their mouth.


The typical horse only needs it done once a year, but my horse needs it done twice, as do some other horses I know.


If a horse is losing weight, one of the first things you should check are their teeth.


I have seen two horses (both rescues) that hadn't had their teeth floated in over 3 years, and their teeth weren't in too bad of shape.


The growth of a horse's teeth is completely different in every horse.





If you are considering doing this yourself, please don't. Call a vet out, they are usually pretty reasonably priced.
Reply:You can take your index finger, put it into the horses mouth - at the corner of the mouth - and keeping your finger against the cheek, you can rub along the bottom outside of the horses top teeth. If they feel really sharp and pointy, those are called hooks, and that is what the vet or equine dentist will want to file down.





Usually you will see weight loss and irritability if the horse has bad dental issues. On rare occasion the horse can develop sores on the cheeks or tongue that can become infected.
Reply:Contact your vet. Let them take care of floating your horses teeth or get them to recommend a'' horse dentist''. This not something you can just do yourself by reading a book or an article.
Reply:You call the vet or equine dentists to do it! lol


When they had it done on my mare they gave her something that knocked her out a bit, and used a file to file down the sharp edges of her teeth.


They float the teeth so that the horse can chew better with flat teeth, or because the sharp edges are causing the horse pain.
Reply:Floating teeth, best left to the pros...many horses require a little standing anesthesia and you'll need a vet to get it done.
Reply:our vet checks our horses once a year to see if they need floated so far so good noone has had to have them floated
Reply:Get a PRO dont mess up your horses teeth especially when you have no clue where to start.