April Case of the Month: A Reason to Smile
Bailey is a 25-year-old pony obtained by his original owner again after being on lease for a number of years and having not seen a vet in that time. He had swelling along his corner incisors and gingival inflammation, and it was suspected he was developing Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis (EOTRH) of a number of incisors. EOTRH is a multifactorial disease of the middle-aged to older horse; more common in thoroughbreds and warmbloods over 15-years-old compared to other breeds and ages. Risk factors include genetic predisposition, the presence of certain oral bacteria, reduced turnout time/grazing opportunity and other chronic health conditions such as PPID. The disease causes severe chronic pain until affected teeth are removed.
Radiographs on the farm confirmed the presence of EOTRH in multiple incisors and extraction was highly recommended. The gelding was hauled into Swiftsure’s clinic for the procedure and the four worst-affected maxillary incisors were removed without complication. On follow-up several weeks after Bailey’s surgery, extraction sites were healed and the owner reported she hadn’t realized HOW lethargic the gelding had been for so long. Since having those painful teeth removed he was eating much better, playing in the paddock more, greeting her when she came to see him and was generally brighter and energetic. She said she had had no idea how much pain he was in until the painful teeth were removed and he was noticeably so much happier in his day-to-day life. She had been unsure about the dental surgery at first but was now so glad she had done them as she had her big personality Bailey back!