HORSES TEETH

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 182, 22 October 1927, Page 25 (Supplement)

HORSES TEETH

CARE NECESSARY Many cases of so-called colic and others of general unthriftiness are attributable to faulty teeth. The construction of the horse’s stomach is such that the food must be digested by the gastric juices and passed out quickly if he is to get sufficient to eat. If the food is not presented to the stomach in a thorwjghly masticated condition and well mixed with saliva, delay in digestion takes place, and the stomach, which should be about two-thirds full for rapid digestion, becomes overloaded. The teeth must be in good condition to ensure that the food shall be properly prepared for the gastric juices. Owing to the faulty shedding of the first teeth in young horses, and to the edges becoming long and worn in old horses, proper mastication is often impossible. It is advisable, therefore, to inspect the mouths of horses at frequent intervals, and especially in cases where “quids” of partly-chewed food are found in the manger. A good horse master, with a proper rasp, can soon remedy any small irregularity, but in bad cases if a veterinary surgeon is available it is better to secure his services, as with the proper instruments he can do the work in a very short time accurately, and without danger of blood-poisoning. Bolting the food will cause just as much trouble. This is a habit with some horses, and it is easily picked up where they are fed at boxes or troughs in a common yard. Every horse should be tied up to his own feed-box, even if stables are not used. Farmers 4 veterinary clubs, which provide for the inspection of stock at regular intervals, are excellent for keeping valuable animals in good order, if an energetic officer can be secured.