[Nancy G]

Hi, I would like some information on "tooth bumps" These are not on the bottom jaw line but on the face, just below the eyes. The vet told the owner they were nothing to worry about & will go away in time??? I think he should be seen by an equine dentist? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
This horse is a miniature and three years old in June. Thanks

[midnight star stables]

Tooth Bumps are 100% normal and 100% ugly They will go away in time, a year or so. They usually hit around that time too.

[Dona]

No....they do NOT always go away with time. Sometimes caps don't come out on their own & need to be pulled. I know this from experience. Long ago when I first got into minis ,I had a mare this happened to. Her "bumps" were on the bottom, but my vet told me the same thing. "They'll go away when her caps come in". So, I did nothing....just waited. The bumps only got bigger...they looked like two huge golf balls on the bottom of her jaw! Then I was introduced to Carl Mitz, who examined her & told me it was too late to do anything (she was 6 years old by this time). The bumps had calcified, and were now permanent. So she was stuck with those disfiguring "bumps" for the rest of her life.

Carl told me.....when you start seeing "tooth bumps", the horse usually needs to have caps pulled....now!
Or, at least be checked by a competent Equine Dentist!

It is especially important to have young Minis checked regularly while teeth are coming in.

[rabbitsfizz]

I second what you BOTH say!!
They are normal.
They do NOT always go with time.
Personally, in a show horse at least, I tend not to wait at all- obviously if they are upsetting the horse at all I do not wait either.
I do think a visit form a Dentist is in order and I will stress here that your Vet is not always the best person to ask as Vets have very little dental training- UNLESS they are Dentists too.
My last Vet was- he was also a farrier, but he is now retired and the young ones do not have the training.
If you can get a specialist that would be by far the best thing to do.
But I would definitely get it checked over.

[HGFarm]

I agree...... I had a mare whose tooth bumps did not go away, and Carl was here and fixed that. However our neighbors little stallion has huge tooth bumps, but is just turning three this year, and Carl did not do anything with his. They have gone down some, so perhaps nothing will be needed in time.

We ALWAYS have an annual dental checkup every year on all the horses, whether we think they need work or not. Since we are not experts, we cannot tell, so have Carl look at them ALL.

[Nancy G]

I would love to have Carl check my herd but ~~ he never comes quite close enough to Central Pa. Wish he did. Thanks for the ionformation.

[HGFarm]

We are in AZ and he flies out every year.... but has been for quite some time now. Has anyone in your club or area tried to contact him? I know he is at Nationals usually too.

[Nancy G]

I believe he requires quite a few horses to come to an area. I could run it by the club and see if we could get enough together. We have 25 horses here so that`s a start!! I had heard that he might be cutting back some? Thanks

[lilhorseladie]

I had a tooth bump I was sure on the face. I waited for six months and it was still there...took her to the vet, it actually was an abscess from a fragment of bone. I felt aweful for letting her have that for that long.

[MiniJoys]

Can someone post a pic of a horse with tooth bumps or describe what they look like? I am not sure what they look like but have been told my horse has them. He is a 3 year old stallion.

This post has been edited by MiniJoys: 28 May 2007 - 10:24 PM