Equine Dentist Question and Answer Session

[Gypsygal]

We are doing a project with an equine vet who specializes in dentistry. What questions would you ask if you were standing in front of him/her? No question is to simple or to hard. We are trying to find out as much as we can about equine dentistry and sometimes when you know nothing you do not know what questions to ask.

Thank you so much for any and all input !!!!

Gypsygal

We have an opportunity to ask a very well respected equine dentist any questions we want. We are working on a questions and answer section. If you have any questions you want answered please let me know. It might be how to determine age or what is an underbite? Any question you can think of. We would appreciate any help you can give us.

Thanks Gypsygal and LisaB - Ozark

 

[Marty]

The first thing would be is before I made the appointment I would want to know if he is going to do this by hand or if he has a power float.

I'd also want to know if he uses tranquilizers

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Wolf teeth.

 

[Gypsygal]

bump

 

[mandi]

I'd want to know if he has been certified or not to perform dental work.

 

[Reble]

Why do they get these bumps under their chin they seem so large when they are getting certain teeth in usually with minis around 2 years old? Thanks

 

[horses mouth]

We are doing a project with an equine vet who specializes in dentistry. What questions would you ask if you were standing in front of him/her? No question is to simple or to hard. We are trying to find out as much as we can about equine dentistry and sometimes when you know nothing you do not know what questions to ask.Thank you so much for any and all input !!!!

Gypsygal

We have an opportunity to ask a very well respected equine dentist any questions we want. We are working on a questions and answer section. If you have any questions you want answered please let me know. It might be how to determine age or what is an underbite? Any question you can think of. We would appreciate any help you can give us.

Thanks Gypsygal and LisaB - Ozark

Gypsy Gal,

I'm sure your intentions here are honorable. And I want to thank you for starting this thread. It is very important that ALL horse owners start looking deeper into this "Political" topic! A Region 6 member sent me a link to this thread and I would like to add this to your post:

#1. Is the Veterinarian a certified Equine Dentist?

If so by whom?

#2. Where was he taught Dentistry?

Did he take any courses during Vet school?

#3. Did his state Veterinary exam include any Dentistry questions?

#4. Does he have the proper size tools to work on Mini's?

You will find that "Dentistry" is "extra curricular" and that being a Veterinarian is not inclusive of knowing Dentistry. In fact it is NOT a part of any college's core curriculum for Veterinary school and they are NOT tested on Dentistry to graduate or to obtain a Veterinary license.

The fact of the matter here is, EXPERIENCE. It is NECESSARY since both the Veterinarian and the Equine Dental Practitioner have to WORK to obtain it. REPUTATION is everything in Equine Dentistry.

The Veterinaians want to have exclusivity so they can control the MARKET. But they would rather run all Equine Dental Practitioners out of business than go back to school, or set up some kind of bi-partisan solution. They cite "illegal use of drugs" by the Practitioner (when they are the "drug suppliers"). They claim that Practitioners harm horses, yet MOST of them have no Dental education and improper tools (especially for minis).

How do horse owners get to choose farriers when the same situation applies?

I'll bet you look at reputation and quality of work!

Beware the schemes to legislate FREEDOM OF CHOICE.

Gary Barnes

Plaintiff in the Texas Case (versus the TX Vet Med Board)

AMHA Region 6 Director 2009-2011

Co-Chair AMHA Performance Committee

 

[horseteeth1]

Regarding the qualifications of equine dental practitioners:

- Although veterinarians "should" be capable of providing thorough care, they have rarely been exposed to decent coverage in veterinary schools.

- An increasing number of veterinarians are learning some good things about horse dentistry since the resurrection of the study of it by a few dedicated non-veterinary equine dental practitioners

- The non-veterinary equine dental practitioners are usually called "lay dentists" by the veterinary community, but that term means basically "uneducated" and the fact is that most of the non-vets have studied more of the practical aspects of this part of horse health care than the veterinarians (so who is the layman here, eh?)

- A few years ago the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) re-wrote the Model Practice Act, in which they basically claimed that anything affecting the health of animals is veterinary medicine, and can therefore only be done legally by licensed veterinarians.

- Again, while it would be great if all veterinarians did know everything, including equine dentistry practicalities, they often claim to have that knowledge, without actually having adequate hands-on experience.

-The only certification to date with any degree of acceptance is through the International Association of Equine Dentistry (IAED see www.iaedonline.com)

- Certified practitioners can sometimes be found on the IAED site, but not always, since the Texas Vet. Med Board used that site to select some equine dental practitioners to issue Cease and Desist Orders, so some of the best have removed their names from that site.

-Word of mouth is still the best way to find good equine dental care. Most owners of Mini's know who is the best available-ask them.

- The issue of "right to choose" who works on your horse will only be protected if/when enough horse owners stand up to the politicos and demand that right. Otherwise, the veterinary cartels of state vet. med. boards will remove your choice, as they are trying to do in Texas.

- I'm not saying that no veterinarians can provide good equine dental care, but the mere fact that we are vets does not automatically mean that we possess the ability to do so. Ask around.

- By the way, there are currently only three "specialists" in equine dentistry, legally speaking (meaning they are "Fellows" of the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry [see avdonline.com] and they are located 2 on the east coast and 1 on the west.) Other veterinarians can only state that they "limit practice" to equine dentistry, if they do.

- Unfortunately, many of the vets who claim to offer/perform equine dental procedures are relatively clueless as to the methods involved. Again: ask around of your fellow horse enthusiasts!

Respectfully,

Tom Allen

[email protected]

 

[Gypsygal]

Thanks for all of the information. I did not realize it was such a touchy subject at this time. I missed the earlier posts.

Gypsygal