Frequently Asked Questions
How often does your horse need dental work? How far does Dr. Niederman travel to see clients? Get answers to these and other commonly asked questions....
How often should my horse have its teeth looked at?
Horses should have a complete oral examination done under sedation with use of a full mouth speculum every year. Twice yearly exams are encouraged when horses are 2-5 yrs of age while they are erupting new permanent teeth.
How far does Dr. Niederman travel to see clients?
Dr. Niederman services a wide radius around Houston. In an effort to conserve diesel fuel and cut costs to her clients, Dr. Niederman groups calls and tries to service only one "area" each day. That way the trip charge can be split amongst several owners.
When should my horse first get its teeth examined?
Dr. Niederman recommends doing a complete oral examination when the horse is between 1-2 yrs of age. Ideally the animal has been examined when it is a young foal so any major jaw length discrepencies can be addressed at a young age.
Does my horse have to be sedated for the procedure?
Sedation is necessary in all cases to allow manual and visual examination of all of the horses' cheek teeth.
Why should I get my horse's teeth examined if he/she is fat [body condition score greater than 5] and is eating well?
Unfortunately there is a poor correlation between body condition score and dental disease except if the horse is extremely thin. Many horses can eat and maintain body weight quite well despite having oral pain from sharp points or chewing abnormalites due to malocclusions.
My horse drops a lot of feed when it eats. Will dental work help this?
Yes and No. If the horse has been a meticulous eater and then starts to drop feed, that may be due to a dental problem. However, if your horse has always dropped feed, dental corrections will most likely not improve the eating pattern.