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NVAP Reference Guide: Appendix G:

Equine Teeth and Aging

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NVAP Reference Guide: Table of Contents

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Preface

Introduction

Control and Eradication

Brucellosis

Johne’s Disease

Pseudorabies (PRV)

Tuberculosis

Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies

Scrapie

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)

Poultry
National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP)

Avian Influenza (AI)

Exotic Newcastle disease (END)

Equine Disease

Aquatic Animal

Aquatic Animal National Health Plan

Aquatic Animal Health Activities

Animal Health Emergency Management

Animal Health Emergency Management

Emergency Response Structure

National Response Framework (NRF)

National Incident Management System (NIMS)

National Animal Health Emergency Management System (NAHEMS)

Foreign Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Plan (FAD PReP)

FAD Recognition and Initial Response

National Animal Health Emergency Response Corps (NAHERC)

Notifiable Diseases and Conditions

WOAH and International Standards

Cleaning and Disinfection

Importance of Cleaning & Disinfection

Cleaning

Disinfection

Regulation of Disinfectants

Safety

Disease Surveillance

Laboratory Submissions

Animal Movement

Interstate Regulations

Interstate Movement of Cattle, Horses, Swine, Sheep and Goats

Issuing Interstate Animal Movement Documents

International Animal Movement

Issuing International Health Certificates (IHCs) for Live Animal Movement

Common Problems Observed on Certificates for Live Animal Movement
Animal Identification 

Animal Identification

Cattle Identification

Swine Identification

Equine Identification

Sheep and Goat Identification

Fowl Identification

Compliance and Regulations

Appendix

A: 9 CFR PARTS 160, 161, and 162

B: APHIS VS District Offices

C: State Animal Health Officials

D: Forms

E: Other Organizational Information with Contact Points

F: Web Sites

G: Equine Teeth and Aging

The age of horses, donkeys, and mules can be estimated by examining the eruption

and wear patterns of the teeth. Figures 7 through 9 provide a usable reference to

help the accredited veterinarian approximate a given horse’s age. These figures are

reprinted with the permission of the American Association of Equine Practitioners

from the “Official Guide for Determining the Age of the Horse.” 
In determining the age of a horse by its teeth, the examination is usually limited to

the incisors. Eruption of the premolars and molars (cheek teeth) is a fairly accurate

indication of age but is used infrequently. After the permanent teeth are in wear,

determination of age becomes more difficult and quite speculative. No single feature

or sign along should be considered as reliable; all signs must be evaluated carefully.

The eruption table given here is from Sisson and Grossman (19xx).

Eruption of the Teeth

The subjoined table indicates the average period of the eruption of the teeth.

Teeth Eruption

A. Deciduous:

First incisor (Di 1) Birth or first week

Second incisor (Di 2) 4-6 weeks

Third incisor (Di 3) 6-9 months

Canine (Dc)
Teeth Eruption

First Premolar (Dp 2) Birth or first 2 weeks

Second premolar (Dp 3) Birth or first 2 weeks

Third premolar (Dp 4) Birth or first 2 weeks

B. Permanent:

First Incisor (I 1) 2 1/2 years

Second incisor (I 2) 3 1/2 years

Third incisor (I 3) 4 1/2 years

Canine (C) 4-5 years

First premolar or wolf-tooth (P 1) 5-6 months

Second premolar (P 2) 2 1/2 years

Third premolar (P 3)  3 years

Fourth premolar (P 4) 4 years

First molar (M 1) 9-12 months

Second molar (M 2) 2 years

Third molar (M 3) 3 1/2 -4 years

(The period given for P 3 and 4 refer to the upper teeth; the lower ones may erupt

about 6 months earlier.)
Teeth Eruption

The Incisive Arcades

When the incisors are viewed in profile, the angle between the upper and lower

i11cisors becomes more acute with age.
Schematic Drawing of Incisors, Irregular Wear

Illustration depicts teeth of excessive length, whjch may have resulted from tooacute angulation at a n early age, improper wear, or maintenance of the horse of a

soft diet. Each line on the corner tooth represents approximately 1year's growth. If

table (occlusal) surfaces of incisors indicate age of 10 years and teeth were as

illustrated, showing 10 lines, the age of the horse may be estimated as 20. (Number

of lines added to indicated age of table surfaces equals estimated age.) 
Figure 9 - Equine incisors at various ages on the following pages (2.11 MB).

(Scanned from the Official Guide for Determining the Age of the Horse, Published by

the American Association of Equine Practitioners.)