Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1905-09-07
i I'VE
STOCK.
Teethlna and Eye Trouble.

1t is still commonly believed by
farmers and horsemen that wolf
teeth" are the cause of moon blind
ness and other eye troubles seen
when colts are three or four years OF
age. 1t Is time for intelligent men
TO understand that this alleged cause
OF eye disease is erroneous. In short,
wolf teeth do not cause any derange'
ment OF any sort duplicating or affect
ing the eyes. Wolf teeth are short,
small, shallow rooted teeth, and they
come into the mouth with the first
set OF molar teeth, and are therefore
present long before eye disease ap.
bears. The process of teething is,
however, likely to aggravate into ac-
tlVlty any predisposition that the colt
may have inherited toward the de.
Velopment of eye disease If, for In
stance, the colt is from sire or dam
anected with periodic ophthalmia
(moon blindness), that disease will be
most apt to show up when the colt
is three or four years of age. At that
Time, when eye disease is noticed for
the first time, the owner makes an
examination Of the mouth, and per-
chance finds wolf teeth just in front
OF the first upper molars These SUI
perfiuous teeth are Immediately
blamed for the eye disease and are
knocked out or extracted. The dis
ease does not then disappear, but re-
ours at intervals and finally causes
blindness of one or both eyes.
The wolf teeth did not cause the
trouble and were present in the mouth
for years before the owner discovered
them. 1t should be remembered, too
that hundreds Of horses have eye dis
ease, but are found to be without wolf
teeth. When colt is three years old
he acquires eight new molar teeth
(grinders), and four front ones Tin
cisors). A year later he gets eight
additional molars, four front teeth and
four tushes (bridle teeth. At these
ages, as can well be understood, the
gums and palate of the mouth swell
and the horse has difficulty in masti.
eating food on that account. He is
be dull and sluggish. 1t is at this
time, when sick from dentition irri-
tation, that the wolf teeth are discov-
cred, as the owner looks for them
when ii is seen that the eyes are
weak. On examination, no infiamma-
ton will be found about the small
roots Of the wolf teeth at this time.
The molar teeth are very deeply i'm
bedded in the mouth, as are the in
cisor teeth, and the gums about them
are found to be greatly swollen, hot
and sore. II anything in the mouth
would cause trouble of the eyes, it
would surely be these large teeth, and
not the small, harmless wolf teeth,
which tend to fall out when a horse
is seven or eight years of age.
An experienced writer has advised
that while teeth irritation does not
cause eye disease, it is always well
to check it as much as possible when
the colt is seen to be badly affected.
If constipation comes on when a colt
is cutting teeth, soft mashes of wheat
bran should be given in place of oats
and other dry food, and grass or even
ensilage in small quantities will prove
helpful. If these are not available, or
do not prove effectual, one to two
ounces of glauber salts may be given
in the feed or drinking water once
daily. If the old teeth do not fall
early and spontaneously, but remain
adherent to the crowns of the cutting
teeth, they should be removed. If the
gums are seen to be red and much
swollen, great deal of relief is to
be had by lancing down upon the hard
tooth. Where the tushes are found to
be pressing upon the gums, but not
coming through quickly enough, it is
a very simple matter to cut the gums
over the tooth by merely giving the
part a stroke with coarse rasp or
dentistry float. This causes less bleed
ing than lance, and it is much easier
to do that with the sharp instrument
Young colts, when cutting teeth should
be allowed to chew on few old, hard
ears of corn daily. This will tend to
prevent gnawing upon the manger and
acquiring the bad habit of cribbing
and windsucking, which is apt to be
learned at this time. The way to pre-
vent eye disease is to breed from
horses having sound eyes. The wolf
teeth need not be taken into account,
and are entirely harmless.-As S.
Alexander in Farmers Review.