Abbeville progress., 1916-07-22
HORSES TEETH STOUfD BE
EXAMINED REGULARLY.

Horses. like people, have trouble
with their teeth. and u the latter are
no. examined periodically, ana any de
feet present, corrected, bad result
are likely to follow. especially through
improper nourishment of the anlma
on account of imperfect masticatlon
or chewing Of the food, and in some
instances, actual starvation. a case OF
which the writer has personally Wit.
messed.
Up to the time a horse has got all
OF its adult, or permanent teeth. or
when II is about four and one-half
years OF age. the colt teeth are grad
( uaiiy being shed to make way for the
I permanent ones. II most cases the
/ change takes place naturally and with.
out any trouble: but occasionally
young animal Will be found with some
colt teeth remaining that should have
been out to make room for the horse
teeth which are to replace them. Such
condition may be seen in youpg
horses or mules at any time until al,
or the colt taeth have d;sapgearef
from the mouth. and the horse has >
full set Of permanent ones. which, az
we have just stated, is about four ana
one-half years old.
Such irregularities Of the teeth pre
vent young animals from chewing the,-
food properly, and accounts, in such |
cases, for their lack Of thrift and back |
ward condition. The indications here
are that young stock of this kind
should have their teeth regularly ex
amined at least once year, and any
colt teeth found remaining. that NAV
be loose, or that may be interfering
with the eruption Of the older teeth
removed from the mouth, either by the
fingers, or foTcept if necessary. which
WlH generally give an animal a fresh
start on its way 70 a more thrifty |
Older animals, also. re.
luire TO have their teeth periodically
ooked after. With the constant
Of the food, even If the
rinding surfaces should remain sat {
sfactory, the edges Of the molar. or Il
ack teeth, sometimes become so q
harp as to cut and facerate the
heeks or wound the tongue. and in
his way prevent the animal from ;,
hewing as it naturally should =,
BY looking into the mouth and ex- -
mining the upper and lower grinders :
either side, it will be found that
Is the outer edges of the upper ones "
lat are sharp and which injure the
leeks; and the inner edges of the
wer teeth that are liable to wound
e tongue.
When this condition is found. and Tn
aich would be indicated by the an. IA,
iai remaining thin, perhaps ."duid- IN
1g" its food, or whole grains heinz
ssed in the manure, etc, the thing
do would be to carefully file off
line of sharp, rough edges.
Il should be stated, however. that co.
lie the edges mentioned are natnr.
little more prominent than tho
Ter parts OF the teeth. they should
feel so sharp as to injure the
rs with which they come In rom Sta
THE excessive sharpness being il
more or less to constant grinding z
Ell feeding.
lore serious conditions occasionally
ie, which require the attention of
expert such, for example. as
ere one or more teeth have been
cked out, and the opposing ones q
so long as to cut right into the issr
l. or even into the bone. Or in Sew
case Of a diseased tooth that rs. iu e
es extraction. IA :
owerer, by regular examinations .uit
he teeth and the simpler irrse. inc
tiles corrected at the time, tbe ,o;.
serious forrus need never occur &c 80
e would recommend 70 those own, -'o''
horses and mules, therefore ,hst c'e'
make 1t d regular practice Of last
aiming the teeth Of their aui,rsia pal
before and after they ger Their Abb
lament or adult teeth. II is ouito be y
Important matter, far 1
". H. Dalrymple, )
- Louisiana State University ,ho