New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1916-08-05
HORSES TEETH SHOULD RE
EXAMINED REGULARLY.

Horses. like people, have trouble
with their teeth. and II the latter are
NOT examined periodically, and any de-
feet present. corrected. bad results
are likely to follow. especially through
improper nourishment of the animal
on account of imperfect mastication.
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 1t is about four and one-half
years OF age the colt teeth are grad
ually being shed to make way for the
permanent ones. In 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
q condition may be seen in young
horses or mules at any time until all
OF the colt teeth have disappeared
from the mouth. and the horse has a
full set OF permanent ones. which. ~
we have Just stated. is about four and
one-half years olds
Such irre9ulagities Of the teeth pre-
vent young afiiinsls from chewing their
food properly, and accounts, in such
cases. for their lack Of thrift and back
ward condition. The indications here,
are that yodhg stock Of this kind
should have their teeth regularly sx.
amined at least once . year. and any
colt teeth found remaining, that may
be loose. or that may be interfering
with the eruption Of the older teeth.
removed from the mouth. either by the
fingers, or forcept II necessary, which
will generally give an animal = fresh
start on its way to = more thrifty
condition. Older animals. also, re.
quire to have their teeth periodically
looked after. With the constant
grinding Of the food. even II the
surfaces should remain sat- |
the edges Of the molar. or
back teeth. sometimes become 10
Dharp ~ 70 cut and lacerate the
cheeks or wound the tongue. and IN
his way prevent the animal from
a. II naturally should.
BY looking into thQanouth and ex.
the upper anS lower grinders
II either side. It will be found that
IL the outer edges Of the upper ones
hat are sharp and which injure the
heeks; and the inner edges Of the .
over teeth that are liable to wound
he tongue.
When this condition IL found. and
vhich would be indicated by the an
nal remaining thin. perhaps "quid-
ing" It's food, or whole grains being :
assed in the manure. etc. the thing
D do would be to carefully file Off :
be line Of sharp. rough edges. c
II should be stated, however that o
Ihile the edges mentioned are natur- q
lly q little more prominent than the n
ther parts Of the teeth. they should 4
ct feel 80 sharp as to injure the
arts with which they come in con- e
lct-the excessive sharpness being n
ue more or less to constant grinding G
hen feeding. 0
More serious conditions occasionally
rise, which require the attention of :
ne expert. such. for example. as =
here one or more teeth have been a
nocked out, and the opposing ones II
row SO long as to cut right into the .
I'M. or even into the. bone. Or. in :
e case OF diseased tooth that re- !.
iires extraction.
However. by regular examinations
the teeth and the simpler irreg-
arities corrected at the time. the
ore serious forms need never occur.
We would recommend to those own.
4 horses and mules, therefore, that
ey make It . regular practice Of
the teeth Of their animals.
tn before and after they get their
rmanent or adult teeth II ID quite
important matter.
W. H. Dalrymple,