AAEP campaign urges dental exam for horses annually

LEXINGTON, KY. — Every horse needs an annual dental exam, the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) says. It hopes to spread that message through a dental-health campaign designed to reach horse owners throughout 2008.

Horses with dental problems may exhibit signs such as pain or irritation, or they may show no outward signs until an unnoticed dental problem turns into a more significant health issue, the AAEP says in a news release.

"Routine dental maintenance is the easiest step an owner can take to prevent a more serious problem from developing," says Eleanor M. Green, DVM and AAEP president. One of the best ways to ensure that horses get an annual dental exam is to schedule it with the veterinarian at the same time as a vaccination, Coggin's test or other regular veterinary care, the AAEP says.

The dental-health campaign was launched in April, and equine dentistry was the featured topic on AAEP's "Ask the Vet" feature on its Web site during April, when Drs. Lynn Caldwell and Elizabeth Schilling of the AAEP dentistry committee answered owners' questions.

That and related information on equine dentistry is available at www.aaep.org.