Equine Esophageal and Oral Disease

Question 1

What type of teeth do horses have?

Answer 1

hypsodont

Question 2

How fast do a horse’s teeth grow?

Answer 2

2-3 mm/yr

Question 3

What is an eruption bump and is it normal?

Answer 3

A gross swelling in the mandible or maxilla of an adult tooth about to break through a cap

Question 4

What side do upper teeth get points on?

Answer 4

Buccal/Cheek side

Question 5

What side to lower teeth get points on?

Answer 5

Lingual side (Lower is lingual)

Question 6

Which teeth are most likely to get hooks?

Answer 6

last mandibular cheek teeth or first maxillary cheek teeth

Question 7

Which adult tooth is most implicated in dental disease

Answer 7

9… they are the oldest

Question 8

How often should you float teeth?

Answer 8

Every 6 months, especially when younger than 5 yr. old

Question 9

What causes ptyalism?

Answer 9

slaframine toxicosis (clover) or stomatitis, dysphagia

Question 10

Anatomically, what does unilateral nasal discharge mean?

Answer 10

Discharge is coming from ROSTRAL to the NASAL SEPTUM

Question 11

What is implicated in unilateral nasal discharge?

Answer 11

The SINUSes

Question 12

What should you do if you suspect choke?

Answer 12

SEDATE the horse, it will DROP THE HEAD, protecting it’s airway

Question 13

What drugs could help the esophagus relax as a second resort to passing an NG tube?

Answer 13

Acepromazine, Oxytocin, Buscopan***

Question 14

How frequent is pneumonia a sequellae of choke?

Answer 14

70% incidence

Question 15

What is the go to antibiotic in horses?

Answer 15

Trimethoprim Sulfa – if really bad and need broad spectrum Pen G or ceftiofur