ODONTOLOGIA EQUINA - ASPECTOS IMPORTANTES

Abstract

The oral health of horses has gained relative importance in veterinary medicine based on the emphasis and need to extend the production and quality of life of the animals. The link between equine dentistry and improved performance increases interest in the area, as a result there is an increase in the number of procedures that are performed and more professionals of the horses are providing dental care. In horses, dental problems remain among the most common reasons to seek veterinary service, and thus, dental procedures appear in the list of most common tasks performed by equine professionals. The affected animals present difficulty in seizure and swallowing of food, slimming and fall in their performance. Dental care must be started from birth. Significant alterations, such as the cleft palate, defects in occlusion, presence of supernumerary teeth and tumors may interfere with breastfeeding and, later, on feeding, predisposing to digestive disorders. It should be taken into account that dental alterations can have repercussions in diverse disorders, from simple rejection to embouchures, loss of the dental element, starvation and even death. They are conditions of partial dental treatment: excessive growth, that is, sharp tips of enamel, hooks and ramps. As the main reason for these conditions, the lack of abrasive fodder in combination with reduced chewing time was hypothesized. The aim of this literature review was to address the most common problems encountered in the clinical routine of professionals working with equine dentistry and to evaluate studies regarding treatment options.