A Progressive Dental Disease in Older Horses
Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis, commonly known as EOTRH, is a painful and progressive dental condition that primarily affects the incisor and canine teeth of older horses, typically those over the age of 15. This disease involves two simultaneous processes: the body’s own cells begin to dissolve the tooth structure (resorption), while in response, it lays down an excessive amount of cementum, a normal tooth-protective material, around the roots (hypercementosis). This leads to inflammation, pain, and can eventually cause the teeth to become loose, fractured, or lost.
Recognizing the Signs of EOTRH
Since EOTRH develops slowly, the initial signs can be subtle and easily missed. Horses are known for being stoic, especially with oral pain, so symptoms may not become apparent until the disease is advanced.
Common signs for horse owners to watch for include:
- Oral Pain and Discomfort: This is often one of the first signs. Horses may show reluctance to eat, especially hard items like carrots or apples, or have difficulty grazing. They might also become head-shy, resent having their mouth handled, or resist being bitted.
- Changes in Eating Habits: You might notice your horse dropping feed, dunking hay in water, drooling excessively, or losing weight.
- Visible Changes in the Mouth: As the disease progresses, you may see redness, swelling, or recession of the gums. Small red dots or draining tracts (like pimples) can appear on the gums, which may discharge pus. The teeth themselves can become discolored, appear longer due to gum recession, or have a bulbous appearance at the gumline.
- Other Symptoms: Bad breath, head shaking, and general changes in behavior, such as irritability, can also be associated with EOTRH.
Diagnosis by a Veterinarian
A definitive diagnosis of EOTRH requires a thorough veterinary examination. While a visual inspection of the mouth may reveal characteristic signs like inflamed gums or loose teeth, dental radiographs (X-rays) are essential for a conclusive diagnosis. X-rays allow the veterinarian to see the extent of the damage below the gumline, including tooth root resorption and changes to the surrounding bone.
Treatment and Management
There is currently no known way to prevent or reverse EOTRH. Management of mild cases may involve regular dental check-ups and dietary modifications. However, for horses showing signs of pain or with advanced disease, the most effective treatment is the extraction of the affected teeth.
While removing a horse’s incisors may sound drastic, it provides significant pain relief and drastically improves the horse’s quality of life. The procedure is typically performed under standing sedation with local anesthesia. Most horses recover quickly and learn to graze and eat using their lips and tongue. They often show a rapid improvement in appetite and overall demeanor once the source of chronic pain is removed.