Peridontitis
Symptoms
Poor digestion visible in faeces, loss of condition, slow eating, bad breath, loose or loss of teeth.
Cause
The structures and gums around the horses teeth become inflamed and infected, due to food becoming trapped in the gap between the gums and teeth, or in a daistema, a gap between teeth. Bacteria then enter the tissue and infect the mouth. This is found mostly in older horses as their teeth become more worn and damaged and more gaps appear. It may also be caused by the larvae of bots which can be found in the mouth, although further research is looking into this.
Treatment
Dental care needs to be given regularly to keep the mouth infection free. If periodontitis occurs a veterinary surgeon needs to be contacted and the horse treated immediately to prevent the situation from becoming chronic. If periodontitis is found, the mouth can be cleaned and flushed with antiseptic to fight the infection. Antibiotics may need to be administered and a dentist may need to work upon the teeth.
Please remember this information is provided as a guide only and professional advice should be sought before any diagnosis or treatment is applied.