What is a wolf tooth?
Most horse people have heard of "wolf" teeth before, but what are they really? Wolf teeth are a horse's first pre-molars. This may make them sound more important than they actually are, but they are really small just dental remnants from the modern horse's long lost ancestors. Wolf teeth serve no purpose in mastication and sit right before the long block of pre-molars and molars in a horse's mouth that are responsible for chewing. They can vary in size, shape, exact location, and number. Some horses may have 4, while others may have none. Because of their location in the mouth, wolf teeth can cause interference with the bit and lead to problems under saddle. Wolf teeth erupt between 6-18 months of age, and owners usually elect to have them removed in young horses before they begin training. Not all wolf teeth interfere with the bit and there are certainly older horses out there that have them and show no issues under saddle. Each horse is different and we elect to remove them based on their location, their size, their likelihood to cause problems, or if they're already causing problems.
Wolf teeth should not be confused with canine teeth, which are much larger permanent teeth. Canine teeth are "fighting" teeth that typically only present in male horses, but can occasionally be seen in mares as well. They are large, banana-shaped teeth that sit in the interdental space (between the incisors and pre-molars). Canines do not interfere with the bit and should not be extracted unnecessarily, nor should they be floated or cut to reduce their size, as it can damage the live part of the tooth and lead to infection. Canine extractions are quite involved due to the size, shape, and location of the teeth. Fractured or diseased canines should be evaluated via radiographs prior to extraction by a veterinarian.
Wolf teeth removal is relatively straightforward. We start with a sedated oral exam to assess the teeth, use local anesthetic to numb the area, elevate the gingiva around the tooth, break down the tooth's attachment to the surrounding tissue and bone, and use forceps to extract the tooth. While the process is fairly simple, it isn't without potential complications. The age of the horse can greatly affect the ease of extraction. In older horses, the wolf teeth may be larger and can have significantly more attachment to the tissues around it. The tooth may also become "cemented" to the surrounding bone as the horse gets older. The root of the tooth may fracture and require additional effort to be retrieved. Some horses can have "blind" wolf teeth, which is when the tooth never properly erupted through the gums. These blind wolf teeth can frequently cause problems in the bridle, as it is like having a pebble under the gums that gets pinched by the bit. In these cases, we typically take a radiograph to assess the size and location of the tooth followed by an additional radiograph after extraction to make sure the whole tooth was removed.
We highly recommend that young horses receive a proper sedated oral exam before going into training. This ensures that their mouth is healthy and comfortable before introducing them to the bridle. We typically recommend wolf teeth be removed when horses are yearlings, and definitely before the age of 3.
Wolf teeth should not be confused with canine teeth, which are much larger permanent teeth. Canine teeth are "fighting" teeth that typically only present in male horses, but can occasionally be seen in mares as well. They are large, banana-shaped teeth that sit in the interdental space (between the incisors and pre-molars). Canines do not interfere with the bit and should not be extracted unnecessarily, nor should they be floated or cut to reduce their size, as it can damage the live part of the tooth and lead to infection. Canine extractions are quite involved due to the size, shape, and location of the teeth. Fractured or diseased canines should be evaluated via radiographs prior to extraction by a veterinarian.
Wolf teeth removal is relatively straightforward. We start with a sedated oral exam to assess the teeth, use local anesthetic to numb the area, elevate the gingiva around the tooth, break down the tooth's attachment to the surrounding tissue and bone, and use forceps to extract the tooth. While the process is fairly simple, it isn't without potential complications. The age of the horse can greatly affect the ease of extraction. In older horses, the wolf teeth may be larger and can have significantly more attachment to the tissues around it. The tooth may also become "cemented" to the surrounding bone as the horse gets older. The root of the tooth may fracture and require additional effort to be retrieved. Some horses can have "blind" wolf teeth, which is when the tooth never properly erupted through the gums. These blind wolf teeth can frequently cause problems in the bridle, as it is like having a pebble under the gums that gets pinched by the bit. In these cases, we typically take a radiograph to assess the size and location of the tooth followed by an additional radiograph after extraction to make sure the whole tooth was removed.
We highly recommend that young horses receive a proper sedated oral exam before going into training. This ensures that their mouth is healthy and comfortable before introducing them to the bridle. We typically recommend wolf teeth be removed when horses are yearlings, and definitely before the age of 3.
