Both Dr. Horton and Dr. Burton enjoy equine dentistry, and have taken advantage of every opportunity to learn from leaders in this field. 

Modern equipment and techniques have made it possible to treat more dental problems
effectively than ever before. 

We believe in performing equine dental equilibration and correction in a manner that provides
comfort and safety for the horse through moderate sedation, local anesthetics where
appropriate, and safe, modern equipment.

A horse's teeth need regular examination and maintenance. Small adjustments made
frequently keep a horse's teeth in the best possible condition as long as possible. Horses with
well-maintained teeth often maintain excellent function well into their 20s. 

Young horses are at a critical stage in terms of their dental development, yet are often
overlooked when it comes to dentistry. As adult teeth erupt, displacing the deciduous or 'baby'
teeth, abnormalities can emerge. For example, the timing of one arcade's adult tooth eruption
may be out of sync with the opposing arcade, causing an uneven final result. If not corrected,
the abnormality persists and gradually worsens with tooth wear. Early correction means a
smaller adjustment to the tooth, and in many cases a return to normal function. 

Although horses do not require perfect dentition to maintain a normal or even above-normal
weight, eventually they will show signs of trouble. Unfortunately, by the time dental problems
show themselves, they are very severe.

Regular deworming, appropriate vaccinations based on the individual horse's risk, and evaluation of the nutritional needs and status of the horse are an integral part of basic horse care. Annual or semi-annual exams can help spot problems in early stages. 

A deworming program can be complicated, and the constant appearance of new products confusing. Choice of product is important to target all of the parasites that may affect the horse
at various times of the year. Timing of medication is important because it must be targeted to
the timing in the life cycle of each parasite. Both choice of product and timing of administration
must be considered in designing a deworming program. Once these goals are met, an owner may
choose a program based on convenience, cost, or ease of administration. In short, a lot of information goes into designing an effective parasite control program. For these reasons, it is best to consult your veterinarian about your horse's specific needs.

Vaccinations are a cornerstone of prevention. They can be viewed at the most basic level as 'cheap insurance,' although even the best vaccines are not 100% effective. However, quality vaccines provide excellent protection with minimal risk to the horse, and vaccine technology had advanced by leaps and bounds in the last few years. Gone are the days of vaccines with Aluminum in the mixture as an adjuvant or immune stimulator. Modern vaccines use clever new ways of attracting the attention of the immune system while minimizing even further unwanted inflammation, swelling and other adverse effects. While a horse can still be severely allergic to any medication, newer products have drastically improved performance compared with their more familiar counterparts.

A 'core' of vaccines recommended for every horse includes encephalitis, tetanus, west nile, and most recently, rabies. Core vaccines are recommended for every horse, regardless of interaction with other horses and regardless of the horse's individual environment. Rabies was recently added as a core vaccine due to increasing risk as well as concern for human health.

Many horses will require more than the core vaccines because of the activities their owners participate in, their age group, or environment. For these vaccines, it is best to consult with your veterinarian. Common vaccines given include Influenza, Strangles and Rhinopneumonitis, among others.

Nutrition for many horses is quite simple. However, most horse owners have known a horse that was either a 'hard keeper' or an 'easy keeper.' Each of these presents a different dilemma. For both types, dental care, feed quality and the efficacy of deworming program must first be assessed. Then other factors are considered. These factors may include simple things such as competition over feed from herdmates, or more complex underlying medical conditions.  Much has been learned recently about metabolic problems in horses, and many new feeds are available, making it easier for horse owners to feed each horse to its individual requirements. If you are having difficulty managing your horses weight, feel free to contact us for an exam.