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Gum Disease in Horses (Periodontal Disease)
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EOTRH Syndrome in Horses
Seek veterinary advice if you suspect this disease.
Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis, also known as EOTRH, is a syndrome in horses. The disease’s hallmark is resorption, or breakdown, of the incisor and canine teeth, including the tissue surrounding each tooth and the internal roots. Hypercementosis, or excessive production of cementum, which with enamel forms the tooth’s external surface, can occur simultaneously as the body attempts to stabilize the affected teeth. Other cells respond by creating extra cementum that eventually forces out the tooth and root. Many older horses are fairly stoic, and don’t always exhibit obvious outward signs of oral pain until the clinical disease is quite progressed.
Symptoms
- Tilted Head
- Shaking Head
- Foul Odor
- Difficulty Chewing
- Misshaped Teeth
- Excessive Salivation
- Enlarged Teeth
Common in
- Old Horses
- Warmbloods
- Thoroughbreds
Treatment
The recommended treatment for EOTRH is surgical extraction of affected teeth in order to provide relief from this painful condition. This procedure is typically done on a standing, sedated horse. The use of local anaesthesia ensures that the horse remains comfortable during this procedure. The number of teeth that should be extracted is entirely related to the stage of disease when the diagnosis is made. If we can identify the disease process early on, there may only be 1-4 teeth affected.
As the disease becomes more progressive, all of the upper and/or lower incisors and canines may be affected. If all of these teeth are severely affected, there is no good clinical reason to leave any of them in place. The follow up care for horses that have had incisors extracted typically includes antibiotics and a soft diet for several weeks.
Prevention
As there is still no obvious cause, preventing EORTH is difficult. Keeping up your horse’s annual dental exam with an experienced vet will help to identify any problems as they arise. In view of actively preventing this syndrome, it is recommended that all horses over the age of 15 have their incisors radiographed to screen for this condition.
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