Behavioral Signs Associated With Equine Cheek Tooth Findings

Equine dental diseases are often underdiagnosed and their signs inadequately reported. Many horse owners have difficulties in recognizing pain-related behavioral signs and in associating them with dental pain. Our objective was to determine what type and degree of dental findings may cause behavioral signs associated with dental pain. In this cross-sectional study, dental examination was performed on 183 adult horses and cheek tooth findings were scored. Owners filled in an internet-based questionnaire including 35 questions concerning eating behavior, bit behavior, and general behavior of the horse. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were performed. Broadened or darkened fissures [odds ratio (OR) 2.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-5.7), complicated fractures (OR 2.3, CI 1.01-5.2) and secondary dentine defects of at least the second degree (OR 3.1, CI 1.2-7.7) were associated with the expression of at least five behavioral signs in the univariable binomial logistic regression analyses. Horses with at least one of these potentially painful cheek tooth findings expressed more signs related to eating behavior, bit behavior, and general behavior than did the other horses. The results suggest that cheek tooth findings indicated by this study as being potentially painful, i.e. broadened or darkened fissures, complicated fractures and secondary dentine defects of at least the second degree, may require intervention, particularly if the horse expresses any behavioral signs that might be related to dental pain.