How We Perform Equine Dentistry Matters ( Moved to community.thehorsesadvocate.com )
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Dr. Tucker & Melissa, Eric and I and our horses are so pleased with your dentistry method. Melissa came and did our two horses teeth last week and we were absolutely amazed that there truly was no drugs no drama. Our horses willingly cooperated with Melissa and seemed pleased that she was making them feel better. The look on them was as if to say, “wow, thanks, that feels much better”. Melissa was a pleasure to have come here and she does a wonderful job!
Thank You,
Eric & Cindy
I passed this on to Melissa. We are both grateful that you took the time to comment here so everyone can see your thoughts. As the owner of this practice, I am honored to have Melissa as a partner in horsemanship and in dentistry. When I hear all the positive reviews about her I become so grateful that others get the opportunity to see in her what I see.
We come across skeptics who, until they see what we do with their own eyes, don’t believe Horsemanship Dentistry is possible. Through the words here from you and others, the story is told that horsemanship is really more effective than automatic sedation. What is untold is that you choosing to have dental care performed on your horses makes you an advocate for your horses.
Thank you again for these words and for calling us to care for your horses teeth.
My mare is 16yrs old and her teeth are done once a year. I have used Hippologic i think from Kentucky. I was introduced to them by a fellow horse lover concerned about her horses mouths after having had bad results from former dentistry. This company is veerrry expensive and it takes my mare a week or more to want to eat and to learn how to eat again, spitting out wads of cigar shaped chewed grass for quite a long time. I was told to expect this. They are not Veterinarians.
They advised me the teeth had been over trimmed on one side, from the cheek toward the gums, likely due to too much pressure by electric equipment and the dentist being one sided in his use of the equipment.
I’m not knocking them, but if you know their methods, am i paying more than is necessary, $250? My previous vet charged around $70 for uncomplicated treatment . Both use electric equipment and sedation. The previous Veterinarian cranked her head way high which resulted in the horse taking very strange hard loud big labored breathing. It was difficult for me to watch. I said to him, she’s having trouble breathing. He answered, that’s her choice how she wants to breathe. And when Hippologic was presented I went to them to get away from what I considered unkind treatment, but at a great cost increase. However, they use sedation too and speculums. After completion, I receive a chart of her teeth diagraming what had been done in her mouth. Not knowing anything about dentistry, I’m just looking for the correct and best way to keep her mouth healthy without breaking the bank. Whatcha think?
I forgot to say, the $250 covered anything, anything that needed to be done, extraction, whatever.
You have several issues here: value, effectiveness, legality, ethics. Let’s start with this last one,
Anyone with a callous attitude to anyone or any animal should leave this business. His or her reply to your concern about your mare’s difficulty in breathing when her head was positioned reflects their core ethics and integrity. Horse professionals should have an attitude of service to each owner through their horses. It should drive them every morning to wake and to do better than the day before. When working with horses becomes a chore and a burden with the only outcome the collection of money then they should find another occupation.
Ethics also applies to the law. Every state limits the use of medications to licensed veterinarians only. Non-veterinarians carrying and administering medications restricted to a veterinarian is breaking the law and so is the veterinarian who sold them this vial. But the use of sedatives for dentistry is inappropriate even though it is common. When a horse balks at a dental procedure it is most likely from pain. Yet most dentists use a sedative with no pain killing properties. Using only a sedative is like getting a date drunk so the work of creating a relationship can be avoided. In other words, the use of sedatives for dentistry avoids the skills of horsemanship needed to make a connection and build a relationship. It is the relationships made with horses that drives us across this country to float teeth. It’s FUN!
Quidding hay after floating happens to all of us but seems more common after using power floats. You should be warned that this is a possibility and it should improve quickly though some take up to a week.
Floating teeth is an art form. Music is an art form with many types (rap, folk, opera, etc). Not all floating is the same. Horse owners look for two or three things from the dental experience. The first is that they are happy when the job is done. The horse seems happy too. Second is usually found during the next ride when the horse seems more comfortable in a bit or maybe chews more purposefully and without restrictions. The third is that the owner learns something about their horse which makes them a better horse owner.
It sounds like you have not had your expectations met in any of these three areas. The only reaction you have is that you do not feel value. This is where you spend your money and smile when doing so. This applies to everything from a car to a restaurant meal. It is not the amount you spend but how you feel once it is spent.
Unfortunately we hear stories like yours all the time. There are few professionals being taught horsemanship and the horse owners who know the difference are noticing this. Those who do not know the difference don’t see the problem which allows these professionals to continue to give horsemanship-less care. Thank you for noticing and reaching out here. Keep looking or find someone to take our school on equine dentistry at HorsemanshipDentistrySchool.com
Thanks, Doc T
Yeah, Sally and Doc!! Nice to see my two favorite vets in communicado.
I have to say was very concerned Doc was proposing some fancy new equipment he was going to have to buy (and we were going to have to pay for). Kind of like vaccinating a dead cat. I should have known better. No real need for complexication in the realm of mastery.
Very well said and thank you so much. Doc T
Sad but not uncommon for the medical industry to have a solution looking for a problem, and the money to market and pay for studies until they find one…
Yup!
All of the subjects of the lectures from the conference are the reasons I went looking for a” Dr Tucker” and thank heavens I found him. My horses certainly thank him.!
Thanks Heather! I’m glad we met too!
Mind boggling! The lengths some people will go to to make people feel guilty. It’s not only the horse owner, but the brain washing of veterinarians, especially the young and up and coming veterinarians. Leaving imprinted in their thinking that this is the only path to proper equine dentistry. The peer pressure of fellow veterinarians.
So now they are committed to using this rather narrow minded learning on the unsuspecting horse owners.Complexicating things only moves people further from the simple truths of horsemanship and equine dental care.I had an owner who refused to let me float his horses´ teeth because I would not use a speculum. Eventually he came to his senses realizing that his horses’ care mattered more. Keep on sending out the message Doc. Thanks
Thanks John – it is mind boggling.
I had to do a double -take on the picture of Melissa floating the chestnut with the white blaze ( top picture)
It could have been my beloved “Boo” , who you floated many times during his 34 years. Just dreamed about him last night! I sure miss him.
Still enjoy reading your blogs, though I have been horseless for 4 years now.
We miss you. Though that isn’t Boo in the picture, it is nice to remember him and think back on the good times. Thank you Marie for continuing to read my “stuff.” Doc T
I am so grateful that your main concern is the best interest of the horse. Keep up the good work.
Your blog gave me the backup I needed to seek other answers when my horse was facing tooth extraction. I kept looking and finally found a vet who took a conservative approach and did a hand float, only using a mild power float on a back tooth that was hard to get at. It improved his chewing a lot. He can eat his hay again without spitting out wads. It probably should have been done sooner, but at least I found the right person for the job in the end.
I am so grateful that there are honorable people like you and Melissa educating us about what is the best solution for are horses. Thank you!!!
We are grateful that you noticed and read the blogs. Thank you. Doc T
Sounds like a perfect example of complexication. I use your word daily! It’s a major problem in all of veterinary medicine. Directions of how jump on board the train driven by the MBA’s… all in the name of “good medicine”. Oh, I mean “standard of care…”
Hey Sally! Good to hear from you! Hope all is well.
Glad you are using complicate – I am honored.