IT MIGHT be the horses’ birthday for every equine body around – today, but for some Tamworth ponies, it also marks a date with the dentist.
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Tamworth veterinary surgeons and equine dental experts are taking part in a national campaign called Presents for Ponies, which is sending the dentist down to community horse groups to give them a free check-up.
And yesterday, ahead of the national birthday when every horse officially celebrates being another year older on August 1, Buttons the pony from the Riding for the Disabled(RDA) group was one of many to put their best teeth forward for a once-over.
Greg Ireland from Tamworth Veterinary Hospital is among those involved and he took visiting veterinary student Caroline Gregg from Canada along for the ride to the RDA grounds.
They gave the gee-gees a good going over – but like little kids who get a gift when they rock up to the dentist in their early years, Buttons got a birthday gift too from these tooth fairies – some carrots.
“Horses have dental problems too,” Dr Ireland said. “Their teeth keep growing all their lives and they can lose teeth, develop debilitating diseases, and generally have the same problems we humans have.”
So, just like those on two legs, the professional prognosis for horses is for a yearly trip to the dentist.
If you want to know more about keeping your horse’s teeth in check, visit www.equinedental vets.com