TEXAS VET NEWS By Dr. Bob Judd, DVM and the Texas Farm Bureau Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network

If you have been around horses, you may have heard the term wolf teeth.  First of all, many people believe wolf teeth are the teeth common in male horses that are just behind the incisors at the front of the mouth, but these are not wolf teeth.  These fairly tall and somewhat sharp teeth that you see when you put a bit in a horse’s mouth are actually canine teeth, not wolf teeth.  These teeth are never routinely removed unless a problem occurs with the tooth. 

Wolf teeth are the tiny teeth that are located just in front of the first cheek teeth and you have to know where to look to even see them.  Wolf teeth are actually the first premolars and they do not have any effect on chewing. Dr. Toots Banner from Florida indicates the function of wolf teeth in domestic horses is unknown.  The reason we are talking about them is that for years it has been recommended to remove them when the horses are young.  The question is should they be removed or not and the answer is it depends on the intended use of the horse.  Not all wolf teeth erupt, and if present but unerupted they are called blind wolf teeth.  If wolf teeth are erupted and the horse is to be ridden with a bit, it is probably a good idea to remove them.  Although there is no scientific evidence to support removal of these teeth, many trainers and owners feel it is a possible problem that could affect performance.  The wolf teeth also need to be removed if they are unerupted but the area is painful.  On the other hand, if the horse is a broodmare and is never to be ridden, wolf teeth do not cause any damage and removal is not necessary. 

Hear the audio of this program at the Texas Farm Bureau Network.

Date Published: 4/20/2009 9:35:00 AM