Wolf Tooth - How Wolf Teeth Might Cause Problems

How Wolf Teeth Might Cause Problems

Normal wolf teeth without pathology are not inherently painful to a horse which does not have a bit in its mouth. Equally certain is that there are cases where wolf teeth do cause significant problems to horses because of their interaction with the bit.

There are four mechanisms which have been postulated by which wolf teeth may cause discomfort. It is probable that all four of these mechanisms are possible in different cases.

• The wolf tooth and/or periodontium is inherently painful
  • Only likely where the tooth is pathological or very loose
  • Unlikely to be true for healthy wolf teeth
• The bit pushes the cheek towards a sharp/large wolf tooth causing cheek pain
  • Certainly a viable mechanism where the wolf tooth is large and positioned so that it has close contact with the buccal mucosa
• The bit touching a wolf tooth causes pain or discomfort in wolf tooth
  • Possible if bit is being pushed towards tooth with force or tooth is inherently sensitive to pressure or contact with bit
• A wolf tooth physically restricts the movement of the bit
  • Only with very large or rostrally positioned wolf teeth