Stetching jaw and dropping feed.?

Question

I have a 10 yro paint mare that gets a 3/4 quart of pellets and 3/4 quart of sweet feed and when she eats I notice she like stretches her jaw to the sides and then she drops her feed... I just had her teeth done in february of this year so its not that do you think it would be a good idea for me to water down and soak her feed for a little while and see if it helps?

Answer 1

My gelding did this frequently but it was when he was 2-4 years old.  

He had a one sided swollen guttural pouch.  He would yawn and drop grain.  (He still drops grain but because he chews with his mouth open).

He'd be so upset about the irritation under his jaw and he would not stop yawning.  Kinda like popping your ears on a plane.

He yawns alot when upset so he was doubly yawning!

http://treatmentofdiseases.blogspot.com/...

My mare yawned alot because she had a small gap between her teeth.  Food would get ground in and irritate her...decaying and infection.  She had to have the gap widened. Only a good equine dentist will see this and be able to fix it.

She may also have an abscess.

The current vet I use highly recommends that all pelleted grain be soaked to just soften it.  There is nothing wrong with this.

We soak all of our grain when they are having problems chewing and for all of the senior citizens.  

I would soak her grain in some nice warm water until you get the vet out to take a peek and see if she has an abscess or a guttural pouch (I doubt that one though).

Good luck

Answer 2

I have had ahorse that did that, stopped right away as soon as i got the tooth fairy to come out and float his teeth! All he needs it to see an equine dentist, so find one in your area, and if thats not the problem he will be able to tell you what is by taking a look in there! Most likely just haven't had his/her teeth floated in a long while!

Answer 3

It might help, but you might also go ahead and call the vet and ask them.  She could have a rotten or broken tooth due to subsequent injury since the floating, or the vet could have missed a spur.

Answer 4

One of my geldings does this EVERY DAY. The day he had his teeth floated I fed them that evening and watched to see if he did it...he did. The vet has looked at him and he has done this for YEARS.

If all health issues are discounted then it is just something he does...the same as taking a mouthful of feed then walking around whilst dropping it every where. It's likely a habit, the same way as you have a good stretch every morning when you wake up!!!

Answer 5

Poor Girl!  Sounds as though she has something stuck between her teeth if you just had them floated.  It would be a good idea to get them checked again to be on the safe side.

Answer 6

Well they can have more issues in their mouth even after they have their teeth floated. One tooth could have gotten a little pointy or she could have some kind of old sore from the bit so I would say that you should call the vet. Watering the feed isn't going to really help you here.

Answer 7

Pellets are not easily chewed in the first place.  Try giving her some ground alfafa and molasses instead.

Is she having any weight issues?

Answer 8

talk to your vet and ask him if her back teeth need to be floated,it soundes funnybut there teeth need to be floated

Answer 9

i have had horses that have done this

. dont water down the feed!

.   does this happen often? or just recently?

  i would call the vet and have them come look a peek inside her mouth she could have a sore, or might be as simple as something uncomfortable stuck between her teeth when she chews it will cause discomfort.  kinda like getting pop corn kernals stuck in our teeth

Answer 10

I agree with checking the teeth again.  I also would consider a switch to senior feed (I use Purina) which is easier for the horse to chew and digest...it's not just for the very old guys, it is fine and beneficial for even the younger ones.

Answer 11

Just to add to what others have said...

If your vet just floated her teeth, I would see if you could find a proper equine dentist to come look at her.  Although vets can do basic teeth work, they spend very little of their training/education looking at teeth.  So if you really want a good answer, try a dentist.  If you can find one.  They are sometimes hard to come by.

Answer 12

has she had her teeth done by a vet??????? that may be da probmle. if her teeth r in pain she will have a hard time eating, that was da problme with my horse.