INCISOR DENTAL DISORDERS IN THOROUGHBRED HORSES OF THE CLUB HÍPICO CONCEPCIÓN, CHILE

Abstract

Dental disorders are a very important problem in equine veterinary practice. This study was carried out to determine the frequency of incisors dental disorders and the association of disorders with sex of the Thoroughbred (Tb) horses in the Club Hípico Concepción. A dental examination was performed on the incisors teeth to 106 Tb (53 females and 53 males). The Fisher´s exact test was used to determine difference in frequency of males and females. Overall frequency of disorders was 90.6%, with tartar (44.3%), deciduous retention incisors (36.8%), mandibular brachygnathism (35.9%) and smile (26.4%). The only sex difference was found for presence of tartar (p < 0.05), with a higher frequency in females. As a conclusion, it can be said that incisors dental disorders in Tb at Club Hípico Concepción have a high frequency and only tartar has a significant association with sex of the horses.