14/11/2025
Q: What is βQuiddingβ?
A: A Clear Sign Your Horse Needs a Veterinary Examination
π Quidding means a horse is dropping or expelling partially chewed forage. It is caused by βdysmasticatonβ β abnormal or painful chewing β and is one of the clearest signs of oral pain in the horse.
β οΈ But quidding is not always dental, and it must be distinguished from:
π§ Neurological disease
π₯€ Dysphagia (swallowing disorders)
𦴠TMJ disease
π©Έ Soft-tissue injury or oral masses
π΄ Jaw pathology
πͺΎ Foreign body lodged - oral cavity, pharynx, sub-mucosal
All of these are clinical disorders requiring a veterinary diagnosis and treatment.
βΈ»
** Why quidding is nearly always serious **
π¦· By the time a horse is quidding, if itβs dental related, the underlying cause is often:
β’ Severe periodontal disease
β’ Fractured, mobile, or displaced cheek teeth
β’ Pulpal disease, abscess
β’ Bilateral dysfunction / disease
β’ Soft-tissue trauma
β’ Advanced occlusal disease
(and occasionally lack of dental structure in very old age - but always worth a thorough check - donβt assume!)
These conditions cannot be diagnosed or treated with a visual check alone.
π¨What your horse actually needs
π©Ί A proper veterinary assessment includes:
π Sedation
π Clinical oral examination
π¦ Oroscopic examination
π₯οΈ Further diagnostic imaging (X-rays or CT)
These are vet-only procedures, both legally and clinically.
This is why quidding is always a veterinary case, not a routine dental visit.
βΈ»
What to do if your horse is quidding:
π Book a full veterinary oral and oroscopic examination under sedation.
π Ensure the whole mouth is properly assessed.
β±οΈ Early diagnosis = less pain, faster recovery, better long-term welfare.
Your horseβs comfort and oral health depend on it. Trust us, we are specialists and we have equine welfare at the core of what we do.
