Glade Valley Equine Dental Services, LLC

08/20/2025

Your horse’s dental health can either positively or negatively affect not only the mouth, but everything behind (and below!) I️t.

Studies have shown that horses with poor dental health have negatively altered gut microorganism populations. This makes the optimal conversion of nutrients impossible. These “bad” bacteria will convert fibers to sugar, which can lead to insulin resistance issues. Insulin resistance can lead to founder, laminitis, and other hoof problems.

A horse can appear “overweight” but really be nutritionally starved. As mastication (chewing) is improved by proper dental care, the horse’s overall health is improved as well.

Call your equine dental provider; your farrier, wallet (and horse!) will thank you

08/20/2025

It’s time to schedule for the fall 🍁

No Bull 🐂

08/17/2025

Scheduling fall vaccines? Save a farm call by booking a dental the same day while the vet is there to sedate 🥳

08/16/2025

Come sit with me ☕️

08/15/2025

Have you ordered your brand yet?

08/15/2025

Your young horse needs done, too!

People often say they don’t think their horse needs dental work yet because they’re young. Besides needing their wolf teeth extracted before you begin to put a bit in their mouth, young horses are prone to excessive transverse ridges (ETR) and sharp points.

Between the ages of 2 1/2 and 5, horses will lose 24 “baby” (deciduous) teeth and erupt 36-44. There’s a lot going on in there! If the deciduous teeth become retained, that’s another issue in itself.

Set them up for success. Proper dental (and hoof!) care from the start is essential for a lifetime of health and opportunity to reach their potential.

08/13/2025

I can recommend soaked forage and pellets based on the condition the mouth is in but I always recommend Ask the 'Feedlady' - Arlene Atkins, Equine Specialist for specifics! Save yourself the guessing game and money wasted on unnecessary things by going straight to the expert

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16SmpJKY7v/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Maryland friends- I'll be visiting from Montana ❤
Saturday, August 23rd
Come and "Ask The Feedlady" 🙂
Farmers Cooperative Association
820 E. South Street, Frederick, MD
10am-noon

08/08/2025

What to expect at your dental appointment 📅

Needs:
💦 Water to fill a stainless steel bucket and 5 gallon irrigation system

🚙 Easy access to the work space. Lugging all of the equipment any distance is HARD

🐴 Horses caught and ready. Cannot stress this one enough

💉Sedation and someone qualified to administer

🌞 A dry area- run ins, barns and stalls are fine. If we will be working outside in the hot months please book an early morning appointment. If there is no covered area to work in, let me know before the appt on rainy/snowy days

The process:

Exam- Each horse will be examined for lateral movement, any outward signs of concern, facial swelling, TMJ tenderness, etc.

The mouth will be rinsed

Owners are welcome and encouraged to take a look and feel the teeth (with the speculum on and a bright light of course)

Sedation should be administered if the horse is nervous, fractious or unable to stand still for a thorough and complete examination

The teeth will be corrected of malocclusions and balanced with top notch motorized equipment

I will check for lateral movement, occlusion, etc

A thorough digital dental chart is completed for each horse that will be emailed to the owner for their records. A receipt is included

The horse should have a safe place away from hills, mud and hay to rest while they wake up from sedation

Exams and equilibration are recommended every 6-12 months depending on age, diet, lifestyle and if anything needs to be addressed in stages. Any cases beyond my comfort level/legal ability will be referred to my trusted network of veterinarians

Payment is due at time of service. Cash, check, PayPal, Zelle and Venmo are welcome

Loyal clients will always have first priority!

08/04/2025

And biomechanics!

A horse’s jaw moves forward to stop, back up, flex, and collect. It moves forward and to the side to turn, and back to run or extend.

When a horse begins to lope, the teeth come together. Imbalance or incorrect angles can compromise the performance of the rest of the body.

All of these movements require the jaw to move freely in every direction (eating is important, too!) which is why it is so important to not only have a mouth that is free of sharp points and obvious malocclusions, but a mouth that is truly balanced (Equilibrated).

I work on them so they work for you 🦷 🐎

Has your horse had their annual/biannual check up by a qualified equine dental provider?

08/01/2025

When you are in pain (have you ever had a toothache?!) nothing else seems to matter in that moment except wanting to be rid of the feeling. Though horses are typically more stoic than we are, they are no exception.

Horses will often toss their head,ride with their mouth gaping open, refuse to flex or even rear up to try to get away from the feeling of pain.

Often mistaken for strictly behavioral issues, horses are sold, told to remain in training for longer periods of time ($$$$$), or outfitted with numerous different costly bits to try to solve the issues with little success.

Ensuring your horse’s mouth is pain free will undoubtably make them more receptive to your cues, perform better, and may eliminate many forms of undesirable behavior.

Keep their mind out of their mouth and let your horse show you what they are capable of 😊

07/28/2025

Horses aren’t thin *just* because they’re old, they’re often thin because they’ve outlived their teeth and are not being fed a diet that suits them

While there are a ton of other health concerns that can lead to weight loss, having poor dentition and missing/worn molars is a huge contributing factor. Horses with mouths like the one pictured below will benefit greatly from a soaked mash diet to ensure they’re getting the most nutritional value from their feed/forage and reducing their risk of choke

07/27/2025

Want us to freeze brand your horses and don’t know where to start?

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Dv9yCLHjr/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Design your brand, place your order and I’ll handle the rest

custom made freeze or fire brands