Spring is a common time for equine owners to have their horse’s teeth floated. In recent years, lay dentists have become increasingly popular. Many horse owners choose to use lay dentists because of lower costs and the fact that they don’t want their horses sedated, among other reasons. Although it may seem self-serving, we recommend all horses receive dental care from a veterinarian. All veterinarians have at least basic training in dentistry, with some (Dr. Kolar included) pursuing additional education in it. Combine this with a veterinarian’s education in anatomy, anesthesia, pain management, and other medical disciplines, and you can understand why a veterinarian is the best-equipped person to provide medical care to your horse.

We know there are many misconceptions about having your horse’s teeth floated by a veterinarian vs lay dentist. We’d like to address the ones we see and hear most commonly:

“Using a powerfloat causes damage to the teeth”

“Veterinarians are more expensive and you get the same result”

“Veterinarians over-float teeth”

At South Peak Veterinary Services, we pride ourselves on thorough, high-quality equine dental care. We are always happy to answer any questions you might have about dental care for your horse!