The Teeth 



25 



heads sideways, eat their food ravenous, stop drinking suddenly, slob- 

 bers at the mouth, have a bad breath, or are poor in condition should 

 have their teeth examined. One reason the teeth are sadly neglected is 

 because many do not know what to look for and often-times do not know 

 how to look for the trouble. Place the horse's head toward the sun, secure 

 the tongue in the left hand by reaching the hand into the mouth between 

 the nippers and molars and pulling the tongue gently out of the mouth. 

 The front teeth or nippers in horses that are cutting their teeth may come 

 in crooked if the milk teeth do not shed or (come out) soon enough. In 



_/ _ 1 2%-3 years 



2 Zy-iA years 



— ~— ___ — 3 4%-5 ^yeara 



(Cut showing the order in which the permanent teeth appear.) 



case this happens pull the milk teeth out of the way. This can often 

 be done with an ordinary pair of pinchers. The permanent teeth have 

 cups in them and are larger than the milk teeth. Sometimes the milk 

 teeth do not come through and the colt can not hold the teat of the mare 

 and is necessary to make an incision in the gums with a knife over 



