10 SPECIAL CATTLE THERAPY 



DENTAL IRREGULAEITIES AND OTHER SPO- 

 RADIC DISEASED CONDITIONS IN 

 THE MOUTH 



Dental Irregularities 



Irregularities of the teeth do not come to the atten- 

 tion of the veterinarian frequently in a cattle practice. 

 AVhen such irregularities do occur they are usually so 

 evident by their symptoms that the diagnosis is not 

 difficult. 



Probably the most common dental irregularity that 

 occurs in the cow is the split and deflected molar ; such 

 molars are, in fact more common than is generally sup- 

 posed. Systematic examination of the mouth and the 

 dental arches will disclose this abnormality quite fre- 

 quently. 



It is, however, astonishing to what length a split 

 and deflected molar can grow in cattle without inter- 

 fering to any great degree with mastication or the well- 

 being of the animal. We have seen only a very few 

 cases of ulceration of teeth accompanied by bony en- 

 largements and subsequent abscess formation on the 

 maxilla. 



Now and then a case is presented in which deciduous 

 molars are capping the permanent teeth, producing a 

 certain degree of difficulty in mastication. This con- 

 dition is very rare also. 



The treatment of dental abnormalities in the cow 

 does not differ materially from the treatment of simi- 

 lar conditions in e(|uine subjects. Split and elongated 

 molars are either extracted or cut down with the molar 

 cutter. Ulcerated fangs are repulsed it' they can not 

 be grasped with the extracting forceps. 



