CHAPTER XVII 



DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS 

 DISEASES OF THE TEETH 



Dental troubles are very common in the horse; less so in cattle 

 as their teeth are less complex. Unless treated, they interfere 

 with mastication and sooner or later cause disturbances of 

 digestion. The appearance of any of the following symptoms 

 indicates some dental disease: holding the head to one side and 

 cautious masticating movements; dropping food from the mouth, 

 which is found in the manger in the form of balls; retention of 

 food in the mouth for some time after eating; poor general 

 condition, hidebound appearance, and scouring; tossing the 

 head, side-lining, and occasional balking; 



Decay of the teeth starts when the enamel covering is broken 

 and the dentine is exposed to the influence of the bacteria and 

 acids in the mouth. It is a pathologic condition which advances 

 very slowly on account of the great resistance exhibited by this 

 part of the tooth. The symptoms are offensive odor about the 

 mouth; slobbering; slow, painful mastication. Eventually it 

 leads to more or less complete destruction of the affected tooth. 

 The teeth of man may be filled to prevent further decay, but 

 this is rarely possible with animals. It is, therefore, difficult 

 to save a tooth once decay sets in. The only thing that can be 

 done is to extract the diseased tooth and to shorten the corre- 

 sponding tooth in the opposite arcade, as it is usually elongated 

 and may seriously interfere with closure of the mouth. 



Alveolar periostitis results when the alveolar cavity is opened 

 to infection. Normally the gums hermetically seal the alveolus 

 from external influences. Treatment consists in early extraction 

 of the tooth in the affected socket. 



A tooth fistula is an opening near the root of, a tooth through 

 which a continuous, foul-smelling, discharge of pus escapes. 

 The diseased tooth must be completely removed before the fistula 



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