Moses has his teeth checked and rasped this morning. As a four year old he has got quite a lot going on including changing all four of his incisors, tushes just under the surface, and getting new back teeth. At least any sharp points have now been removed and there was no ulceration so that's good news.
Nettles had his second flu and tetanus booster. Just as with children, the subject of vaccinations can be a contentious one amongst horse owners with some believing that they cause gastric ulcers. I have never had any problems that I could lay at the door of vaccinations and would rather have my horses covered especially for tetanus which is a vile death for horse. My Mum's horses all had a very bad reaction to an early version of the flu vaccination and she ended up with a whacking great vet bill that the drugs company paid for her.
Amy has also confirmed Nicky Brooks' suspicions that Theoden has the start of EOTRH or Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis which can be a painful disease eventually resulting in the loss of incisors (and occasionally molars). It's amazing that she spotted it at all as the signs were so small but as a result I may be able to save him from losing his teeth. The first step is to have x-rays and then I shall have to persuade him to have his teeth brushed regularly with minty Corsodyl. The key symptoms, beyond looking at the teeth, are a horse's inability to grasp apples and carrots easily, struggling to eat from a haynet, and horses always feeding from the field edges where the grass is longer.
Ian and Sean, who never seem to stop working, have reached the roof of the barn now.
