Clicking Jaw

[HeartofSteel]

I noticed when I fed Niko tonight that his Jaw seemed to be clicking when he was chewing. He was just eating his hay like normal and I heard it. He has been finishing his hay like always so I don't think its bothering him. Just wondering why it was doing it, I have never heard it do it before.
He is a 3 yr old Haflinger, just so you know. He hasn't had his teeth done at all yet since he is 3.

[cloedoll]

I'm not much help, but just wanted to say my jaw clicks, pops out of place and all kinds of lovely stuff all the time...whenever I eat it always clicks and stuff, so annoying and I know that sounds gross, but I just wanted to say it never hurts me. If it isn't bothering him, I wouldn't worry too much, but I am no expert so I would wait for someone else to post, lol. Keidas jaw has been making this noise every time he yawns the past few days...haha.

[TacheteTreasures]

My jaw also clicks when I eat, doesnt bother me much

[HeartofSteel]

Lol, yah I'm not to worried about it either just wanted to see if anyone has had this experience before. Yumm yumm http://bestsmileys.com/eating2/6.gif http://img2.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/happy/happy0203.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net/free-mad-smileys.php)

[walkinthewalk]

Since he's only three, he may be having problems popping his caps and has taken to "twisting" his jaw when he eats to get rid of some discomfort.

One of my horses used to "click" his jaw until I finally found an equine dentist (they are hard to come by in some areas --- good or bad).

Even though the vet had floated everyone's teeth as needed on an annual basis, Rusty had developed a big "J" hook on his canine.

Once that got filed down, the jaw clicking disappeared.

That was when I quit thinking he had TMJ (no kidding:( and realized he had been moving his mouth and jaw around to get rid of the discomfort from the hook on the canine tooth.

And may I reiterate, that he had had his teeth checked/floated annually by the vet.

Vet's hate doing teeth, unless they've gotten more specialized training to become equine dentists, so don't always take the word of the vet that everything's A-ok in the horse's mouth:nono:

[westmanfarrier]

Vet's hate doing teeth, unless they've gotten more specialized training to become equine dentists, so don't always take the word of the vet that everything's A-ok in the horse's mouth:nono:

Wow:eek:, that is a pretty bold and general statement. Most of the vets I work with are very good at explaining what is going on in the horses mouth, and do very good dentistry work.

Bad teeth do lead to many other problems. I would also suggest getting it checked out.

[walkinthewalk]

Wow:eek:, that is a pretty bold and general statement. Most of the vets I work with are very good at explaining what is going on in the horses mouth, and do very good dentistry work.

Bad teeth do lead to many other problems. I would also suggest getting it checked out.

I guess it is a generalized statement but, believe me, it is not bold where any of my vets were (and still are) concerned --- be they in PA, SoCal or here in Middle Tennessee.

Every one of them cringed at the mere thought. I even had one of them quickly feel inside the mouth ( and I mean quickly) and said "they're fine, just keep doing what you're doing".

The sum total of those vets would be two in WPA; one in SoCal; and one in Middle Tennessee. The time span covers from the early 70's to today. I guess I should have qualified my comment so I wouldn't get on the Bold list:cowboy:

If you have vets that are great at equine dentistry and smile when you ask the floating question, I am really envious:cowboy:

[westmanfarrier]

There must be some sort of vet dentist referral list.

[westmanfarrier]

I wish my vets on anyone.

I was working on a horse at the vet clinic. One of the other vets I was working with was working on a different horse. Turns out the horse had such a wave mouth that the jaw locked when closed. She called me over, explained, showed me, let me feel around, and generally made me feel important.

The owner received quite an education that day too on the importance of regular tooth care.

[walkinthewalk]

I wish my vets on anyone.

I was working on a horse at the vet clinic. One of the other vets I was working with was working on a different horse. Turns out the horse had such a wave mouth that the jaw locked when closed. She called me over, explained, showed me, let me feel around, and generally made me feel important.

The owner received quite an education that day too on the importance of regular tooth care.

You are very fortunate to have such great vets:cowboy:

My vet has never let me down in any kind of animal emergency and he is very good about explaining things and giving detail. However, when it comes to that "floating" word, he is even better at avoidance if at all possible. He will delegate tooth floating in a heartbeat:trout:

He only uses a manual float and has never had to drug any of my horses to do that. That quick manual float is why Rusty had to have some Happy Juice and have that big "J" hook ground off his canine two years ago by the equine dentist:(