effects of getting teeth done

[jeezitsjacki]

So last friday ben got his teeth done.. just got them shaved down a little.. none pulled but he was sedated pretty good. I rode him saturday and sunday on a trail and he was fine. Then I left for school and when I came back yesterday my instructor said his back has been sore all week . I rode him yesterday and it wasnt too bad, just when I asked for him to bend into the bridle you could tell he wasnt happy.

my instructor and his trainer during the week (Same person) said that his sore back is probably from his heading being so low while he was sedated.. is this true? Im hoping he will be better today.. but I just wanted your opinions

[vicklynn]

First of all, you should not ride a horse for a couple days after being sedated. I mean, if you were under, how would you feel being pushed to do things, even walk.
Let him be for a few days, he needs to recoup from his muscles not being in top shape for riding.
If your instructor says bo ho on that, she'd be glad I dont know her.
I do not ride, for 2 to3 days after, shots, worming, teeth floating(which includes sedation). I maybe missing something, but thats what I think of now.
That is MHO.
Oh, um, does your horse hold its head down to eat...makes one wonder what the low head thing was all about, its natural for a horses head to be down, especially when sedated.

[jeezitsjacki]

it was not my instructor who said to ride.. it was the vet, so I figured it was ok if the vet gave the ok. And yes he holds is head down to eat but that is when he is fully conscious and has control over his muscles. Not sure if it was from after the sedation.. but she said it was because of him getting his teeth done.. just asking if that is a possibility

[vicklynn]

Wow, your vet said to its ok to ride. Never had a vet, my current one or one in the past, tell me to ride after being sedated. Not a good choice.
Sure hope his muscles relax soon. Give him loads of rubs hu?? He will love you for that.
Im glad it wasnt your instructor, that eases my mind about your training, but still not sure why your vet would say it was ok???

As far as the sedation, probley so, cause a horse needs to be left alone, like you and I, after sedation, to rest and get back in shape, if only for a couple days.

[JackieB]

Never heard that before about muscles being sore after being sedated, Jacki. So, I guess I don't know if it could be true or not.

[jeezitsjacki]

ok I will not ride after sedation again. Dont worry about my trainer.. she is very knowledgable and does great with ben. She hasnt ridden him this week but has just been doing some stretching exersizes which she showed me so I can do some this weekend. Yesterday he was fine to ride as long as I wasnt bending him into the bridle.. we just went on a short trail. I will see if he shows signs of soreness today or not. I have also been spraying lintament on his back to help

[vicklynn]

Not so much the muscles being sore cause of being sedated, but being riden to soon, after being sedated, can cause muscle pain.
Its like you and I. We get a shot, our arm hurts, we get sedated, were not up to par, same same.

[vicklynn]

Good, glad for the liniment. He will love you for loving on him:cowboy:
Not worried about your trainer, you corrected me on that one.;)..lol
Hope hes ready soon. Stretching might be fun too, and good for him.

I hope I didnt sound pissy at you. If I did, it wasnt ment to be in your direction, but to whom ever said go riding after a teeth float(sedated type) Just hit a nerve. Professionals should know better.

[jeezitsjacki]

dont worry I knew who your anger was directed at. His teeth were done at around 3:30 on friday and I rode around 1 on saturday for about an hour on a trail.. then another trail for a little less than an hour on sunday. I feel awful now.. I wasnt going to ride after getting shots and him being sedated.. but then she said it was fine. Well im never going to again thats for sure

[vicklynn]

Aww, dont feel bad. Oh ya, horsey moms dont not feel bad. Your vet said it was ok. You know not to now, and to listen to what you think is best. ((HUGS))

[Ryle]

Actually there really isn't any reason not to ride the day or two after your horse is sedated for floating, unless there is significant work done on the mouth and thus a possibility for soreness in the jaws. The anesthetic used will be well-worn off.

As far as having a sore back, it's not something you would expect from being sedated.

[42many]

Wow, your vet said to its ok to ride. Never had a vet, my current one or one in the past, tell me to ride after being sedated. Not a good choice.

Never had a vet tell me NOT to ride after sedation!

I'd equate general teeth sedation to getting your root planing done at the periodontist (dental) office - most people are sore that day as it wears off and then fine (from the sedation - not necessarily from the work, depending on how tough it was!).

I'm sure you shouldn't ride after a full-blown down under sedation, I guess!

[vicklynn]

While I usually agree with you Ryle, and I am not arguing your reply, I have to differ with you. I have had horses sedated for teeth floating, and would maybe ride Myst, but never City, he dosnt come out of it the same, he is kinda not himself the next day, not bad, just not 100%. So, maybe it could be per horse per situation. Also, advised by my vet to let them alone for a day, which would be the following day. I have to agree with him on this type thing.

[JetLagaside]

I've never ridden after sedation but as for shots my vet almost insists on riding so the mussles stay more relaxed, not heavy work but get them moving and I have to admit she's never had that really stiff neck stuff with a little ride (maybe I should say stroll).

[vicklynn]

Ya know, after talking on the phone with a friend. We are thinking it could be the way a horse holds its head during sedation while being floated. Could be. Could be the differences in how a horse metabalizes the sedation(City being slower). Could be. We came to a conclusion that it is pretty much a case by case situation.
Im guessing that more worked horses, muscles used more, are probley better off, still depending on how the head is held under sedation. I hope that made since. I hope we all helped.

[jeezitsjacki]

yes you all did help. He was much better today..I couldnt see signs of any soreness. I think I will try riding as we have a trail ride planned. I will start in the arena to make sure he isnt sore, and if he is still fine I will go ahead with the trail.

im also glad that it opened up a disscussion as to whether or not you ride after sedation! I agree that I think it really depends on the horse.. but I will not be riding after it in the future

[WashingtonBay]

I guess it's like shoeing. I always give them a few days after new shoes or a fresh trim, just because I think if those angles have changed a bit it's good to give them time to get used to that change. But I know others who go right out and ride.

Horses can get a little stiff from the shots... tetanus in particular, I would imagine just like we do.

And they can be sore in the jaw from the device that holds their mouth open, and I suppose from the filing itself. Again, I know how my jaw feels after having work done. The head position making them sore? That much I don't think so, it's not like their head is held in an unnatural position.

But I've never been advised to not ride after having these things done, assuming the horse seemed OK, like any other day, we have to be alert to signs they aren't right, because horses don't have a good way to tell us.

[vicklynn]

Dang, I wanna go on a trail ride in WA.
Its so pretty there. Hope we see pics!!

[Miracle Whip]

My horse was sedated to the HILT for her teeth floating. I did not know how much sedative she'd gotten until later.

My trainer handled her when the vet was doing her teeth and she said it was ok to ride that night. So I did. She was fine. No attitude, nothing out of the normal. But the next day or so I noticed she could not even walk in a straight line to the water trough! She was THAT sore, but she FIGHTS a lot. She hates having her teeth done.
Yes I gave her bute.

Now worming, that is another story. I have wormed the horse and then gone straight into a riding lesson. Theory being, why reward them with a day off when you worm? Its no big deal, and we should treat it as such.

And if your horse did not struggle during the dental work than riding should be fine.

[WashingtonBay]

Well, see I don't work them after worming, but it's not about reward, I usually watch them closely because it can make them feel sick.

[oursarge]

Well, see I don't work them after worming, but it's not about reward, I usually watch them closely because it can make them feel sick.

I've always heard the same thing about worming. I always worm on a Tuesday a.m. because I know my vet is in the office 'til at least 8 at night, in case I need him I'm not calling him after hrs. I mentioned that to someone about horses feeling sick after worming and she looked at me like I was nuts but it's what I've always been told that they can colic or just feel lousy from the wormer.

[vicklynn]

I've always heard the same thing about worming. I always worm on a Tuesday a.m. because I know my vet is in the office 'til at least 8 at night, in case I need him I'm not calling him after hrs. I mentioned that to someone about horses feeling sick after worming and she looked at me like I was nuts but it's what I've always been told that they can colic or just feel lousy from the wormer.
I only worm on days I know my vet is in the following day.

[WashingtonBay]

Same here... I don't worm on weekends or late in the day. Usually in the morning when I'm going to be around all day to watch.

[cyb]

When my horses teeth are being floated the vet has his neck and head jacked up pretty high so she can get a good look inside while she is working, that is definately not the normal position for his head to be in, if your horse is sore maybe its from that.

[JetLagaside]

I would agree I don't ride after worming either but I get around that by riding 1st and then worming once she's compleatly cooled out that way I don't give up a days riding over it. Funny I never thought about doing it when the vet is around or in the office - I have never had an issue in more years than I care to confess to ;)

[WashingtonBay]

I haven't had an issue after worming either JetLag.... but that doesn't always keep me from worrying about things a little anyway. :)

This one is at least more rational than some of my other phobias and habits. :D

[JetLagaside]

LOL well after 2 collics when I first got Jet Lag all at 8 weeks on an 8 week worming schedule. I was a bit obsessive about worming on a very tight schedule. I've had some awsome vets over the years so once we got that sorted out I've never worried about it again. I was having to tube worm every 6 weeks to the day, later we moved to a paste then tube rotation every 6 weeks. With Lil'Bit I've never had an issue but she's been on a daily wormer for several years now and in a pretty closed environment. Always a good thing to revist and since I may be moving to a "regular" boarding barn (my current place if for sale) it's a good time to look at it closely again.