DENTISTRY WITHOUT DRAMA ^SM

I am announcing my updated web site at http://www.theequinepractice.com.  I have added video, a subscription service, a link page, and an archive site for all the articles I will be writing this year.  If you like what you see, please feel free to forward this to anyone you feel may be interested in what I have to say.

My “slogan” is DENTISTRY WITHOUT DRAMA ^SM.  Those who know me understand what this means.  Many of us have seen other equine dentists that jack the mouth open with a metal speculum, hang the head from the rafters, and drug the horse to the point of falling down.  This lack of horsemanship concerns me. What horse owners may not realize is: 1) this may be harmful to their horse, 2) the horse may not be receiving effective care with this process, and 3) the “old fashioned” way is very effective in addressing the horse’s dental needs.

Equine dentistry has evolved to power tools and techniques that require little horsemanship. It has only made it easier for the dentist.  The skill involved in hand floating teeth requires a certain degree of strength.  Thus, before power tools and drugs, many dentists were unable to complete a thorough floating.  Horse owners became disillusioned with equine dentistry.  Dentists needed to approach their task differently if they could not effectively perform traditional dentistry.  From this emerged several new floating techniques including what I described above. Most state laws say only veterinarians can perform dentistry, though some states have changed this. Tension developed between veterinarians and lay dentists. The result is frustration and confusion of horse owners.

My intention through this web site and future newsletters is to present an argument that dentistry through horsemanship is possible and effective.  Future newsletters will get into the specifics, but sometimes I feel that a video is better than words.  To be able to see a horse not only be reasonable for the procedure, but actually give thanks at the end, tells the story of DENTISTRY WITHOUT DRAMA ^SM. 

Most of you receiving this already know of the positive feedback from the horse as they respond to my technique.  You also know of the positive results in better bit control or in resolving a chewing issue.  I also know that almost all of my new clients come from word of mouth referrals.  For that I am grateful.  Perhaps, by referring people to my web site, they can see for themselves what you already know.

SIGN UP FOR E-LETTERS

If you want to learn my practical approach to horses through my veterinary eyes, be sure to sign up with your e-mail address on my home page.  I DO NOT sell the addresses.  It is just between us. 

Future newsletter topics will include:
To drug or not to drug?
 Can the hand be a speculum?
 How often should they be floated?
 What is a bit seat?
 What are hooks?
 Do horses get cavities?

I will also discuss non-dental topics, such as:
 Why do we feed grain?
 What is good hay?
 What should be in an emergency kit?
 What is colic & when do I call a vet?
 To suture or not to suture?
 What is a bowed tendon?

WEB LINKS

If you have a web site you would like linked to mine and would like mine linked on yours, just drop me a line.  My web master will make it magically appear.

THANKS AGAIN

Thank you for taking the time to read this and visit my site.  Please feel free to pass along electronically or by print this information.  I am excited to address some of the issues listed above.

I have many more thoughts I will be writing about here as well as publishing an E-book soon.  In the mean time, please enjoy my new web site – http://www.theequinepractice.com – including the videos.  By the way, they look even better on an iPhone.  Using the site may be an efficient way to communicate to your friends what is meant by - DENTISTRY WITHOUT DRAMA ^SM.

Geoff (Dr T)

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