Wolf Teeth
Sometimes there is confusion about wolf teeth and canine teeth in horses. This will tell you all about wolf teeth.
There are many questions often asked about wolf teeth. What are wolf teeth? Where are they located? Does my horse have wolf teeth? Why do I need to have them removed?
Let's start from the beginning. Millions and millions of years ago, horses were about the size of a medium-sized dog and they had 7 functional cheek teeth (molars) in each arcade. (An arcade is each individual rows of molars. Horses have 4 arcades, 1 on each side, top and bottom). Horses today have 6 molars in each arcade. Through the process of evolution the first molar has become less useful and has shrunken or disappeared as the horse has evolved. This tooth is what we call a "wolf tooth".
Wolf teeth usually come in at around 6-8 months of age and are located at the back of the interdental space in front of the 2nd premolar (which is actually the first large tooth that looks like a molar). To make this a little clearer, they are located in the space or "bars" between the front and back teeth, right in front of the first large tooth you see in the back. Wolf teeth are small, pointy teeth that do not have long roots, so they are not set firmly in the jawbone.
Because of the location of these teeth, which is just behind where the bit sits in the horse's mouth, the pressure and movement of the bit will cause them to get sore and can be quite painful and aggravating to the horse. If your horse is acting up while on the bit and he still has his wolf teeth, this could be the reason why. Some horses have unerupted or more commonly called "blind" wolf teeth, meaning that they have not erupted through the gums. These teeth can be felt as little bumps in the gum. They will also be very sore and painful and will need to be removed.
Both male and female horses can have wolf teeth and some won't have any at all. Most generally, horses will have 2 wolf teeth on the top, but in some instances, they can and will have wolf teeth on the bottom. Horses can have 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 wolf teeth. I have actually seen 6 wolf teeth taken out of one horse. Though this is very rare, it is possible. Wolf teeth are very small, and they vary in size and shape.
It is best to take out wolf teeth when the horse is young, around 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 years of age, and especially before you start riding him and put the bit in his mouth for the first time. If a wolf tooth is left in a horse for too long, the tooth will start to ossify or turn into bone and it will anchor itself permanently into the jaw. However, if this is the case, the wolf tooth can still be removed.
So, why are they called "wolf teeth"? I really don't know how they got their name. I have heard that they are called wolf teeth because they resemble the teeth of a dog or wolf, and I've also heard that they are called wolf teeth because "wolf" means bad.
It is very important to have wolf teeth removed if your horse has them. If your horse isn't acting right on the bit, is shaking his head and acts like something is hurting him, have your Equine Dentist check for wolf teeth. It is also very important to have your horse's teeth floated on a regular basis for proper nutrition, peak performance and overall well-being.