New Patient Information

What kind of facilities will you need in order to care for my horse(s)?

Due to the equipment I find necessary to provide optimum care for your horse, I require a barn with electricity, water and either a wide aisleway or washrack.

I use portable stocks that are padded and very safe. The stocks allow the horse to relax once sedated in one position so I can focus on the mouth. It requires a location that I can back my truck to with access at least 6 feet wide to a covered area with even flooring. The stocks are on a trailer with relatively low clearance. Barn aisles, arenas, open pole buildings, and wash racks are appropriate. I cannot set the stocks in a stall as the door will likely be too narrow to allow entry.

Please note that when working at a given facility, I set up in one work area and move horses to and from. I cannot move my "dental office" down the barn aisle or down the street once it's set up without charging a new set up fee. If your property is very large and horses need to walk a long distance to another barn after sedation, it may be advantageous to have an open stall near the work area. Horses can walk a short distance (from one side of a barn to another) immediately after the procedure, but will need about 30 minutes to wake up enough to walk half a mile in a reasonable amount of time. The sedatives I choose are designed to facilitate quick recovery.

I need access to electricity (I carry a 50 ft heavy duty extension cord) and a water hose that will reach to the area where I'm working. This can be a cold water hose. Additionally, I need a bucket of very hot water for my instruments.

Upon arrival at your place, allow me 30-45 mins to become acquainted with your facility and to set up my stocks and equipment.

Pricing and Payment

The cost varies significantly from horse to horse based on the necessary treatments for each individual. The following information will apply for the spring 2020:

Routine Dental Exam and Prophylactic Care:

Typical dental fees for yearly maintenance range from $275.00 to $325.00 including sedation. Patients with conformational abnormalities like parrot mouth or other severe malocclusions will always require more time and effort and consequently cost more to maintain. New patients may also require additional attention which may result in higher fees for the first few visits.

Farm Call and Set Up fees vary according to geographic location within the state and the number of horses at one facility. They are usually $110.00 and are split between the number of owners present; minimum $35.00/owner.

All of the above dental fees include a physical exam, with special emphasis on the head and mouth. These fees also include a complete dental charting of your horse's dental condition both before and after treatment, recommendations for future dental work and recommendations on any other health care issues. Additional treatments or diagnostics that may be required such as; periodontal disease treatment, extractions, radiographs etc., are priced separately and are not included in the above estimates.

Payment is expected at time of service in the form of check, cash or credit card.

Minimum of three horses is required and group scheduling is encouraged

My work style and fee structure is set up to be conducive to group appointments. A significant amount of equipment is necessary to provide safe and thorough dental care for the horses. Correspondingly, a significant amount of time is required to set up, clean up and reload all that equipment at each location. Whenever possible, I prefer to see 5 - 8 horses in a day, all at one location. This is how I am most efficient and how I can benefit the most horses. In order to encourage clients to group together, I offer a 15% group discount from my dental services when there are 5 or more horses at one place.

I am not able to make a stop for fewer than three horses. (There are rare exceptions for existing patients with ongoing probems and extenuating circumstances.) I do understand that for some folks the convenience of their own farm call outweighs the cost savings of hauling to or hosting a group.

I serve many owners with one or two horses. I periodically host groups at one of several barns and veterinary facilities throughout Washington. If you are interested in adding on to an existing group appointment, just let me know where you are based and I'll do my best to find you something convenient.

Why should I choose a Licensed Veterinarian for my horse's dental care?

In the states of Washington, it is illegal for persons without a veterinary license to practice equine dentistry. Under certain circumstances it is permissible for a licensed veterinary technician employed by a veterinarian to perform specific limited procedures, but this does not include equine dentistry. Equine Dentistry is part of the practice of veterinary medicine as the teeth and oral structures are living tissues. Damage to these tissues can significantly impact your horse's health and can be irreversible.

Does every horse need a "Veterinary Dentist"?

Every horse will benefit from the care that a veterinarian who has specialized in equine dentistry can provide. As you know, it is much better to prevent a problem than try and correct it once it's well established. A horse's mouth is no exception. A veterinarian with focused and well-honed skills in this area is better able to find potential problems early and head them off before they become serious.Current research is showing that equine teeth that function normally and have normal wear patterns actually wear more slowly and therefore last longer! This means that the better a horse's teeth are maintained, the longer into his geriatric years his teeth will remain effective for grinding long stemmed roughage, the staple of the equine diet.

The dental focused veterinarian is best able to maintain the delicate balance that will keep your horse's mouth healthy and fully functional.

At the other end of the spectrum, when severe problems have developed or a disease state is present, a specialized Veterinarian with vast dental experience provides fast, correct diagnosis and can treat the problem most efficiently, often with minimally invasive procedures.

The knowledge, techniques, and equipment required to perform a thorough dental exam, make a proper diagnosis, perform corrections and treatments are difficult to acquire and time consuming to master. As specialization is becoming more and more common in other areas of medicine, so too is the case in veterinary medicine. I believe it is unrealistic to expect an equine veterinarian to be an expert in all aspects of the field. The knowledge base is far too extensive and growing constantly. The improved health and performance that a veterinarian with specialized training can bring your horse through proper dental care is impressive. You will see and feel the difference.