DVM COMMENTS:
Raye Walck, Colorado
As a veterinarian, I know first hand how much education I received in veterinary school regarding equine
dentistry. A qualified and educated equine dentist or equine dental technician has had training that far
surpasses anything I received. In a busy practice, I also understand how little time a veterinarian has to devote
to proper dentistry. Many of us have neither the time, nor the desire to give proper (and certainly not
advanced) care this extremely important field. I feel that most of my colleagues' reservations and resistance is
financially motivated and it sickens me to see this as an obstruction to good patient care.
I practice in two states in which it is legal for a trained equine dentist to practice with my supervision. In
Colorado, it must be direct, on site supervision. In Arizona, it must be indirect or direct supervision. The dentist
that I use is perfectly competent to balance a horses mouth....I sincerely doubt that 90% of my colleagues
know what balancing a mouth means...never mind how to do it.
R Hyde, DVM
I support the owner's rights to choose who can work on their horses' teeth. There are many States currently
with both veterinarians as well as equine dental technicians floating horse's teeth and therefore more horses can
be helped. There are NOT enough horse veterinarians to be able to float all the horses in Oklahoma, so horse
owners need to be able to have a choice.
Justin Green, Colorado
I am currently a 3rd year veterinary student and not an equine dentist. I have first hand knowledge of the
breadth of education, pertaining to equine dentistry, a veterinary student receives through a DVM program. I
have also audited a well respected equine dentistry school and now have first hand knowledge of the breadth of
education one would receive from this type of program. There is NO comparison. I feel 100% Unqualified to
perform equine dentistry based only upon my education offered by my veterinary school curriculum. I learned
volumes more information about equine dentistry and oral health of the equine during a 3 day audit of the
academy of equine dentistry than I have collectively learned in all the classes I will ever have in my DVM program.
It is important to note that I am NOT faulting the veterinary schools for this relative lack of education. I fully
understand the impractical expectation that is currently placed upon veterinary colleges to ensure such a wide
range of information is "covered" in only 3 years. I will soon have a license allowing me to perform equine
dentistry if I were to choose to and I hope for the sake of the horse that I can find an equine dentist to teach
me to be safe and proficient. It saddens me that such effort has been taken to monopolize this area of equine
care for obvious financial reasons. It seems to me that those in the legal position to be the horse's advocate
have forsaken the interests of the horse in pursuit of increased income. I feel that in most cases there is no real
question that equine dentists perform quality work and that simply having the ability to place DVM after one's
name does NOT in any way represent any ability to do what is best for the horse. I
A. Jergens, DVM, DACVS, Colorado
I am an equine staff surgeon at Countryside Large Animal Veterinary Service in Greeley, CO. As a veterinarian, I
have no issues with a properly trained equine dentist performing equine dentistry. In fact, neither do any of our
clientele. We have a staff dentist who was trained by the Academy of Equine Dentistry. The Academy of Equine
Dentistry is a phenomenal organization. A basic course list includes: Equine Dental and Oral Anatomy, Basic
Dentistry, Intermediate Dentistry (second level), Equine Head and Neck Anatomy, Advanced Dentistry (third
level), Advanced Dentistry (fourth level), as well as continuing education for certified dentists and veterinarians
with advanced knowledge in equine dentistry. This organization trains its students from the beginning basics to
the newest emerging technology concerning equine dentistry. Certified graduates of this program perform
higher quality dentistry than the vast majority of veterinarians.
I use an equine dentist to perform dentistry on my own horses. I do not feel that I have had adequate training
in this area and would rather have a trained professional perform the task.
D. S. Farnese, Colorado
I am a veterinarian and I feel that a trained Equine Dentist can do a better job floating teeth than I can do with
the minimal training that I have.
(Equine Dentists) - They have better equipment and better training and do a better job than I can!
Marni Hamack, Washington
First of all as a third year vet student and lifelong horseowner I think I am qualified to comment on this issue.
There are both vets and equine dentists who do not have the proper education to be doing dental work. Bobby
has been to dental school and therefore has far more knowledge about equine dentistry than someone right out
of vet school who has not done continuing education in this specialty. I think the issue here is that both vets
and equine dentists should receive training and certification, which this person has done. It is completely
ridiculous that this is a felony. Most equine vets I know don't even want to float teeth!! I personally will use
anyone who is well qualified to work on my horses, whether they be a vet or an equine dentist makes no
difference to me. I have seen first hand plenty of damage done to horse's teeth by veterinarians. I believe this
should be an individuals personal choice as to who they use. If you want to make a useful law, require all
persons working on horses teeth to receive a standard certification without necessarily being a veterinarian.
Many equine dentists have more training in this area than vets and thus are MORE qualified to do this work.
Lets be realistic. Vets graduate school for the vast majority with NEVER having floated a horses teeth--
continuing education in this area is clearly a necessity for anyone.
Rachel A. Brown, Kentucky
As for the Equine Dentistry issue, I understand the state's perspective...it is the state's responsibility to protect
the public which includes overseeing animal welfare...not just anybody can call themselves an Equine Dentist and
go out and practice...nor should they be allowed to do that (setting yourself up for a lawsuit without a written
standard of care in place). Proper schooling from an accredited institution, documentation of hands-on/practical
experience and a system to license and monitor these individuals based upon a certain standard of care should
be considered rather than denying all hard working and detail oriented Equine Dentists their right to make a
living. Perhaps require a state licensure exam and/or national board exam? Licensing the dentists would
generate revenue for the state as well as help horse owners make better/informed selections...at least with an
exam you'd be assured the individual possesses a certain degree of competency. Perhaps allowing the Equine
Dentist to carry a revised/special DEA license (similar arrangements have been made for animal shelters)--
requiring their schools to invest some time discussing various anesthesia protocols, antibiotic usage and
allowing the Equine Dentist to carry a select assortment of drugs while using standard documentation
procedures...thus, again...creating another source of revenue for the state (DEA license is NOT cheap!).
Adequate documentation and patient records (tamper proof) are also simple enough to fix...just do it! Yes, an
Equine Dentist is going to take some work away from the Equine Veterinarian...and after 8 years of school, grey
hairs and incredible school debt...work for the veterinarian is a very good thing.--BUT...I believe there is enough
work to go around. To do dentistry correctly, the average Equine Veterinarian will likely not want to take the
time. And in all honesty, other than a quick file of a hook/sharp point or whatever...I'd rather refer the dentistry
out to a specialist--yes...a SPECIALIST...someone who does nothing but look in horse's mouths all day...and
that would be an Equine Dentist. I might not catch a dental problem early because I don't have the volume of
exposure nor the training. As a recent vet school grad, small animal dental techniques were covered in great
detail and I had ample opportunity to practice and learn. With equine dentistry...well...horses have teeth, horses
can bite and they sometimes get sharp points on their molars that need to be filed (ok...yes, I am being overly
simplistic, but my comfort with small versus large animal dentistry is night and day.) As for my own horses, I
have an individual who has dedicated their life to the oral care of the horse...everything else...as an Equine
Veterinarian, I can pretty much handle on my own. The Equine Dentist has been largely overlooked by
regulators…and now, I'm guessing largely due to politics (this is my own opinion), the Equine Dentists are being
attacked. If standards of care and licensure methods had been put into place years ago (like they should have
been), current political influence would not have such an impact and if today's Equine Dentist witch hunt was
caused by a few bad apples who harmed some horses, well...with the standards of care and licensing board in
place...we could have taken care of those individuals. It deeply saddens me that some wonderful individuals who
are committed to their patients and their art should be banned from making an honest living and be treated as
a felon if they continue their trade. I am sorry for such a long message, but the Equine Dentistry community is
such a small community--who will hear them? Thank you for your attention...all the best! Rachel A. Brown, DVM
Kentucky USA
Tom Allen, DVM
I am a veterinarian with a practice limited to equine dentistry, and have been doing only that for the last 11
years, since first seeing thorough dentistry in horses by a non-veterinary equine dental practitioner after I had
been a veterinarian for 22 years.
Horse dentistry was not covered adequately in veterinary colleges 30+years ago, and today only four of the 27
U.S schools offer electives in the subject. None require passage of the course, nor does any state require
demonstration of horse dentistry capabilities in order to become a licensed veterinarian and therefore legally
allowed to offer/perform such.
Although it will not be found on their websites, nor in their written brochures, I know of four universities using
non-vets to teach the vet students about good equine dentistry skills.
If the horse owners want to have a right to choose, they will need to stand up against the veterinary cartel that
does the most damage to horses by neglecting to offer or even recommend horse dental care.
While it is true that horse dentistry "ain't rocket science", and many individuals can do it well, it is a mistake to
think that the years a veterinarian spends in college studying everything from porcine embryology to guinea pig
pharmacology enables them to do a better job of horse dentistry than the graduates of a few horse dentistry
schools in which the students study many more times the pertinent information than is offered in vet schools.
MISC COMMENTS
Joel Spatt, Illinois
I am a physician in the state of Illinois and I believe that this specialty has handled there area of expertise very
well. Just as Ferriers have performed their specialty without having a veterinary license, equine dentists provide
there service without being a veterinarian. All that will be accomplished is to steal more money from the horse
owners. Government should stay out of these issues or they will screw it up like they usually do. Leave well
enough alone. If the other states don't feel the need what makes Oklahoma so special. If you are concerned
about the ability of equine dentist, require a practical exam to license them don't take away what they have
done well for hundreds of years.
Mary Burger, Oklahoma
From the 2006 NFR World Champion Barrel racer - I have used veterinary dentists and horse dentists. I find
that there are very, very few vet dentists that are really good and most of which don't care to do teeth. Bobby
Griswold is not only GOOD, he cares very much about each and every job he does. I think it is a shame that he
has been accused of such an ordeal. I am hoping and praying that Bobby is relieved of this charge.
Billy Etbauer, Oklahoma
This is a prime example of how our freedoms as an American are being compromised due to money issues
alone. Should the vets (motivated by money) choose my farrier, my childcare, my mechanic, or my medical
doctor? There is good and bad in every profession. This is not any different. We need a change for this unfair
law. The choice should be up to the individual paying the bill.
We currently own 45 horses and have used an Equine dentist for the past 16 years and will not change. He is
good at what he does and we will travel to get to one if needed. Do you want Oklahoma’s horse industry money
going over the state lines?
CJ Thomasson, Oklahoma
As a medical professional I understand the importance of using skilled individuals. To tell the truth my vets have
no interest in floating teeth. This is absolutely ignorant for someone in government to tell the horse industry
how to care and who is qualified to service our animals. It is very clear the individual(s) who supported this bill
only have their interest and pockets to benefit. The highly skilled and demanded vets that the horse industry
utilizes in my area of Oklahoma are to busy with joint injections and breeding farms to worry about teeth. My
family has not used a vet for teeth since my grandfathers generation, it scares me to think technology would
still be practiced from that decade! I use a very skilled and highly demanded equine dentist and if required would
drive to another state for this service.
K JAMES, Texas
Although I currently live in Texas, my registered APHA horses are kept in the Purcell, Oklahoma area at my
father in laws place. Teeth floating is not an invasive procedure so why has it become a Veterinarian's job to do
this small task that has for years been performed by the horse owner, ferriers, vet techs, and most recently by
equine dentists (who specialize in this procedure as part of their schooling). Are these Veterinarians who have
supported this new law prepared to pay the dental students back for their time and expenses in dental school
to learn this procedure as well as the loss of future income for these services? I feel as though they should.
Don't large animal veterinarians make enough money and aren't they busy enough without adding this trivial
procedure to their daily business? I am surprised that this would even be considered a felony offense. Let's get
real and start worrying about real crime and criminals in the horse world.
A Miller, Oklahoma
I have used trained Equine Dentist in the past and they always did a better job than the Vets did...why?
Probably because of the specialized training and focus on their profession. I am the best person to judge who
will work on my horses teeth! Having a licensing organization for Equine Dentists is great...but it should not be
a mandatory thing...I know folks with 30 plus head of horses and they would not be able to afford the Vet bill
or a high priced Dentist...so what will they do? It will be the horses that will ultimately suffer from this!
I have used both a Vet and an Equine Dentist...I would choose an Equine Dentist over a Vet any day because
they do a better job.
S Davis, Oklahoma
This issue is of great importance to me and all serious horseman. I have great knowledge of the human medical
world having been a Registered Nurse for over 28yrs. In the human world as well as the horse world it is
undisputed that there is a need for specialty areas in all aspects of care. The idea that equine dentistry should
be limited to the work of a DVM is impractical. I want a person who does dentistry daily to do my horses teeth
over someone who does it much less often. It is an acquired skill that comes only from hands on and a personal
passion in this area. I personally would not let my primary care physician perform a colonoscopy on me even
though he did so in school. I feel this is the same principal. If I want acupuncture, I again would go to a
specialist of my choice. I am free to treat my horse as I wish, even let him live tied to a tree and never do dental
work if I didnt want it done, yet this law would not let me choose who does his teeth?!
I have in the past had my vet do my floating. Throughout the years I have developed my own skills of feeling
horses teeth and knowing the difference of a good float job. I know without a doubt that more often than not
the teeth were not done to my satisfaction and the horse persisted with dental problems that interfered with
my training program. I say it is hands down whom I want to do my horses teeth and it is someone with skills
that are used nearly every day in that field as with anything this will separate the can do people from the can do
right people. Regards, Sharon P. Davis
A Guerra, Oklahoma
Training in an equine training school, modern equipment and practical experience qualifies an equine dentist to
work in my horses. My veterinarian does not have the time nor the expensive equipment to do dental work. I
want my vet to be available for emergencies, which he cannot do if he is traveling around doing technician work
or supervising dental work
I use an equine dentist that graduated from a dental school in Texas and was required to comply with
supervised practical work. He has the most modern equipment, which is very expensive, and he is very
professional. He was recommended by my veterinarian.
B White, Oklahoma
This is a ludicrous law! Doctors don’t draw blood, a lab technician or phlebotomist draws it. Equine dentist do a
better job and provide better oral care than vets. Equine dentist do not perform oral surgery, but are more
knowledgeable than most vets when it comes to equine teeth. I never saw any newspaper articles or heard any
discussion about this law. I would have been in contact with my legislative representative voicing my objection.
This law should be repealed immediately!
Vets do not have the advanced equipment that our equine dentist uses. Our equine dentist has been to school
to specifically learn how to care for horses teeth. Vets are more interested in providing other health care than
specializing in dentistry. We have used vets in the past for yearly floating which were not as effective or
thorough as our equine dentist. One vet missed pulling the wolf teeth on several of my horses! Several vets in
our area do not perform dental floating and have contracted with our equine dentist to provide this service for
their customers.
Cindy V, Oklahoma
This law is absurd! Horse owners should be able to choose for themselves. From my personal experience,
Dentists do a much better job than vets & most all of the vets will tell you, they don't like doing teeth! Please
get this law changed.
I have an awesome equine dentist & my vet hates doing teeth. This law has really put all of us in a bind!
C Dockery, Oklahoma
This issue is important to me because of the health of my horses. I have used vets to float my horses teeth
that did NO service to them. From the vets that I have used to float teeth, they did not do a complete job and
leaving mouth issues that needed attention undone. The work was fast and costly, only to find that they
needed floated again within a very short amount of time. I love my vet for many things, but I have a farrier for
their feet and an equine dentist for their teeth. You don't go to your family physician for teeth work, neither
should my horses. There should be no reason why I can not have the person I want to work on my horses.
Equine dentist play an important role in my program just as the farrier and vet does. I have not yet to find a vet
that is truly knowledgeable in teeth, I have yet to learn from them what my equine dentist has shown me,
explain to me, and proven to me time and time again.
I use an equine dentist for my horses teethwork. The reason for doing this: they go to school to specialize in a
service. They study and do perfect a job. The money I spend with them is money well spent and a job that is
complete and done correctly. My equine dentist is just as important to me as a good vet and a good farrier.
There is a difference
S Stewart, Oklahoma
As horse owners who want the best for their horses, we look to all types of possible ways to alleviate our
horses ailments, whether it be floating teeth, helping to align their spines or other joints, or just overall health
by a full body massage.
We usually don't use our vet as he doesn't want to or doesn't have time to float our horses teeth...and I prefer
to let my vet do the more intense, medical procedures on my horse..I would rather see his expertise put to use
in a manner that most others aren't trained to do!!!!
D Robinson, Oklahoma
I have been in the horse business for over 30 years. Where did you think that only the vet does the floating?? I
had taken my horses to the vet clinic for years and it was not the vet themselves that did the floating.Vet techs
were doing it because the vets do not like to do it. I would much rather have a equine dentist who has trained
exclusively to do my equine's teeth than a vet tech whose training in this field was not covered as throughly as
an equine dentist. If you had a serious health issue wouldn't you want to go to a specialist in that field rather
than a general doctor whose knowledge would not be as deep as the doctor whose knowledge goes farther that
just general health?
I used a vet clinic to float my horses teeth and there have been times that I did not feel the job was done right
but I did not have the knowledge to be able to tell if everything was done right. I had always wondered if there
was someone who just worked on equine teeth. In my opinion if someone only did the teeth they would be
more knowledgeable and would have seen many more teeth to be able to hone their skills to a higher degree
than a general vet. I found an equine dentist 2 years ago and I am totally convinced that equine dentistry is
sorely needed. So you consider someone other than a vet floating teeth is committing a crime punishable by a
fine of $5000 and up to four years imprisonment??? Who in the world created that law????? I guarantee that
no one who has hired a equine dentist to do their horses teeth would be turning them in to the authorities. We
want the best for our horses. So my question to you is who would be turning them in???? Maybe it is the
veterinarians themselves??? Just as there are bad vets there will be bad equine dentists so you just have to
search for a reputable one. Remember that knowledge is your strongest defense against un-reputable dentist.
Do your homework when looking for a equine dentist and let us horse owners have the choice to give our
wonderful horses the very best in care we can give them. By the way we own 12 horses at this time.
Christine L
It's sad that the money hungry vets are trying to put a monopoly on this when the majority of the vets use
equine dentists or equine teeth floaters on their own horses. Maybe the money hungry vets should go talk with
the vets that only use equine dentists or equine teeth floaters so they can get schooled on why they don't want
to do teeth floating on horses.
Sarah Zaleski
Several veterinarians have told me, OSU veterinary School did not provider any teeth floating training or classes
while they obtained their veterinary license from OSU in the 1980-1990's.
Kathy Rape
I have a great equine vet and he knows I use a well trained and educated and certified teeth floater. His only
concern are those that claim to be trained and are not. My vet does not have time nor does he want to spend
all of his time on the thousands of horses that need the job done. It is very important, especially for a horse in
competition, to have his teeth done correctly. It makes the difference in winning or losing. I will continue to use
my teeth floater one way or the other.