Seren's chewing comfortably following removal of 12 teeth

The issue was unearthed during a routine dental check conducted by our Equine Dental Technician Kelsey Ham at Axnoller Farm in Dorset.

Radiographs taken by veterinary surgeon Jamie Forrest confirmed a diagnosis of equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EOTRH) – a painful dental condition that is only newly described in horses and donkeys.

Jamie says: “EOTRH, which is thought to be autoimmune in origin, causes the incisor teeth to be broken down, which is very painful and can lead to severe infections.

“As well as making eating difficult, it can also cause hypercementosis, where the body produces excessive cementum tissue (a thin layer of hard dental tissue covering the anatomic roots of teeth), causing further pain and making the teeth very difficult to remove.”

With removal the only successful treatment of EOTRH, Seren was transported to our equine hospital at Brookfield Farm in Honiton to undergo surgery on all 12 of her painful incisor teeth.

“The surgery was done in two stages,” Jamie adds. “The upper teeth were removed first, followed by the lower teeth once her upper gums had fully healed.

“Donkeys can cope really well without any incisor teeth, providing their premolar and molar teeth are functional.”

A successful treatment

Following her surgery, Seren’s grooms have ensured she always has access to long grass or straw, as she may struggle to nibble shorter grass without incisor teeth.

Having made a full recovery, Seren and is much happier now without her painful teeth causing her problems.