Retrospective case review investigating the effect of replacing oaten hay with a non-cereal hay on equine peripheral caries in 42 cases.
Authors: Jackson Kirsten, Kelty Erin, Tennant Marc
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Non-cereal hay and equine peripheral caries Peripheral caries in horses can severely compromise welfare and athletic function, with accumulating evidence linking high water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) forage to disease development and progression. Jackson and colleagues conducted a retrospective case review of 42 horses with peripheral caries that underwent dietary intervention, specifically replacing oaten hay with low-WSC alternatives, to determine whether removing the suspected aetiological factor would allow diseased teeth to exfoliate and be replaced by sound erupting teeth. The majority of cases showed clinical improvement or resolution when oaten hay was eliminated from the diet, supporting the hypothesis that WSC content plays a significant role in caries pathogenesis and that the condition may be reversible if the dietary trigger is identified and removed early enough. For practitioners managing horses with peripheral caries, this finding suggests that forage analysis and dietary modification should form a cornerstone of treatment strategy, potentially avoiding more invasive interventions. Farriers and veterinarians should consider WSC content when advising clients on hay selection for affected horses, particularly given the substantial welfare implications of untreated peripheral caries.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Consider switching horses with peripheral caries from oaten hay to non-cereal hay alternatives as part of dietary management
- •High WSC feeds appear to be a risk factor for peripheral caries development; evaluate forage quality and carbohydrate content in affected horses
- •Peripheral caries may resolve naturally once the causative diet is removed, allowing natural tooth eruption and replacement rather than requiring extraction
Key Findings
- •Replacing oaten hay with non-cereal hay may be effective in treating equine peripheral caries in affected horses
- •Peripheral caries is associated with high water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content in diet
- •Removal of the inciting dietary cause allows affected teeth to erupt out and be replaced by unaffected teeth