440 Nicholson Rd, Forrestdale WA 6112
(08) 9397 1286
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The impact of diet on equine dental health
22 November 2025 / Dr Kirsten Jackson
When thinking about equine dental care, most of us picture floating teeth and correcting sharp points. While these steps are important, they only address one piece of the prevention puzzle. One of the most powerful tools available is often what your horse eats. I’ve spent much of my career, and earned my PhD focusing on equine peripheral caries, so I’ve seen firsthand the impact diet can have on long-term equine oral health. And although Western Australia may seem privileged in many ways, the same dietary dental issues we see internationally are very relevant here.
Why diet matters
Horses are designed to chew long-fibre forage and graze over long periods. That chewing produces saliva, which creates a buffer from mouth acidity and supports dental health. But when we introduce high levels of water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) such as those found in some cereal hays (like oaten hay), the balance shifts. Oral bacteria ferment those carbohydrates into acids, which de-mineralise dental tissue, causing conditions like peripheral caries.
In one study of 500 Western Australian horses, nearly 60% had peripheral caries. Key risk factors included oaten hay, drinking rainwater or dam water, and having limited pasture access. This study shows that the problem isn’t primarily related to age or breed, although thoroughbreds were more commonly affected, environment, diet, and management are the key factors, and changing them can have a huge impact on oral health.
In a more recent review article of advances in the treatment and prevention of equine peripheral caries, we found that outer tooth decay is strongly associated with diets containing cereal hays, and acidic drinking water.
What can we do about it
Changing the diet can make a real difference. Research shows that switching from high-WSC hays to lower ones like meadow or lucerne hay can help stop progression of caries and allow healthy parts of the tooth to replace damaged areas. Ensuring access to good pasture and testing water pH to ensure it is over pH 7 are also part of the equation.
When diet is addressed alongside dental care, we see better feed utilisation, more comfortable mouths and fewer secondary issues like periodontal disease or tooth fractures.
What this means for your horse in WA
If your horse is fed large amounts of cereal hay, receives concentrate feeds high in easily fermentable carbohydrates, or drinks from rainwater collection, then diet is likely one piece of the puzzle. We recommend:
- Allow pasture access if appropriate.
- Choose lower-WSC hays/ avoid cereal hays where possible.
- Limit high-sugar or high-starch feeds where possible.
- Ensure regular dental checks (every 6 months to a year depending on age and dental health)
- Monitor chewing behaviour, feed intake and weight carefully. Changes may signal oral discomfort.
Take-away
Dental disease in horses isn’t just about sharp points or missing teeth. It’s about management, diet, water and dental maintenance. Addressing these factors gives your horse the strongest foundation for comfort, performance and long-term oral health.
Want to dig deeper? Book your horse’s next dental check up with us, and we can give you tailored advice for your horse.
Meet the Author
Dr Kirsten Jackson is the Owner and Director of Dental Vet and is passionate about her craft, treating every patient with the time, care and consideration she would give her own.
She is dedicated to improving the comfort and wellbeing of horses and other equine patients through advanced, preventative and compassionate dental care.
FAQs
Where in Perth is Dental Vet located?
Dental Vet is based at 440 Nicholson Road, Forrestdale WA, just south of Perth. Our purpose-built equine dental clinic provides a calm, safe space for routine and advanced dental procedures. As fully qualified veterinarians, we can also provide our patients with a range of wellness services for your convenience.
The clinic is just off Armadale Road. It’s also worth noting that there are two driveways onto the property. The first driveway when heading south down Nicholson Road, which usually has a Dental Vet sign out the front, is the driveway to access the clinic. Look for the big grey gates and push the button to open them.
Does Dental Vet offer a mobile service?
While we love welcoming clients to our state-of-the-art clinic, we also understand that sometimes on-farm consultations and treatments are preferred for your convenience.
Our fully equipped mobile service is available throughout Perth’s south-east corridor and nearby regions, including Perth, Armadale, Byford, Oakford, and Serpentine. However we can travel as far south as Harvey, east to Toodyay or north to Lower Chittering, typically anywhere around 100km of the Forrestdale clinic.
If you’re unsure whether we can visit your area, get in touch and we’ll be happy to confirm.
What does Dental Vet do?
We’re Western Australia’s only dedicated equine dental veterinary clinic, offering both comprehensive routine and advanced equine dentistry. Our services include dental examinations, floating, extractions, fillings, root canal therapy, periodontal therapy, and oral X-rays.
As part of your appointment, we offer a variety of wellness services for your convenience. Our veterinarians can perform vaccinations, microchipping, faecal egg counts (FEC), drenching, blood tests for metabolic disease, radiographs and lameness work-ups.
We also pride ourselves on providing compassionate care and thorough examinations, so we provide sedation for our patients for their comfort and to allow us to properly diagnose and treat any dental pathology present.
Who performs the dental work?
All procedures are carried out by registered veterinarians Dr Kirsten Jackson and Dr Victoria Kö-Peternelj, veterinarians with postgraduate qualifications in equine dentistry. Each has extensive training and provides clinical and educational support for referring veterinarians.
As veterinary surgeons, they can administer sedation safely, diagnose complex dental issues, carry out patient wellness assessments and perform advanced medical or surgical treatments.
Our Veterinary Nurse Kelly Dunford and Veterinary Assistant Meg Burns support every procedure, ensuring each appointment runs smoothly and that your horse remains calm and comfortable throughout.
What equine animals does Dental Vet treat?
Dental Vet provides care for all equine species including horses, ponies, donkeys and mules. Our team is experienced in managing the unique dental needs of each, ensuring every patient, from the smallest miniature to the largest draft horse, receives safe, effective and compassionate treatment.
Why is equine dental care important?
Dental problems can cause pain, weight loss and behavioural problems. Many horses hide discomfort until it becomes severe. Unfortunately by the time they present symptoms, the issue has usually escalated to severe infections and disease which can impact the lifespan of their smile and overall health. For ridden horses, placing a bit in a painful mouth can make them resist, act out, or even become dangerous. Studies show almost 60% of Western Australian horses have some form of peripheral caries, often linked to local diet and water pH 1. This highlights why regular, professional veterinary dental examinations are essential for horse health in our region.
Whether you've got a new foal, referring a patient for review, or are worried about your horse's wellbeing, we're here to help!