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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 617
 
Location: London Ontario | 6 yr old mare off the track who is seen by chiro monthly and can put money on the fact that her TMJ and poll are always out and she has very loose jaw muscles.
She is also a very messy eater so her grain is soaked to a mush daily.
If I take her nose and push back and forth on her head, her teeth clang together(best description I can give, sorry!)
She is very finicky with her face and mouth, will head shake slightly when running the pattern. Vet check every 6 months or so, upper hocks just done and is on Previcox and Gastroguard prior to each run.
Chiro thinks from when she was on the track, her mouth probably got wrenched open and muscles stretched. There were a few months when we thought her jaw was tightening up but after this mornings visit it has gotten bad again. She is normally a somewhat hot horse(nothing dangerous just knows her job) but was very anxious at the chute this weekend, often going in on two legs....
Her teeth do need to be done every 10 months or so(which they are) she wears her MagnaCu poll pack anytime her halter is on.
Is there anything else I can do to fix it or make it stop? Has anyone dealt with this before??? |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 974
Location: USA | I know some people use a Hidez mask for TMJ issues. One gelding would constantly open his mouth, head shake, he had the joint injected and everything. She puts the mask on and he’s a totally different horse. The compression may help the overstretched jaw muscles be in their normal position when you ride her. Just a thought??? Don’t think there’s anyway to fix this. You can’t really do PT on a horses jaw. |
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 Member
Posts: 15
Location: Fairview, MT | Find an equine osteopath in your area!
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 It Goes On
Posts: 2262
Location: Muskogee, OK | First be sure the teeth are being appropriately addressed (use a veterinarian that is knowledgeable in equine dental work). It is hard to fully picture what you describe when you take her nose and push it back and forth... BUT, with appropriate dental work her teeth should glide smoothly when you move her nose back and forth with an appropriate grinding surface. There could be something like a wave, or ramps that are preventing normal excursion.
Once the teeth are taken care of, you should also discuss injecting the TMJ joint with your veterinarian.
I have had numerous horses that have had some dental issues that have TMJ pain- once I address the dental abnormalities and inject the TMJ 1-2 times they seem to respond well. |
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TMJ and Loose jaw/face