Subtle Signs Can Hide Big Problems

James Marshall

23.06.2026

One of today’s cases, 12 year old Welsh C mare - subtle signs can hide big problems.

On oral examination at a routine check, a small lump of tartar at the gum margin raised suspicions. Breaking it off there was the tiniest spot of pus underneath, raising them further.

Taking my probe I pressed up into the gum margin and was surprised to watch it disappear deeper and deeper, several cm up the side of the tooth. Right, there’s definitely something unpleasant going on here!

X rays confirmed my suspicions that there was a tooth root infection behind this. The abscess had burst into the mouth, steadily draining and meaning the horse showed no discernible outward signs. Moreover it had also started to affect the teeth and nasal structures around it, meaning extracting this tooth was a priority.

Luckily for the horse, we got straight on it and it was a nice, simple extraction. I reckon she’ll be showing a new lease of life over the next week.

The extracted tooth showing the abscess tract that first raised suspicions.

X-Ray of the affected side

The affected tooth, split open after extraction, showing the rotten pulp horns (red arrow) compared to a relatively normal pulp horn (green arrow), all in the same tooth.