As part of overall horse care, it's important to be aware of equine dentistry — i.e., how to take care of horses' teeth.

Horses evolved to spend almost all day grazing — using their teeth to chew up hay, grass, or other food as the first step in the digestive process. In fact, horses have adapted to long hours of grazing in some unique ways. They have what’s called hypsodont teeth, which are teeth that continuously erupt at around 3 to 4 millimeters per year to compensate for the continuous grinding of food. 

Dogs occasionally scratch at their ears and shake their heads, and it’s perfectly normal. However, if your dog is constantly shaking their head or pawing at their ears, that’s an indication of discomfort and the presence of an underlying problem. Learn about the signs, common causes, and potential treatments for dog ear problems.

Causes of dog ear infections and diseases

There are many causes of ear problems in dogs. Some common examples are: 

Do you have a dog who seems shy, insecure, or fearful about certain things? Nervousness in dogs can manifest in different ways. Some dogs lunge and bark at whatever is frightening them, some hunker down and freeze until the scary thing goes away, and others give more subtle signs of discomfort. If you become familiar with your dog’s body language, you’ll know when they're stressed. And then you can take steps for building confidence in dogs.