Wolf teeth - Remove Them or Leave Them?

By Alice Hughes

Alice Hughes BVMS CertAVP(ED) PgCert BAEDT MRCVS is an Advanced Practitioner in Equine Veterinary Dentistry. She is a fully qualified equine vet and dental technician with over 19 years of experience providing veterinary dental care for horses in Aberdeen and the surrounding areas.

She is a member of the British Association of Equine Dental Technicians and holds an RCVS certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice, Equine Dentistry and is a recognised Advanced Practioner in Equine Dentistry.

WOLF teeth are among the most commonly discussed and debated features of the equine mouth. Many owners have heard that wolf teeth should always be removed before a horse starts work, while others question whether extraction is necessary at all.

The reality is not as clear cut.

Wolf teeth are small, vestigial teeth that sit just in front of the upper cheek teeth. They usually erupt between six and 18 months of age and are present in around 60–70% of horses.

They often shed out on their own, however, when the first deciduous cheek tooth falls out at two-and-a-half years old. Less commonly, they may occur in the lower jaw. Their size, shape, and position can vary considerably - from tiny pegs hidden beneath the gum to larger, more prominent teeth.

The reason wolf teeth attract so much attention is their potential interaction with the bit. Because they are located in the area where the bit rests, pressure from the bit or soft tissues of the mouth may cause discomfort in some horses. This discomfort can manifest as resistance to the contact, head shaking, opening the mouth, or difficulty accepting the bit. The bit may also cause some wolf teeth to move or fracture.

However, the presence of wolf teeth does not automatically mean they are causing a problem. Many horses with wolf teeth perform happily and comfortably throughout their careers. Research has shown that not all wolf teeth are clinically significant, and routine extraction of every wolf tooth may not always be justified.

When deciding whether removal is appropriate, vets consider several factors. Teeth that are large, loose, displaced, or positioned closer towards the nose, are more likely to cause issues.

Blind wolf teeth (those that remain beneath the gum surface) can be particularly sensitive because pressure is transmitted through the overlying tissues. The horse’s age, intended use and any signs of oral discomfort also play an important role in decision making.

For young horses being backed and introduced to a bit, prophylactic removal is still commonly recommended.

Extraction at this stage is generally straightforward (the teeth aren’t anchored in as firmly at this age), and it eliminates one potential source of discomfort during training. In contrast, an older horse with longstanding wolf teeth and no evidence of bitting problems may not benefit from removal.

If extraction is indicated, the procedure is performed under sedation with local anaesthesia by a vet, or by a qualified Equine Dental Technician with a vet present. Most horses recover quickly and return to normal activities within a few days.

The key message is that wolf teeth should not be viewed as inherently problematic or automatically removed. Instead, they should be assessed as part of a thorough dental examination, with treatment decisions based on the individual horse rather than tradition alone.

As with many aspects of equine dentistry, a tailored, evidence-based approach is often the best one.

A horse skull showing the position of a normal wolf tooth (blue) and of a blind wolf tooth (red) which would be hidden under the gum.

An upper right wolf tooth sitting further forward towards the nose than normal, exactly in the position the bit would rest for this horse.

The upper wolf teeth after extraction. The roots are often quite short and can resorb over time.

A wolf tooth lying horizontally and sitting underneath the gumline called a ‘blind’ wolf tooth.

Blind wolf teeth almost always cause bitting issues and are more complicated to extract than fully erupted wolf teeth.

A rare lower wolf tooth found in this young horse which was hiding below a fold of mucosa on the bars of the mouth. The bit sat directly on top of this and was causing head shaking and resistance when ridden.

The lower wolf tooth fully extracted.

To contact Alice at Alice Hughes Veterinary Dental Equine Care, go to https://www.dentalequinevet.com or email alice@dentalequinevet.com or phone 07944273344.