Edited to add that I watched my horse bit the metal bar today so that is the issue! I had a feeling. It was when dinner was being taken out to soak so food anticipation - she LOVES to eat! She is not food aggressive at all so I don’t think it’s anxiety. Now to find something to discourage it. I have some Icky Yuck I think it’s called for the dog that is horse safe. I’ll try that first. Other ideas?
My mare had her dental yesterday. She has some chipping on her incisors. The vet felt it was from her chewing/bitting on wood or metal, not from hay nets. Her paddock and run out have electric fencing so just posts and she never bites those - too close to the wires. Her stall has a wood beam running up and down. I’ve seen her bit on that on occasion. The horses also have a metal fold down on their stall doors so they can poke their heads out. I’m wondering if she’s been biting on that… I’m more inclined to see it as the metal as she gets very excited at meal time! This is new though. She’s had this stall type for over a year and a half.
She also has hay nets, and has had them for almost 6 years with never an issue. I use the SmartPak nets and this summer, used a HayChix as well (removed for winter so blankets don’t catch).
Her dental in September didn’t show the chipping so this is new this fall/winter.
She has her dental every 4 months because of 2 premolars that were removed 3 years ago - one grew in at a 90 degree angle. We have to keep the opposing teeth from getting too long. We would have noticed if she had issues with chipping her incisors before now.
If it’s the metal, or wood, ideas on how to prevent her from biting it? I board so it needs to be safe and easy. I see her daily so I could put a spray or something yucky on the metal. I still would want her to put her head out if she wanted, just not bite it. I’ve asked our barn managers to let me know if they see her chewing on anything.
She has a run out off her stall (also hot wired), a paddock during the day and gets plenty of hay 24/7. I do board and have the best situation that is available for her in my area. She had colic surgery this Spring. I asked 2 vets to help me with her diet plus we had a hay analysis done to make sure she’s getting what she needs. I do wonder though if we might have missed something if it is the wood she’s chewing on? I don’t see bite marks though.
If anyone has had similar, what was it from and what did you do to resolve it?
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