Gelding with possible sore tooth

[colorfan]

Facts: he is two, saw a vet last fall who looked in his mouth, at that time was fine,
he is still pooping and drinking
Observations.
5 days ago he occasionally made jaw twisting motions like they do when something is stuck in a tooth,
2 days ago noticed the frequency had increased and coughed and swallowed oddly, stayed with him for some time wondering if he was having a mild choke. He resumed eating, seemed normal
Yesterday he seemed distracted, not really into his groundwork program, then when I gave him his bucket of yummies he was not as enthusiastic as usual, more coughing, now also quidding.
Today I made a vet appointment, we go in tomorrow.

Please advise me what I should ask the vet for/about?
If it is infected what then? medicine or pull it?
What if it isn’t a tooth?

[JB]

In the 2- 2.5yo range, the central incisors and a few premolars and molars are coming out for the permanent teeth, so those can definitely cause some weird mouth behavior, including everything you’re seeing. A loose tooth could feel like he’s got something stuck.

Don’t go down the “what if it isn’t a tooth” path When you hear hoofbeats, think horse, not zebra

[colorfan]

Vet said no problems with the teeth. Good gut sounds, palpated neck looking for tenderness that may indicate a choke, nothing. Pulled blood, anemic, and a high white blood cell. Sent me home with antibiotic and some bute. Says will call tomorrow and day following, if not resolved wants me to go to next town for a scope

[JB]

How interesting! How “anemic” was he? I assume he’d been standing around prior to the blood draw? lots of very not-anemic horses test just below normal but are quite normal once they’ve been lunged for a few minutes. Horses store extra RBCs in their spleen, releasing them when movement requires it

But, a real illness could cause secondary anemia which resolves with the illness being taken care of. Either way, the solution isn’t to add iron, in case someone suggests it. Horses have an excess of iron in their diet already

[colorfan]

From what the vet said just barely anemic and yes, standing in the stocks very calmly for 1/2hr before the blood draw.

@JB

Horses store extra RBCs in their spleen, releasing them when movement requires it

I had forgotten this thanks.