Efeito do tratamento odontológico preventivo sobre o peso corpóreo e a condição corporal de éguas

Abstract

Dental affections that cause horses pain reflect inadequate grinding of food, impairing digestion and predisposing the animal to progressive weight loss. The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of preventive dental treatment on the deposition of subcutaneous fat andweight of mares raised in an extensive system. Sixteen mixed-breed mares aged between 5 and 15 years old, with body condition score between 3 and 4 (scale from 1 to 9), with no previous dental treatment history were used. These animals were distributed equally in two groups: a treated group (TG) and a control group (CG). In the TG, inspection of the oral cavity and dental treatment were performed. In the CG, only inspection of the oral cavity was performed. All animals were weighed with chest tape and the measurement of the subcutaneous fat layer was carried out through ultrasound examination at the base of the tail every 30 days for five months. For the evaluation of the variables, a completely randomized design was used, and the means between the groups were compared using the F test at 5% probability for analysis of variance (ANOVA). There were no differences in weight gain or variation in the thickness of subcutaneous fat at the base of the tail between the treated and control groups in the period of 5 months. It is concluded that although the animals in the TG did not gain weight compared to the CG, dental treatment is considered a beneficial method in the prevention of many disorders of the digestive system that could culminate in colic. It also provides a better use of the components contained in the diet, and favors animal welfare.