Foal Teeth Development and Care

Foal teeth development and care: Ever wonder if foals are born with teeth? In this blog you will learn about foal teeth development, proper dental care, and common dental issues to watch for in growing foals.

Proper dental development is a critical part of a foal’s overall health and growth. From birth through the first few years of life, a foal’s mouth undergoes rapid changes as baby teeth erupt, are shed, and replaced by permanent teeth. Monitoring this process through regular dental exams helps identify common issues early.

Most foals begin to show their front baby teeth—called central incisors—within the first week of life. These teeth are generally not visible immediately after birth. However, in some cases, foals may be born with their central incisors just starting to erupt or barely visible.

This variation is normal and part of the early stages of dental development. In addition to incisors, foals are also born with developing premolars beneath the gums. The premolars will soon erupt and aid in chewing forage as the foal matures.

During the first week of life, the central incisors (two front teeth) are usually fully erupted if they weren’t already present at birth. By around 6 weeks of age, the middle (second) incisors emerge. At approximately 6 to 9 months old, the corner (third) incisors erupt.

Foals also have three premolars on each side of both jaws, which erupt within the first couple of weeks and are used for grinding hay and grain as their diet changes. These teeth will eventually be replaced by permanent adult teeth beginning around 2.5 years of age.  At approximately 6-9 months of age, all deciduous teeth will have erupted, which totals 24 teeth.

• Incisors:
• 1st (central) incisors erupt at birth or first week (remember 6 days).
• 2nd (middle) incisors erupt at 6 weeks (remember 6 weeks).
• 3rd (corner) incisors erupt at 6-9 months (remember 6 months).
• Premolars- aka milk teeth- 3 of them on each side of the mouth(left and right) and top and bottom- that equals a total of 12 premolars. Premolars erupt between birth to the first 2 weeks of life.
• There are no deciduous molars.

Mature horses have a total of 36-44 permanent teeth, depending on the presence of canine and wolf teeth, usually by the age of 5 years. Horses begin to get their permanent teeth around 2.5 years of age. The central incisors erupt at about 2.5 years, the middle incisors at 3.5 years, and the corner incisors by 4.5 years.

Canines generally erupt by 4-6 years of age. Wolf teeth (the first premolar) generally erupt at 6-12 months of age. Male horses will have all four canines, while in mares, the canines are usually absent or rudimentary, but some mares will have them.

Permanent premolars and molars (aka cheek teeth) start to come in between the ages of 1 and 5 years. See the table below.

• Incisors:
• 1st (central) incisors erupt at 2.5 years (remember 2 1/2 years).
• 2nd (middle) incisors erupt at 3.5 years (remember 3 1/2 years).
• 3rd (corner) incisors erupt at 4.5 years (remember 4 1/2 years).

• Premolars: aka rostral cheek teeth, there are 3 on both sides and top and bottom of the mouth, totaling 12. This does not include the wolf tooth, as most time this tooth is removed.
• 1st premolar- remember this is the wolf tooth- erupts at 6-12 months of age.
• 2nd premolar erupts at 2.5-2.8 years (remember 2 1/2 years).
• 3rd premolar erupts around 3 years (remember 3 years).
• 4th premolar erupts around 3.8-4 years (remember 4 years).

• Molars: aka caudal cheek teeth, there are 3 on both sides and top and bottom of the mouth, totaling 12.
• 1st molar erupts at 1 year (remember 1 year).
• 2nd molar erupts at 2 years (remember 2 years).
• 3rd molar erupts at 3.5-4 years (remember 3 years).

Dental caps– the leftover portion of the shed baby tooth that sits on top of the emerging permanent tooth. In most cases, these caps fall off naturally as the new tooth pushes through. However, sometimes they can become retained, meaning they don’t shed properly.

Eruption bumps– Eruption bumps are firm, sometimes slightly swollen, symmetrical areas that appear along the lower jaw (mandible) of young horses, usually between 2 and 4 years of age. These bumps form as the large, permanent cheek teeth (premolars and molars) develop and push up through the jawbone and gums. Eruption bumps are normal in most cases.

The first oral exam should be included as part of the newborn foal exam, typically performed between 12 hours and 1 to 3 days of age. During this exam, the veterinarian will assess the oral cavity and facial structures for any abnormalities such as parrot mouth (overbite), sow mouth (underbite), wry nose, or a cleft palate involving the hard or soft palate.

If no abnormalities are found, the next recommended oral exam should take place around 1 year of age. However, if any dental abnormalities are detected early on, more frequent monitoring and follow-up exams will be necessary.

Identifying and addressing these issues as early as possible can significantly reduce long-term impacts on the horse’s oral health, comfort, and ability to function normally throughout life. The picture at the top of this paragraph is an oral exam on a 2-year-old horse.

While individual needs may vary, all horses should receive a brief oral evaluation as yearlings. This exam assesses tooth development and mouth conformation. In many cases, a dental float may not be necessary if the teeth are erupting normally and no sharp enamel points are present. However, if there are conformational issues or sharp points causing ulcers or abrasions, a dental float is recommended.

Between 2 and 2.5 years of age, it is essential for all horses to undergo a thorough dental exam under standing sedation, accompanied by a float if needed. This is a critical period, as the first deciduous (baby) teeth begin to shed, and early intervention can help ensure proper alignment and eruption of permanent teeth.

Around 2.5 to 3 years of age, it is also advised to extract any wolf teeth—typically after the baby cheek teeth have been shed—to avoid interference with the developing permanent teeth.

Between the ages of 2 and 4 years, most young horses should receive dental exams every six months and a float if necessary. This period marks a critical phase in dental development, as baby teeth are being shed and permanent teeth are erupting.

Without regular monitoring, issues such as retained caps, misalignment, or sharp enamel points can go unnoticed, potentially leading to discomfort, poor performance, and long-term dental disease. Consistent dental care during these formative years helps ensure proper tooth eruption and alignment, setting your horse up for a lifetime of healthy oral function.

Mandibular brachygnathism, aka Parrot Mouth (Overbite) or Prognathism, aka Sow Mouth (Underbite): Misalignment of the upper and lower jaws that can interfere with normal chewing and wear of the teeth. When this condition is moderate to severe, it is very important to have regular dental exams and floats.

Campylorrhinus lateralis, aka Wry Nose: A twisting of the upper jaw or nose that may affect tooth alignment and nasal airflow.

Tooth eruption abnormalities are delayed or irregular eruption of teeth, which can lead to crowding, impaction, or infection. The most common cause of abnormal tooth eruption is trauma to the developing teeth or surrounding bones, but it can also be congenital or idiopathic in origin.

Baby teeth that fail to shed at the appropriate time can block the eruption of permanent teeth and cause pain or misalignment.

Young horses can sustain physical trauma to the mouth and teeth from falls, kicks, chewing on hard objects, or rough play. This can result in displacement, rotation, fractures, or infection of developing teeth. Because these teeth are still forming, damage during this critical period can affect the alignment and health of the permanent teeth, potentially leading to long-term oral issues if not promptly addressed.

This picture is of a 2 1/2-year-old filly that sustained trauma. The trauma resulted in the displacement of her top left middle and corner baby incisors. There was also damage to the underlying permanent teeth.

• Foals are either born with teeth or will have teeth coming in within the first week of life.
• The age of a foal can be determined fairly accurately by evaluating the teeth.
• Foals should have their first oral exam performed at birth and then at one year of age. Follow your veterinarian’s advice after that first exam to determine how frequent subsequent exams should be.
• Foals can develop very sharp enamel points at a young age, and those points should be floated down if discomfort or ulcers are present in the mouth.
• Foals can have a variety of dental problems, and early intervention is key to providing them with dental success later in life.
• Don’t ignore your foal’s or horse’s teeth!

Foals are born with or without teeth immediately after birth. Within the first week of life, the two front baby teeth (top and bottom) and back premolars will start to come in.

At 2.5 years of age.

Yes!. Horses can have dental problems without you evening knowing it. If the dental problems go unnoticed for years, it can cause severe problems for that horse as it ages and be harder to correct. An oral exam that precedes a teeth float is an excellent time for the veterinarian to evaluate the teeth for any problems and provide a dental plan. If the teeth are normal, the horse may need less frequent floats and oral exams. Work with your veterinarian on this.

Worms in Foals: Identification and Treatment Guide – FoalTimeVet

Foal Vaccinations – foaltimevet.com/foal-vaccinations/