Managing dysmastication in horses: an update

Abstract

Dysmastication (difficulty in mastication), colloquially referred to as ‘quidding’, is relatively common in equidae. The condition ranges in severity from mild, causing minor or chronic clinical signs such as slow or selective eating, to severe, resulting in quidding (a response to pain in the mouth in which the horse loses or spits out balls of semi-chewed food), reduced feed intake and weight loss. There are a relatively small number of common causes of dysmastication, most of which are easy to diagnose and some are easily treatable; however, some cases require more detailed evaluation and their treatment can be challenging. This article discusses the most common causes of equine dysmastication and approaches to their diagnosis and management.