Can a carrot help diagnose a toothache? Yes it can! We call it the Carrot Test.
Any horse should be able to bite straight through a carrot with their front teeth.
If they’re:
• Twisting their head
• Trying to snap it sideways
• Or using their molars instead…
…it can be a sign of incisor pain.
One condition we particularly monitor with this test is EORTH (Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis) — a painful disease affecting the incisors.
So next time you give a carrot, take a moment to watch how they bite.
Your snack-time treat might also be an important health check. 
A carrot a day may just keep the doctor away…(or at least help us pick up problems early!)
This blog post was provided by Dr Lauren Jones of Kentaro Veterinary Services servicing the Coffs Harbour District in NSW
