University:
Texas A&M University
Course:
BIOL 107 | Zoology
Academic year:

2019
Views:

350

Pages:

1
Author:

slypery5hy

All about Horse Teeth Student Worksheet Key Directions: Fill in the blanks and answer questions below, do this worksheet individually as it reflects your comprehension of the PowerPoint and will be graded. 1. Explain why horse teeth evolved to be so long and have a large grinding surface. Also what structure on the horse head was pushed back due to this change in tooth shape? Answer: Horse teeth evolved around 18 million years ago to be long and have a large chewing surface, because the diet of the horse changed to tough plants and grasses that contain silica. The eye of the horse was pushed backwards on the horse head to make room for the larger and longer tooth structure. 2. Why do horses need to graze an ideal 14 hours a day? On average do horses today graze this much? Answer: Horses need to graze the ideal 14 hours per day in order to wear their teeth down continuously as they chew. This keeps an even chewing surface for the horse. Horses today do not normally graze enough to grind their teeth naturally, so the veterinarian must step in and perform dental examinations to correct sharp points. 3. How many teeth does a horse have at 5 years of age? Answer: Between 36 and 44 teeth. 4. True or False; Horse teeth have enamel throughout and continuously erupt the same way human teeth do. 5. Describe the chewing pattern of a horse: Answer: Horses chew in a lateral circular motion. They grind their feed. 6. True or False; If a horse tooth grows with no opposing tooth it will just keep growing and never be grinded down causing problems like inability to chew, dropping feed, and mouth sensitivity. 7. What is the first thing that a veterinarian does to begin the dental exam? Answer: The veterinarian will begin by examining the horse’s mouth for odor, inflammation, ulcers, cuts, tooth decay, and abnormalities of wear. 8. How often should a mature horse age 5-14 have a dental exam? Answer: Once a year!