Mouth And Throat
3.3.7 Mouth and Throat Do the teeth appear normal and able to chew food? An animal with missing or deformed teeth or with a mal-aligned jaw may have trouble eating and therefore appear very thin. Is there extra fluid accumulated under the jaw? (This is a sign of internal parasites).
| Cow with crooked mouth | Horse with normal teeth | Horse with underbite called "monkey mouth" | Horse with overbite called "parrot mouth" | Horse with overbite called "parrot mouth" |
Can the age be estimated? See pages 32-35 on age estimation?
What color are the gums? Gum color may provide a clue for certain types of toxicities. Are there any sores or blisters on the gums or tongue? Several diseases cause sores or blisters, such as FMD.