Dental Extraction Consent
Extraction Expectations and Procedures for Horses with Dental Disease
1. Horses with dental disease may require extraction of the diseased teeth to achieve whole body health.
2. Extraction of cheek teeth in horses is a complex issue requiring complex treatment plans.
3. Minimally invasive techniques are the standard of care and are utilized on a sedated horse best restrained in standing stocks.
4. MULTIPLE TREATMENT PROCEDURES may be necessary for the treatment of your horse’s dental disease. These treatment procedures may require MULTIPLE VISITS and MULTIPLE SEDATIONS to complete the extraction(s) and possible complications.
5. An estimate has been provided prior to this procedure. However additional costs may be incurred due to the unpredictable nature of dental extractions, patient response to medications, complications etc. As the owner of the patient, you are responsible for all additional charges for today and all follow up treatments.
6. Previously acquired radiographs taken by either Dr. Olenick, Dr. McDonald or Dr. Meney are used as a reference for today’s procedure. Additional radiographs may need to be taken during today’s procedure. As the owner of this patient, you are responsible for additional charges for radiographs taken today or during future appointments.
7. Intravenous catheterization and continuous rate infusion of sedative drugs may be required for examination and treatment of your horse’s dental disease.
8. Side effects of sedation in horses include dramatic changes in blood pressure and delayed and decreased gut motility for several hours afterwards.
9. The consequences of delayed and decreased gut motility require close monitoring after any sedated dental procedure and the possibility of treatment for impaction colic.
10. Local infiltration of anesthetic drugs to numb or ‘block’ nerves are routinely used to improve comfort, restraint, and safety of the dental procedures. Risks of this procedure include elevated heart rate, infection, as well as injury to nerves or nearby blood vessels, resulting in nerve damage or hemorrhage, and possible blindness.
11. Not all horses are candidates for standing sedation with or without the use of stocks for dental procedures because some horses are too fractious and can become dangerous during the procedure. The procedure may be called off without completion if the horse is too stressed or combative. The safety of you, your horse, the veterinarian and the staff are of the utmost importance.
12. Owners may choose or may be asked to leave the procedure during their horse’s dental treatment as some of the surgical procedures can be very upsetting for the horse owner.
13. It is the goal of Dr. Olenick, Dr. McDonald, Dr. Meney, the assistants and staff at Swiftsure Equine Veterinary Services to look after your horse’s health, welfare and safety to the very best of our abilities.
14. You will be required to follow-up with aftercare treatments and present the horse for rechecks and treatments as prescribed by Dr. Olenick, Dr. McDonald or Dr. Meney and SEVS.
15. Swiftsure Equine Veterinary Services does not provide general anesthesia or a board-certified surgeon. Your horse may require referral to a facility that provides these services if extraction attempts are unsuccessful.
16. As owner of the patient, you are responsible for paying for today's procedure, if extraction was unsuccessful, as well as the fees at the referral facility.
17. Please be sure to ask all questions, whether you believe them to be relevant or not, prior to commencement of the dental examination and treatment. We strive to provide comprehensive dental care to maximize the health and comfort of every horse in the most painless and stress-free way possible!
I have carefully read, and fully understand, this consent. The fees associated with these services have been explained to me, and I agree to pay such fees at the time of service.
By typing your name below, you hereby give your consent to have dental extractions performed on your horse.