WOLF OR SUPERNUMERARY TEETH.—Wolf teeth are comparatively small in size and have only one root and are found just in front of the upper molar teeth. Sometimes they do harm, but that is an exception and not the rule. They can be easily removed with a pair of small forceps or they may be punched out in some instances, but I prefer that you use the regular wolf tooth forcep as it looks much better to the onlooker. I think they interfere with the eyes, causing them to become watery and inflamed, due to the tooth exerting some influence upon the ophthalmic division of the fifth nerve.
SUPERNUMERARY TEETH.—Tooth substance may develop in almost any part of the body. These are called supernumerary teeth and are commonly found in the testicles, ovaries and sinuses of the head, etc.
FOREIGN BODY LODGED IN THE MOUTH.—A foreign body sometimes gets lodged in the mouth, as a piece of wood, wire from the feed, etc., and possibly becomes imbeded between the molar teeth, and the animal is not able to get it out. There will be difficulty in masticating; a flow of saliva; the animal stands with the head poked out, as if suffering from sore throat. He will partially masticate, then try to swallow, and perhaps eject the food. These symptoms are present in sore throat, and it is necessary to make a careful examination; you are not likely to mistake just one case, but if there is some other disease prevalent that presents similar symptoms, then you are liable to make a mistake. As stated before, exercise care and judgment and you need make no great mistakes, this applies to all diseases, etc., that you are called upon to treat.
CAUSE.—Faulty conformation of the hind legs; that is to say, if a animal has crooked legs, a slight sprain from slipping or jumping will produce Curb. In cases where an animal has well proportioned limbs, and is afflicted with Curb, it is caused by a rupture of the small ligament or cord situated just back of the hock.
SYMPTOMS.—A swelling will be noticed on the back part of the hock. At first the animal is lame and the enlargement is hot and painful. After a few days’ rest the inflammation will partially subside and the enlargement can be plainly seen. When the animal is walked about he may be very lame at the start, but this will disappear as he is moved.