[Jacob-list] Teeth in older sheep

[ARTHUR PARTRIDGE]

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>QUESTION - teeth in older sheep. I have an 8 yr ewe that lost one tooth

sometime in the last 3 months and has one very loose. She seems >to be
eating just fine. Other sheep people I know (meat and wool breeders) say to
either have it pulled by a vet, pull it myself because they >have no
feeling in their teeth, or leave it alone as it will fall out eventually.
Anyone have an opinion?
==============
About three years ago I noticed that my 8-yr-old ewe had three loose front
teeth.  I asked what to do on sheep-l and half the answers were to pull the
teeth and the other half wrote that I should leave it alone.  I decided not
to do anything, she was eating well and they weren't infected.  Tonight I
noticed that she lost two of the teeth and has one loose, front tooth left.
She still is eating fine.  I will have to watch her weight after I get her
sheared.  If she has trouble eating, I will isolate her and put her on a
mash diet.  She probably will have trouble grazing.  The other old ewes all
have good front teeth. 

Cathy
Moscow, Idaho