Texas Equine Dentistry School Contradicts BillsA STUNNING DEVELOPMENTA stunning development in Oklahoma's "Tooth Floater" legislative battle has the Texas school, where many Oklahoma "Equine Dentists" claim to have been educated, directly contradicts the proposed legislation.
The Texas Institute of Equine Dentistry (TIED) in Weatherford, Texas lists some frequently asked questions on their website for the benefit of prospective students.
One of the statements that immediately jumps of the screen:
"Will I learn how to sedate? No. Our school teaches the art of equine dentistry. Sedation is administered by our veterinarian on staff."
This statement is shocking in the fact that many supporters of the current bills advocate the use of prescription sedatives to be administered by the "equine dentist".
In fact, House Bill 3202 actually goes as far as specifically granting a "tooth floater" the authority to sedate an animal as long as he doesn't charge for the service. Of course, if that service is necessary to complete the procedure for which is being charged, then claiming to provide the service at no charge becomes a very slippery slope.
The Oklahoma Equine Dentistry Law (OEDL) website, a political lobbying group, indicates support of the Texas school while at the same time implying that the practice of sedation should be performed by tooth floaters. The group supports proposed legislation that "allows the horse owner to decide if the floater may or may not sedate his horse".
Other equine dentistry schools across the country also limit the scope of a tooth floater's services. The American School of Equine Dentistry, which is also listed on the OEDL website, states that "Dental technicians who do not have a veterinary license should not be giving sedatives, period."
OUTLAW MENTALITYThese statements by respected equine dentistry schools offer a stark contrast to the OEDL's assertions, as well as to Oklahoma State Representative Don Armes proposed legislation.
Clearly, the "tooth floater" lobby, as well as Representative Armes, is misrepresenting established protocol by these equine dentistry institutions as well as protocol and regulations by both the American Association of Equine Practitioners and the Food and Drug Administration.
Representative Armes' interim study of equine dentistry surely took into the consideration the policies and curriculum of the leading tooth floating schools, yet why then did he produce legislation that contradicts those policies?
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