Local Vet Opposes Amendment Allowing Unlicensed Horse-Teeth Floating

Chris Howell NewsOn6.com

JENKS--Horse owners from across the state are lobbying lawmakers for an amendment to allow unlicensed 'Horse Teeth Floaters' to legally practice their trade in Oklahoma. Because of a 2008 law, it is currently a felony punishable by a $10,000 fine and four years in prison.

'Floating' is described as rasping off rough points which may form on horses ever-growing teeth with files or power-driven devices.

One local vet calls the amendment a throwback to the ways of the past and says equine dentistry should remain left to licensed vets.

'We don't want to go back there, it was not in the horses best interest and not in the owners best interest,' said vet G.F. Anderson, 'If we change this rule and allow non-veteranarians to work on horses, how big of a streach is it until we're going to allow non-veteranarians to spay dogs, castrate cats, you know...on and on?'

Watch an extended interview with G.F. Anderson and check out the web site of Oklahoma Equine Dentistry Law for their reasons to fight for the amendment.