Citing the importance of good dental care to the health of horses, the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine today (April 20) announced the Minnesota Equine Dental Symposia (MEDS), a series of continuing education programs for veterinarians.

“Recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of equine dental problems such as periodontal disease, cavities, and fractured teeth have created a real need for a resource for basic educational tools for veterinarians,” said Gary Goldstein, DVM, director of the Dental Service at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center and a faculty member at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine.

The University of Minnesota joins the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry (AVD) in meeting this need. The MEDS program offers a series of weekend seminars that start with the fundamentals of equine dentistry and proceed to advanced periodontics, endodontics, restorations, and oral surgery. Practicing veterinarians can also take advantage of seminars, lectures, and labs offered by the AVD Veterinary Dental Forum and AAEP convention.

The Academy of Veterinary Dentistry has also created an equine track for fellowship in the Academy, which the University of Minnesota’s MEDS series supports by providing in-depth, hands-on instruction about subjects critical to the development of dental knowledge. A five-year plan guides veterinarians interested in AVD fellowship