SB 211: Equine Dentistry Amendments

This bill failed in the Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee.

In the equine world, teeth floating is a common practice used on older horses. It involves wearing down the sharp edges on a horse’s teeth in order to prevent gum loss. Teeth floating is not currently defined in Utah’s Veterinary Practice Act, which is a potential problem for those who practice it professionally because some regulators argue that practitioners must be a licensed veterinarian in order to perform teeth floating—a burdensome licensure requirement on a niche practice.

Senate Bill 211 defines teeth floating while exempting it from the Veterinary Practice Act. Senator David Hinkins is the sponsor of this legislation that would allow individuals to learn how to administer teeth floating alongside professional veterinarians so they may expand these services to horse owners.

SB 211 addresses a regulation problem by clarifying that one need not be a professional veterinarian in order to enter the marketplace and perform teeth floating.