Contact: State Rep. Don Armes
Capitol: (405) 557-7307

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 22, 2009) – Legislation signed into law today will give lawmakers more time to consider controversies related to the practice of horse dentistry, the bill’s authors said

"While this legislation will not allow teeth floaters to practice without a veterinarian’s license, they will no longer face outrageous fines or lengthy prison sentences," said state Rep. Don Armes, R-Faxon.

"Sending a person to prison for four years for filing a horse’s teeth was way beyond overkill," said state Sen. Mike Schulz, R-Altus. "This legislation will bring some sanity back to the system."

Teeth floating (essentially, filing a horse's teeth) has been done for years in Oklahoma by individuals who do not have a veterinarian’s license. However, the practice was made a felony last November for anyone but a licensed veterinarian.

Because teeth floating can include the use of drugs, veterinarians say it is not safe to allow a non-licensed individual to perform dentistry on a horse because of the potential for nerve damage, anesthetic crash or other complications.

Supporters of traditional teeth floaters note that relatively few licensed vets will conduct horse dentistry – fewer than 300 of the 1,700 veterinarians in Oklahoma are believed to provide the service – making it virtually impossible to obtain care for a horse in most of Oklahoma without allowing traditional floaters to handle it.

Under a compromise version of Senate Bill 452, by Armes and Schulz, teeth floating will remain illegal without a veterinarian license.

However, the bill lowers the current penalties for violations. Instead of a felony conviction, violations of the law will now be a misdemeanor involving a fine of $500 to $5,000 and up to six months in the county jail. Current law allows for a four-year sentence in state prison.

Both Armes and Schulz said they plan to study the issue and try to file new legislation next year to address the concerns of all involved.

"I am committed to taking as much time as necessary to come to a compromise with all parties involved and file new legislation next year," said Armes, R-Faxon. "I want to do whatever necessary to allow teeth floaters and livestock technicians to continue practicing these skills while keeping illicit drugs from being easily available. I will keep my nose to the grindstone and my study will discuss all views of the veterinary business, livestock groups and farm groups."

"I am certainly glad Gov. Henry signed this bill into law, which will give all interested parties a chance to study the issue during the interim and allow for a good compromise to be worked out. SB 452 was never about allowing the illegal or misuse of drugs to occur," said Schulz, R-Altus. "There are plenty of laws on the books to prosecute people today who are involved in this misuse of drugs."