In her three years as a general practitioner, Vancouver veterinarian Dr. Jacqueline Myers noticed a disturbing trend among her clients.
Every week, it seemed, she was removing a surprising number of teeth from the mouths of dogs and cats. In many cases, they were suffering from severe dental disease after years of going without preventive care.
Yet while pet owners may try to save money by avoiding regular check-ups, they may be hit with even bigger bills down the road when their pet?s tooth-pull tally hits the double-digits.
Myers empathized with owners rather than blame them. The cost of a veterinary cleaning and exam can cost around $250 in Clark County to up to $400 or more in the Portland area, and she believes it can be a significant barrier to many pet owners.
?My husband and I thought there had to be a way to get more affordable, preventive care for animals on a more routine basis,? she says.
In the absence of finding any alternatives, they created one.
Both Camas natives, Myers and her husband, Clayton Myers, decided to open a new type of clinic that focuses on general dental health and routine wellness care for cats and dogs.
Forever Pet Dental LLC, which opened its doors in March, offers a flat fee of $169 for a dental cleaning package.
A unique approach
The package includes a physical and oral exam, dental cleaning, dental X-rays, gas anesthesia with heart rate and blood pressure monitoring, intravenous catheter and fluids, and a nail trim.
Myers can also conduct other treatments, such as remove lumps or clean ears while your pet is under anesthesia, and perform basic preventive care, such as vaccinations, de-worming and blood work.
She?ll refer other health issues to the owner?s primary veterinarian and refer to a board-certified veterinary dentist for more complex procedures like root canals, major oral surgeries or implants.
The couple keeps costs down by not having to pay rent for the clinic space, focusing only on dental and wellness care and maintaining a low overhead. (Currently, it?s just Myers and her husband, although they?re in the process of hiring a veterinary technician).
Hayden Island residents Bill Feldman and his wife Betsy took their 9-year-old standard poodles Chloe and Charley to see Myers after seeing her flyer in a Washington dog park.
Initially drawn in by the low price for cleaning - one Portland-area clinic quoted him as high as $700 ? the Feldmans were impressed by her detailed examination and follow-up.
Forever Pet Dental offers ?exceptional-quality work for an extraordinarily reasonable price,? he says.
Why dental care is important
By age three, up to 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease, according to the American Veterinary Dental Society.
Just like with human teeth, pets develop plaque, a colorless bacterial film that attaches to the teeth. Since it?s initially soft, plaque can be removed by tooth brushing it or chewing certain hard food or toys.
?Ideally, tooth-brushing with a pet-safe toothpaste is great,? Myers says. ?That?s the number one thing I recommend for people if their pet will allow them.?
Dental diets and chews recommended by the Veterinary Oral Health Council can also help.
Without removing the plaque, minerals in saliva can cause it to harden into tartar, creating a rough surface that attracts more plaque and becomes tougher to take off.
The tartar (also called calculus) can creep under the gum line and trap bacteria against tender gum tissue, causing inflammation called gingivitis that can cause bleeding.
Eventually bacteria can eat away at the bone that supports the tooth, which can cause teeth to loosen or fall out.
Bacteria can also enter the bloodstream, potentially leading to heart, liver or kidney disease.
Cleaning under anesthesia is the only way veterinarians can effectively remove that plaque and tartar under the gum line.
?They can?t do it without anesthesia, because the animal would wriggle around,? says Dr. Jan Bellows, president of the American Veterinary Dental College and a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners.
The teeth may look cleaner, but the tartar and plaque aren?t removed from underneath the gum line, which defies the health-related purpose of the cleaning.
?The non-anesthetic dentals prey on people?s fear of anesthesia,? says Bellows.
He was curious about what kind of cleaning and exam Myers conducts for the cost, so Bellows called her from his home in Florida. As far as he can tell from speaking with her, ?she?s doing everything right.?
?A lot of people use a cut price to lure people in, and the customer?s not getting what they should get,? he says. ?She?s the real deal.?
Myers hopes that her distinctive pricing will enable clients to make dental care more routine for pet owners so that they can come more often.
That?s exactly the case for Northwest Vancouver resident MaryAnn Joye, who recently brought in her long-haired terrier, Missy, for a dental cleaning and vaccines.
?She was so personable and reasonable,? Joye says. ?At some of the other vet offices, they?re so big, you feel you?re just another number.?
With costs ranging from $200 to about $450, Joye says she was scaling back her pets? regular dental exams to a year-and a half to two years. At Forever Pet Dental, she can now afford to take them each year.
As far as Myers is concerned, she?s achieved her goal.
?We?re just trying to make dental care routine for pet owners,? she says.
***
Foreverpetdental.com: 18809 S.E. 25th St., Vancouver;?360-859-3790.?
Tips: Caring for your pet?s teeth
- Use oral rinses or gels with chlorhexidine, an anti-plaque antiseptic.
- Clean your pet?s teeth every day with a soft-bristle brush. Make sure to use toothpaste specially made for dogs or cats; human toothpaste can make pets sick.
- DentAcetic wipes are another option for removing plaque and tartar.
- For fussy felines, dip a Q-tip in tuna juice and wipe the area where the tooth hits the gum line.
- Offer your pet dental diets and chews, such as Hill?s Prescription Diet t/d or Greenies.
- Avoid hard treats, such as antlers, cow hooves or bones that can break teeth or damage gums.
- Check the Veterinary Oral Health Council website for a listing of recommended products.
- If your cat or dog?s breath smells a little fishy, your pet probably needs a dental exam.
--Sources: American Veterinary Dental Council; Dr. Jan Bellows
Symptoms of dental disease in cats and dogs:
- Bad breath
- Bleeding from the mouth
- Loose or discolored teeth
- Drooling or dripping food from the mouth
- Reluctance to eat or loss of weight
- Unwillingness to let you touch its mouth
--Source: American Veterinary Dental Council
Source: http://www.oregonlive.com/pets/index.ssf/2013/07/pet_talk_vancouver_veterinaria.html
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