Animals Asia was founded in 1998 and promotes compassion and respect for all animals. To date they have rescued over 600 bears, caring for them at their award-winning bear sanctuaries in China and Vietnam.

As veterinary dentists, we are well aware of the importance of dental health and how it impacts a pet’s overall well-being. By the age of 3, 70% of cats and 80% of dogs have some form of periodontal disease which can take years off a pet’s life. While we encourage pet owners to have their furry friends regularly checked for dental problems, the truth is, a good number of animals rarely receive proper dental care, which results in a bacteria and tartar build up on the teeth. If left untreated, it can lead to dental disease and many serious life-threatening complications. Bacteria from the mouth travels under the gum line and into the blood stream which can affect all major organs including their heart, liver, and kidneys. It can also cause serious infections leading to abscesses; that is why it is important that we remind pet owners that preventative measures are simply the best. Here are some great tips that you can offer your clients to keep their pets’ fresh breath.

The number of dental procedures performed on pets has been steadily increasing over the past ten years. From our ‘ignorant’ early days (let’s face it – we were not taught much on oral diseases in pets as undergraduates), Veterinary Dentistry now makes a significant contribution to small animal practice income.

Today, dental radiology is an essential part of practicing quality veterinary medicine. In the USA, intraoral radiology is close to being standard practice if you want to diagnose and treat oral diseases.

In this issue of Professional Liability, we’ll look at three closed claims with older, small-breed dogs that sustained jaw fractures during dental procedures.

This is a case report by Adjunct Associate Professor Anthony Caiafa of the North Coast Veterinary Specialists in Sunshine Coast Queensland, Australia.

As veterinary dentists, you know that the needs of your four-legged patients demand the most specialised attention. Pets that come in to your clinics have individual needs—a proof that a generic solution does not work for all of them. Every condition and every patient profile require a tailored treatment that is perfected only through years of periodontal practice.