Episode 18: Pet Dentals

Why does a scale and polish for a person cost $100 when a scale and polish for a cat or dog costs $400-600? Part of the reason comes down to the language barrier between people and dogs & cats, which means that vets can't say - "Okay, Fluffy, open up and be still - this is totally completely fine, and you have nothing to worry about."

Nicole and Jez discuss the major differences between a scale and polish for a human vs a pet, why a general anaesthetic is required for pet dentals, and how to reduce the frequency of dentals for dogs.

Citations

Bellows, J., Berg, M., Dennis, S., Harvey, R., Lobprise, H., & Snyder, C. et al. (2019). 2019 AAHA Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats*. Journal Of The American Animal Hospital Association, 55(2), 49-69. doi: 10.5326/jaaha-ms-6933

Gawor, J., & Niemiec, B. (2021). The Veterinary Dental Patient: A Multidisciplinary Approach (1st ed.). John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Lengyel;, K. (2022). AVMA 2017: Why 'Dental' Is a Dirty Word. Retrieved 5 March 2022, from https://www.dvm360.com/view/why-dental-is-a-dirty-word

The Tiny Vet Podcast

By Dr Nicole Su & Jez Watts

A very small podcast about big animal issues. Weekly episodes hosted by Dr Nicole Su (BSc. BVMS MANZCVS Unusual Pets).

Dr Nicole Su is a veterinarian, Jez Watts is a comedian-biotechnologist, and together they discuss commonly misunderstood topics in the pet and vet world. They live with three rabbits who are their children.

Presented by Upilio Pty Ltd.