We all know that dental disease is common, painful, and progressive. We also know that almost all animals have teeth. According to an analysis of data from more than 3 million pets in Banfield Pet Hospital’s network, investigators found that 73% of dogs and 64% of cats were diagnosed with dental-related issues.

 Jan Bellows, DVM, DAVDC, DABvP (Canine, Feline), FAVD, says these data align with other estimates that suggest 70% to 80% of dogs and cats show signs of dental disease by the age of 4.


Most veterinarians like helping a pet with dental disease. It is an immediate dopamine boost to get a broken tooth out of there when we know how much pain it has caused or to extract a severely diseased and mobile tooth (or teeth) that we know prevented the pet from chewing comfortably every day. Treating dental disease can provide immense satisfaction for the medical team as well as help
practices stay financially sound.


If you think about economics in veterinary medicine, you must consider the 3 pillars of health for a practice:

Per-client transaction (PCT): the average dollar amount generated in a single visit

Patient visits: how many patients come through your door seeking care

New clients: the number of pet owners who have never visited your practice before in a given period

These are metrics that every practice should be monitoring. A good dental program can enhance all these pillars. Let’s examine how.

A quick web search suggests that an anesthetized dental cleaning for dogs or cats can range from $170 to $350. This will vary depending on local economic factors, your choice of anesthesia, team training, and so on. It is vital to remember that dental prophylaxis is the best way to uncover other issues that are painful for the pet. We find broken teeth, diseased tooth roots, and other pathology that should be addressed while the pet is under anesthesia, if possible. However, you should not be afraid to stage needed care for another session if you are tightly booked that day or feel that additional anesthesia is not in the pet’s interest that day.

The important part is educating the client about what you see and find and making recommendations for the pet. Educating clients and recommending exceptional care is always best practice. Commonly, you will find something that needs to be addressed. You can call the client with the recommendations, and very often, they will see the value of addressing the required care under the single anesthetic episode. However, they cannot always afford the care that day, and in those cases, it is easy to create a screenshot of the dental radiograph to show and explain (if it is not already attached to your patient’s medical chart).

You can schedule discharge appointments with a veterinarian on any dental patient that had recommendations beyond basic cleaning. Enough clients will find value in the additional recommendations to increase your PCT for the procedure, and you will be increasing trust and value with that client for future visits.

If you recommend some type of dental care for every patient that comes through your door (and do not forget that study findings show that many pets need some dental care), you will increase your patient visits over time. Every wellness patient needs to have their teeth looked at. If you see something, send a recommendation and a treatment plan. Do not give up.

If you see that you gave a treatment plan last year and there was no action, mention it again. The animal needs your commitment to the best care, and the owner needs to hear it again. You have heard it before, but recommendations for needed care should be “every patient, every time,” and dentistry is no different. Over time, you will see owners following up on your recommendations, whether you made them in the exam room on a routine visit or after you found problems during dental prophylaxis.

Spread the word that you are comfortable with dental care. For example, let it be known that you have digital dental imaging and a well-trained team. You can get referrals from your local emergency hospitals because they likely do not perform any dental care. They happen across clients who have no primary veterinarian and whose pets suffer from dental trauma or broken teeth. Hospitals will happily refer to you if they feel comfortable with your care. You may even get referrals from other general practices that do not have as much equipment or the same comfort level as you.

Why wouldn’t veterinary professionals want to highlight something that helps almost all pets have less pain, slows a progressive disease, and allows pets to live a fuller life? We do! And if developing a great dental program can also make your practice more financially successful, everyone wins.

1. State of pet dental health: significant majority of US dogs and cats have oral health issues. News release. Banfield Pet Hospital. February 15, 2024. Accessed December 5, 2024. https://www.banfield.com/about-banfield/newsroom/press-releases/2024/state-of-pet-dental-health

Articles

Offering and promoting oral health services can help boost the bottom line

The economics of dental care

Jason B. Pieper, DVM, MS, DACVD, shares the #1 cause for atopic dermatitis

Treatment options for mild atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis can have multiple causes, with one particular allergy—and the most common one—having the ability to cause year-round issues. In this interview about his lecture on atopic dermatitis, presented at the 2025 Veterinary Meeting & Expo, Jason B. Pieper, DVM, MS, DACVD, assistant professor at Iowa State University, talks about the top cause for atopic dermatitis, as well as some of the other causes for this condition. Pieper also delves into the various treatment options for mild atopic dermatitis.

Below is a partial transcript which has been lightly edited for clarity:

 …It is tough when we talk about atopic dermatitis, I mean, there's a variety [of causes]. [The patient] can be allergic to, grasses, trees, weeds, molds as well.

The number one, actual one, though, is house dust mites, which is very similar to humans. So usually with them then it's a year-round problem. You know, it's not just a seasonal issue. It's a year-round [issue] and even for dogs that are mildly allergic when they're younger, as they get older, they tend to still develop allergies to house dust mites, so then they have [those] year-round kind of clinical signs, but that's definitely been the most common allergy that we find for atopic dermatitis.

When you sit there and kind of classify them on their clinical lesions, I guess usually, I base it on what we call this PVAS, or the Pruritus Visual Analog [Scale], and it’s zero to 10. Zero is not really doing anything; 10 is itching all the time, you know, uncontrollable, not even able to stop to eat. They have stopped that and will start itching. And so when I say there's a dog [that is] a 3 to 4 out of 10, that's where it’s considered mild disease. And you know, usually, then we're talking about adjunctive therapies, is the way I think of it.

Videos

The recent increases in construction costs can dampen anyone’s enthusiasm for building or remodeling. Fortunately, a new or remodeled hospital is still well within reach. Today’s veterinary floor plans are smaller, and they prioritize revenue per square foot.

Design is a powerful tool. With the right techniques, you can take a smaller space and create a big little hospital. A big little hospital may be small in footprint, but it feels light, bright, airy, supportive, effective, and is easy to work in.

In the world of digital work, reception desks can be minimized. A client service team needs comfortable computer workstations, and these individual, kiosk-style stations fulfill that need by providing ergonomic seating, elbow room, and better acoustic separation. Kiosk-style desks, like the ones used by Livewell Animal Hospitals (Livewell), not only do everything in a smaller footprint but also help the lobby space feel more open. In addition, customers are better separated and can have personal, more private, face-to-face communication with the staff, which helps foster a welcoming, client-centric experience.

Livewell Animal Hospital of RiNo (Image courtesy of Southern Veterinary Partners)

Livewell lobbies are intentionally designed to minimize clutter. The hospital floor plan prioritizes exam room space, which allows the lobby to be smaller and less crowded. With fewer clients waiting, chairs can be larger and more comfortable. Livewell is also purposeful in choosing and placing artwork for a clean and professional look.

Optimizing treatment spaces with the use of islands

The smallest hospitals may require treatment stations to be placed against walls. However, lining the walls with tub tables and exam tables is a limiting design, as this leaves room for little else. If possible, to eke out more space for treatment, the design can utilize an island layout. The island in the image below incorporates a treatment table and computer workstation on each side, medical gas drops, lighting, and storage while maintaining visibility across the space. The wall behind is free for animal housing, patient monitors, and storage.

To prevent clutter in treatment, all items are hung from above whenever possible. Chairs are also tucked under counters to keep the floor space free and clear.

Livewell Animal Hospital of Sloan Lake (Image courtesy of Southern Veterinary Partners)

Environmental design techniques for big little spaces

Glass not only helps to provide visual connection and transparency between spaces in a hospital, but it also enhances a small space design. Views to the outside, as shown in the Livewell treatment area above, help spaces feel bigger than they are. Natural light also helps create a sense of well-being and connection to the outdoors.

Building a transparent veterinary practice—with glass, open spaces, and values

In the image below, the office was designed with a Dutch door to allow it to feel even more open and connected to the rest of the hospital when the doctor does not require privacy.

Raintree Animal Hospital (Image courtesy of Tim Murphy | Murphy Photo Imagery)

Transparency is important for monitoring patients to provide better care and support positive outcomes. In the small hospital intensive care unit ward in the image below, a window connects this space to the workstations on the other side of the wall. The ward itself feels bigger and more comfortable, given the window into the space from treatment, as well as the window from the outside. The outside window is not in view in this image, but light can be observed spilling into the dog run.

Lake Anna Veterinary Hospital (Image courtesy of Tim Murphy | Murphy Photo Imagery)

A big little hospital feels bigger because it is bright, with higher illumination levels, plenty of daylight (if possible, given a lease space or freestanding configuration), and a light color scheme.

Choosing lighter paints and materials helps reflect light from surface to surface and makes any space feel bigger. Clinical areas also typically want to use more light colors for a feeling of cleanliness. This overall approach does not preclude the occasional use of a bold-colored accent feature, such as on a wall behind the reception desk, to correspond with your branding or to add an element of style.

While keeping things light, avoid using bright white for heavily used surfaces, such as treatment area walls, floors, and cabinetry. Veterinary spaces are used hard, and most veterinary practices do not have the cleaning budgets of human hospitals. Strike a balance with a color scheme that feels practical, light, and cheerful.

Noise problems can ruin the result of a big little hospital design. Incorporate noise reduction materials in every space, which means utilizing a highly sound-reducing ceiling in each space except for surgery. We recommend hard ceilings in surgery for cleanliness.

Although it is tempting in a small floor plan to have all patients in the open, designate some dog housing in a separated room, if possible, to reduce sound issues throughout the hospital and reduce fear, anxiety, and stress for your feline patients.

In summary, the most important big little hospital design techniques include the following:

Minimizing the space but increasing the quality of client reception areas

Designing highly efficient, multipurpose treatment spaces

Crafting the environment using transparency, bright lighting and light colors, and incorporating noise reduction and control

We use these techniques repeatedly to get the most out of small spaces and to ensure these small spaces are still great places to work. Given the costs of construction, get the most out of your square footage with a smaller, more efficient but still highly comfortable and uplifting design.

Maximize your hospital through these clever design tips and space-saving tricks.

Big little hospital: Design ideas to help your small spaces feel larger

Following a recall of grounding pads produced by Megadyne, a machinery industry company, the FDA is notifying veterinarians about a potential burn risk linked to the use of these devices in veterinary patients, according to a “Dear Veterinarian” letter written by the federal agency. The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) received reports of burn injuries in animals related to the use of these human medical devices in veterinary settings, stated the letter.

 The recall involves updating the usage instructions of these devices, but does not involve removing the products from where they are used or sold.

The recall, which includes the Megadyne Mega Soft, Mega Soft Dual, and Mega 2000 Patient Return Electrodes, are human medical devices that are often used in veterinary practice. The recall was issued by the CVM on January 14, 2025, and comes after the agency was made aware of human patient burn injuries, particularly among children under 12 years of age.

Megadyne Mega Soft Patient Return Electrode. (Photos courtesy of FDA)

Megadyne Mega 2000 Patient Return Electrode

Speaking of the affected animal patients, the FDA wrote, “The animal adverse event reports received by the FDA included dogs of varying weights and ages. Human medical devices are often used for animal patients in veterinary practice. FDA has regulatory oversight over devices intended for animal use and can take appropriate regulatory action if an animal device is misbranded or adulterated. However, FDA does not currently have premarket authority over devices intended solely for animals.”

Megadyne is addressing the issues with the affected grounding pads following the reports of patient burn injuries, according to the FDA. The company is directing users to not use the Mega Soft, Mega Soft Dual, and Mega 2000 Patient Return Electrodes on children under 12 years. It is also instructing users to ensure they follow the proper cleaning, placement, and setup steps to help prevent burns in patients associated with the devices.

The Megadyne grounding pads are soft pads used in electrosurgery—a procedure where an electric current is used to heat or cut tissue, or to stop bleeding. The current is generated by an electrosurgical generator and delivered to the tissue via a small, pen-like attachment. A return electrode pad is placed on the patient’s skin to direct the current back to the generator in order to lower the risk of excessive heating.

In its letter, the FDA advised veterinarians and animal owners to “report adverse experiences and product defects” linked to animal devices. These can include

Adverse effects in animals including but not limited to

Adverse effects (such as needle stick injuries, rashes, or headache or nausea secondary to product contact) in humans that had exposure to drugs and devise used in animals

Defects in products, with examples including broken product seals, leaking bottles, and more

Medication errors, like administering the incorrect drug or dose, giving a drug too often, and more

A product’s lack of effectiveness, such as a product that is not working or stops working, or one that is no longer working as well as it once did

Reports the agency receives are used to monitor the safety of products after they become available to the market.

 More information on reporting information about animal drugs and devices is available on the FDA’s “How to Report Animal Drug and Device Side Effects and Product Problems” website.

Dear Veterinarian Letter advising veterinarians of burn risk associated with the use of Megadyne grounding pads in veterinary patients. News release. US Food and Drug Administration. January 14, 2025. Accessed February 6, 2025. 

https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/product-safety-information/dear-veterinarian-letter-advising-veterinarians-burn-risk-associated-use-megadyne-grounding-pads

How to Report Animal Drug and Device Side Effects and Product Problems. US Food and Drug Administration. Accessed February 6, 2025. 

https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/report-problem/how-report-animal-drug-and-device-side-effects-and-product-problems

Dogs have experienced burn injuries following unsafe use of Megadyne grounding pads

FDA notifies veterinarians of animal burn risk linked to human medical devices

SPCA International’s partner Red de Apoyo Canino in Venezuela held a spay-and-neuter clinic on February 1, 2025, in a remote town in Maracaibo, El Bajo, Municipality of San Francisco. Twenty-one cats and 11 dogs were sterilized at the event.

Global animal welfare organization SPCA International has awarded $165,000 in grants to support spay-and-neuter programs worldwide in recognition of Spay-and-Neuter Awareness Month in February. These funds will provide an estimated 10,000 animals with sterilization services.

Spaying and neutering is the most effective way to prevent animal overpopulation and alleviate suffering, according to SPCA International. The recipients of organization’s grants provide critical care for animals around the world by implementing spay-and-neuter initiatives and bringing awareness to this approach to population control.

“Spay-and-neuter programs are not only the most humane solution to overpopulation, but they are, alongside vaccinations, crucial for improving the health and welfare of animals across the globe” Lori Kalef, director of programs at SPCA International, said in an organizational release. “We are proud to support and reinforce these incredible organizations and partners, who are dedicated to advancing these efforts.”

Grants were awarded to 20 animal welfare organizations. Recipients includes the following:

A canine patient at the Red de Apoyo Canino clinic

Every Life Matters Charitable Foundation in Ukraine

Fiona Animal Refuge in Mexico and the US

Help Animals - Cat Shelter Jessica in Serbia

Lake Zone Animal Welfare Organization in Tanzania

Lawrence County Humane Society in New Castle, Pennsylvania

Sterilise Our Strays - SOS Algarve Animals in Portugal

Tahira Animal Welfare Foundation in Pakistan

Voluntary Education and Relief Initiative for Tanzanian Society in Tanzania

Although spaying and neutering is widely recognized as the most effective method for controlling overpopulation, according to the SPCA International, many areas around the world still lack access to these essential services. SPCA International’s partner organizations are often working in areas where spaying and neutering is not common practice, to raise awareness about the importance of humane animal population control and implement local initiatives. Spay-and-neuter programs can also help to reduce the inhumane practice of culling of dogs and other harmful population control measures.

SPCA International’s partner organizations provide spaying and neutering services in rural villages and urban cities worldwide. Many of these organizations’ spay/neuter programs include an education component. The grants awarded by SPCA International aim to support a range of local programs, from mobile clinics to education campaigns, all focused on increasing access to spay-and-neuter services and improving the lives of animals.

SPCA International awards $165,000 in grants to global animal welfare organizations to fund spay-and-neuter programs. News release. SPCA International. January 30, 2025.

SPCA International is providing $165,000 in total funding to support spay-and-neuter initiatives and education.

Grants awarded globally to 20 spay and neuter programs

On this week's episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360, our host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, invited Evan Antin, DVM, on the show to discuss the current state of the wildfires that are destroying thousands of acres in Southern California, including the homes of people and wildlife living on the land. Throughout the episode, Antin explains to Christman what it was like having to flee the areas impacted by the fires, what people should not do when it comes to wildlife, and more about his experiences with animal conservation.

Providing care for animals during the California wildfires

Listen, a lot of wildlife, unfortunately, they're going to lose their homes and unfortunately, a lot of them their lives...with these wildfires. But a lot more than you would think actually can survive through them because of just the way that they're equipped to deal with, you know, the nature out here and being a native animal of this part of the world of Southern California, Southwest US, where wildfires are a reality. They're equipped with, you know, being in a sense prepared for them, if that makes sense, more from an instinctual standpoint of what they need to do when those come about. And then you're going to see and hear different things too, about recommendations of, you know, putting out food or water for them or not. 

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, they say, Don't put out food. Don't put out water. It's actually counterproductive. You're setting these animals up for more human and wildlife conflict, because they're now depending on, you know, they're going to see people as resources for their needs that they need to have met, whereas they really just need to depend on the wild habitats that they really, you know, live in. So, I mean, the food one, I think, is pretty straightforward. It's really not ideal to leave out food for these guys. We want them searching for food. We want them finding new homes where they can get food and, you know, get to areas where it's going to provide what their needs are, then, are not, you know, charred up and on fire and everything. 

And then the water thing, you know, like I said, the Department of Wildlife, they said, don't even give water. That's [tough] to do. It's like part of me wants to just, if I was backed up to nature like that, I'd want to just put out a little bowl so just they get a little sip on the way. But, the wildlife biologists and experts are saying these guys, you really need to be given the opportunity to find it on their own, and that's what's going to be best for them long term. 

Podcasts

Evan Antin, DVM, shares more on the current state of the wildfires in Southern California on this week's episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360