Heidi Lobprise, DVM, DAVDC, discusses the importance of dental care for senior pets, addressing periodontal disease, stomatitis, and tooth resorption.

When dental extraction improves senior pet health

Deciding whether to extract or preserve a diseased tooth is a frequent and consequential clinical decision, especially in senior patients. In this 

 interview, Heidi Lobprise, DVM, DAVDC, discusses the need to assess tooth strategic value, stage of attachment loss, comorbidities, anesthetic risk, and client goals to help choose the best path for each patient. 

 Hi, I'm Heidi Lobprise. I am a veterinarian. I graduated from Texas A&M [University] back in the previous century, and I've been doing dentistry for over 30 years now. As a dental specialist, I've been in practice with veterinary dental specialists, but I've also worked in industry, teaching others about dentistry. I'm back in practice, but semiretired—a couple days a week. So of course, I really love dental things, but I also love senior care and senior pets, so that's been a big focus of mine as well.

So, in periodontal disease, we do have to make decisions about: Should we extract it, or is it worth trying to save the tooth? Usually, these are teeth that have midrange periodontal disease—stage 3, 25% to 50% attachment loss, mainly bone loss too. When we look at that patient, first off, we look at the tooth. We're not going to do a lot to save a less strategic tooth, a small incisor, as compared [with] a canine tooth or a carnassial tooth. I also look at the patient. If we have a patient [with] any systemic disease—heart disease, kidney issues—where the additional anesthetic time to help preserve that tooth may be risky, sometimes it's better to extract the tooth with chronic inflammation to make that pet healthier with their other conditions. Sometimes it depends on the client. Sometimes they really want to save teeth, but that usually takes more time and more money, and sometimes they elect to do the extractions anyway.

So, in general practice, there [are] always concerns. Owners will [say], “I've heard about this pet dying under anesthesia,” or “I've heard about the cost,” and they try to think, “Well, I saw this product that can make the teeth miraculously clean.” So, it takes some education that this is an ongoing process with the disease. It might be underneath the gumline. It really takes professional care to make a difference. We can't just clean the teeth without anesthesia, and just giving them a certain chew once a day isn't going to cure all the problems. So, it's an ongoing educational effort.

Especially when there [are] concerns about having care done under general anesthesia, we definitely like to educate [clients] about the impact that dental disease can have on systemic health. We used to talk a lot about when you have dental disease, you have bacteria, and that can get into the bloodstream and cause issues with the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys—you name it. Now, we think more about how the presence of that chronic inflammation due to the dental disease is actually what's probably driving a lot of the issues we see, because chronic inflammation, when untreated, can increase aging and impact almost every body condition. In fact, for chronic inflammation, there's a term called “inflammaging.” This is a chronic, sterile inflammation that impacts both morbidity and mortality of patients and is present in every aging organ system.

I think cats have a way of inventing means to get rid of their teeth. Stomatitis is certainly one of them. It may not be as prevalent as tooth resorption in cats, but it's definitely more severe. When we get these cats that have so much inflammation and ulceration that [it] impacts their quality of life, we usually talk about full mouth extractions, and that's pretty significant. On the other side, tooth resorptions may be uncomfortable and cause some pain. It may not be to the extent of stomatitis, but we certainly see it in a large segment of the population. In fact, some estimates suggest up to 60% of cats, at some point in time, will have tooth resorption. If that resorption is just down in the roots, they may not have a lot of problems. But when it gets up into the crown of the tooth, that's when we see the potential discomfort. And that's when we talk about extraction on those, but usually on a select basis.

With the senior dentistry discussion...when we're doing surgery on a senior patient, it's usually for dental or oral reasons. The thing [about] it is, yes, now we're looking at this individual that might have other diseases, comorbidities, and we're talking general anesthesia. That's where we can have a lot of concern from the owners, so we have to really work these cases up. Look for the issues, stabilize them, [and] get them to where they're steady enough to be able to handle the general anesthesia so we can take care of that dental disease...that's causing inflammation. [Then] remove that inflammation, [and] potentially help the other areas as well. If we can get rid of inflammation, we want to do it, and we can do that in the oral cavity. So, that's a big plus.

To read more news and view expert insights from Fetch Long Beach, visit 

’s dedicated site for conference coverage at 

https://www.dvm360.com/conference/fetch-long-beach

Videos

How to decide when dental extraction improves senior pet health

A network of veterinary hospitals is expanding its presence in West Michigan with the opening of 3 new hospital locations. In Texas, the San Antonio Zoo is preparing to unveil a new gorilla habitat featuring a record-breaking gorilla tower, with a surprising historical discovery made during construction. Meanwhile, the Orlando Cat Café is set to grow beyond Florida with its first franchise location in Texas.

Lovet Pet Health Care (Grand Rapids, Michigan)

The first patient at Lovet Pet Health Care’s new Breton hospital marks its opening with the hospital's “ribbon-chewing” ceremony. (Image courtesy of Lovet Pet Health Care)

This network of veterinary hospitals recently announced the opening of 3 new locations in Grand Rapids, Michigan. All 3 hospitals offer full-service veterinary care and contain in-house x-rays and diagnostics backed by artificial intelligence–enabled technology, Lovet said in a press release.

The new facilities, listed below, are an addition to the organization’s first hospital in Grand Rapids, which opened in April 2025:

 3500 Alpine Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49544

 2135 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525

 1935 Breton Rd SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506

"Grand Rapids has quickly become one of Lovet's most vibrant and fast-growing markets," Courtney Gruber, president of Lovet Pet Health Care, said in the company press release.

 According to Gruber, the human-animal connection encouraged Lovet’s expansion in West Michigan.

Congo Falls at San Antonio Zoo (San Antonio, Texas)

This Saturday, the San Antonio Zoo is opening Congo Falls, a new gorilla habitat that will reintroduce gorillas to the zoo for the first time in more than 3 decades. The 2-acre space will contain 3 different habitats that will house 7 Western lowland gorillas.

Congo Falls will also feature the tallest gorilla tower in the world, the Mays Family Silverback Peak, which stands at more than 70 ft and will give the gorillas a view of the city skyline, the San Antonio Zoo stated.

According to the zoo, the construction of the habitat also unearthed a piece of history. During excavation, crews discovered limestone from the same quarry that supplied stone for the construction of the Alamo more than 300 years ago. The zoo said the find “deepens the connection between San Antonio Zoo and the city's rich heritage, blending the legacy of the past with a bold vision for the future of conservation.”

“The world-class habitat will allow guests to connect with gorillas like never before, providing an experience that inspires awe, curiosity, and a deeper appreciation for these remarkable species,” Tim Morrow, president and CEO of San Antonio Zoo, said in a news release.

 “Congo Falls is [a] labor of love and a historic moment not just for our zoo but [also] for conservation efforts across the globe.”

Original Orlando Cat Café in Clemont, Florida. (Image courtesy of Orlando Cat Café)

Orlando Cat Café—which, up until now, has only operated in Florida—has just sold its first franchise location in Dallas, Texas, the café said in a recent press release. The new café, slated to open next year, will follow the same model as the original, offering visitors coffee service alongside a cat lounge where they can interact with cage-free adoptable cats. Orlando Cat Café works with local animal rescue groups to help cats get adopted.

"We are beyond excited to bring Orlando Cat Café's unique experience to the Dallas area," Sandra Cagan, founder of Orlando Cat Café, said in a news release.

 "Expanding through franchising allows us to reach more communities, giving more people the chance to enjoy time with cats while supporting animal welfare. This first franchise sale is just the beginning of our mission to bring joy to both humans and cats across the country."

According to Orlando Cat Café, the business has helped place thousands of cats in new homes and is now seen as a model for pairing hospitality with animal rescue work. “We believe this will be the first of many franchise locations as we continue to grow and create positive experiences for cat lovers everywhere,” Cagan said.

Lovet Pet Health Care expands Grand Rapids footprint with three new veterinary hospitals. News release. Lovet Pet Health Care. November 20, 2025. Accessed December 10, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lovet-pet-health-care-expands-grand-rapids-footprint-with-three-new-veterinary-hospitals-302621309.html?tc=eml_cleartime

A world-first look at Congo Falls: America’s new landmark gorilla habitat opens at San Antonio Zoo. News release. San Antonio Zoo. November 17, 2025. Accessed December 10, 2025. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/a-world-first-look-at-congo-falls-americas-new-landmark-gorilla-habitat-opens-at-san-antonio-zoo-302616630.html

Orlando Cat Café expands with first franchise sale, bringing unique cat lounge experience to Dallas, Texas. News release. Orlando Cat Café. December 1, 2025. Accessed December 10, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/orlando-cat-cafe-expands-with-first-franchise-sale-bringing-unique-cat-lounge-experience-to-dallas-texas-302628382.html 

Articles

The latest updates relating to animal care establishments and platforms.

Clinic center: Gorilla habitat with world’s tallest gorilla tower to open in Texas, and more

In this episode of Vet Watch, Ed Goulch, PhD, joins the show to talk about at home testing kits, and the pros and cons they have in the veterinary industry.

 Click. Swab. Diagnose: Are at home kits disrupting veterinary medicine?

, our host Christopher Lee, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, DACVM (Parasitology), welcomes the founder and CEO of QSM Diagnostics, Ed Goluch, PhD, to the show to explore the world of at-home testing kits. Throughout the episode, Lee and Goluch discussed the multiple options available to veterinary professionals, including cat urine and ear swab; how they integrate with veterinary clinics, including their electronic medical records; and more about the goals of QSM Diagnostics to enhance veterinary efficiency and client engagement. 

Below is a partial transcript, edited lightly for clarity.

Christopher Lee, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, DACVM (Parasitology): 

Let's address that elephant in the exam room, so to speak. Are at-home tests replacing traditional veterinary tests? Are you a threat or a tool for veterinary hospitals?

 We're very much a tool. I don't see us as a threat because we don't do the full gamut of testing. We focus on microbiology, and with FetchDx, with our mail-in testing line—which really has taken off, that's the majority of our sales—we really supplement what you can do in the clinic. We see this as tests that you provide in those situations where you can't collect a sample during the visit, or it's inconvenient to get the patient in to collect a sample. So it's really a small percentage of the time, but it's a very important percentage. 

If the animal doesn't have any urine in their bladder, do you have them sit around all day waiting? Or can you send them home with the kit and have the pet owner collect a sample and send it in? If they forgot, or if someone calls up and says, "I think my pet has an issue. Can I get a prescription?" [then] this is a way to say, "Well, let's run some diagnostics first and add that in." That's the role that we play. I think there's also a growing role with clinics that are incorporating telehealth. This is a way to gather additional information when you don't have the patient in front of you...in between visits or, like I said, ahead of a visit; that's where we come into play.

Are at-home testing kits a friend or foe to the veterinary industry?

Click. Swab. Diagnose: Are at-home kits disrupting veterinary medicine?

What should general practitioners (GPs) know about handling emergency cases? Tannetje Crocker, DVM, an emergency veterinarian for Veterinary Emergency Group in Dallas, Texas; owner of Alta Vista Animal Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas; and social media personality, explained the equipment, medication, and communication skills that GP veterinary teams should be familiar with for emergency cases during her lecture at the 2025 Fetch dvm360 Conference in Long Beach, California.

“Pet owners are wanting more for their pets, which means we have to be able to offer more…. There's so much we can do right in our own hospitals,” Crocker said. “People are coming to you with the same expectation that they have of a specialty [emergency] facility. You want to be ready for those types of things.”

Creating an interactive experience, Crocker asked her audience to name some of the more common emergency cases they typically see in their own clinics. Among the responses were respiratory distress, heart failure, injuries from pets getting hit by cars, gastrointestinal effects of chemotherapy, seizures, toxins, and urinary obstruction in cats. “When I have a blocked cat come in, I'm talking to an owner, [and] one of the first things I say is, ‘This is a true emergency.’ I think that's a really important statement to say to some of these [clients], to escalate how quickly you're able to provide care,” Crocker told the audience.

One of the first things to consider when establishing emergency services is to determine what the veterinary team already knows, such as triage, first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and emergency medications, according to Crocker. Training the staff and having these professionals practice emergency care is also essential, if needed. “It is not just you, as veterinarians; it is definitely a team approach when it comes to emergent care,” Crocker said.

Crocker urged the Fetch audience to empower their veterinary team to handle emergency tasks.

“Technicians want to be utilized to the fullest capability. If they have a puppy [and] there's not a doctor available, and this puppy looks [ill], have them check [blood glucose].... If this puppy has a blood glucose of 40 and it's sitting there for 45 minutes in your practice until the doctor can come, that's a big deal,” she said.

“If this cat is blocked, have [technicians] feel the belly.... Make it where they feel comfortable telling you what they're seeing...and you actually respond, and you respect what they're saying and what they're doing. I think that's really important as a team,” Crocker added.

During her lecture, Crocker addressed the following needs for providing emergency care in a GP setting

Teams must identify emergency cases and prioritize their patients based on severity, with the most urgent cases being the most time sensitive.

Utilize point-of-care diagnostics to quickly and accurately identify the patient’s condition.

These include immediate stabilization techniques and the administration of emergency medications.

Managing the expectations and emotions of pet owners and effectively communicating with clients during an emergency should be included in a veterinary team’s standard of care.

Integrating emergency care into a general practice also requires the establishment of an emergency-ready environment. This includes having appropriate equipment and supplies for providing emergency care services, as well as a designated area in the practice for these cases.

“Everyone should have a glucometer in [their] practice, right? Because if you have a dog come in for seizing, one of the first things you should do is check [blood glucose], especially depending on how old they are, because hypoglycemia in younger pets is going to be one of the main reasons you're going to see them seizing,” Crocker said.

Diagnostic equipment and tools are also important for emergency care. “Now, maybe you don't have an x-ray, [and] that's OK, but ultrasound…is a great way to image emergency cases. You can get a lot of information that way, and it's not as high of a price point,” she said.

 oximeter for cases that require sedation or anesthesia. “You should know where it is. Everyone should make sure it's working,” she said.

A lactometer is also recommended by Crocker, who noted she uses this device for every emergency case she handles. “Lactate gives you so much information, but it is really expensive to have, so I don't think it's something you have to have in a general practice. But if you can get your hands on one, it can really help you out,” she said.

Establishing emergency care services in a general practice may not come without challenges, such as resource limitations, including financial constraints and personnel shortages, time constraints, and ensuring client adherence. However, establishing best practices and deploying solutions can help. Crocker said “training is key” for veterinary teams, but collaborations with specialists and referral centers can add value, too.

To view additional coverage of the Fetch Long Beach conference from the 

content team, visit the event’s dedicated news page: 

Crocker T. Emergency care redefined: essential elements for GPs providing emergency services. Presented at: Fetch dvm360 Conference; December 5-6, 2025; Long Beach, CA.

Tannetje Crocker, DVM, discussed common emergencies presented to GP veterinary teams and some key considerations.

Getting familiar with emergency medicine in general practice

In an interview at the Fetch dvm360 Conference in Long Beach, California, Catharine Scott-Moncrieff, Vet MB, MA, MS, DACVIM-SAIM, DECVIM-CA, walked through the practical decisions clinicians face when treating newly diagnosed diabetic cats. 

Image Credit: © olezzo | stock.adobe.com

 Q&A has been lightly edited and consolidated from a verbal interview to better fit a written format while retaining the substance of the original conversation.

 I’m Catharine Scott-Moncrieff. I’m originally from England, and I’ve been at Purdue University…since 1986. I’m a full professor, and I recently stepped down as department head. I’ve been on sabbatical for a year, and I’m returning to the clinics primarily to do endocrinology.

: When you start treatment for a newly diagnosed diabetic cat, what’s your practical plan for the owner and clinic?

 The most important first step is deciding which treatment is right for that individual cat, because monitoring differs depending on whether you choose insulin or an SGLT2 [sodium-glucose cotransporter-2] inhibitor.

For insulin-treated cats, much of the early work is owner education: how to store insulin, draw it up, administer injections, coordinate insulin with feeding, recognize and respond to hypoglycemia, and what to do if the cat doesn’t eat. Avoiding hypoglycemia is the main risk with insulin, so owners must understand warning signs and what actions to take.

For SGLT2 inhibitor–treated cats, the owners have an easier regimen; the drugs are oral and once daily, don’t have to be synchronized with feeding, and the available formulations [tablet or palatable liquid] are generally well accepted. That said, early monitoring for ketones is crucial with SGLT2 therapy; the first 14 to 30 days are when you’re most likely to catch cats developing ketosis or diabetic ketoacidosis [DKA]. So, [although] administration is simpler, monitoring [especially for ketones] is still important early on.

Note: SGLT2 inhibitors commonly used/approved for cats are bexagliflozin (Bexacat; Elanco) and velagliflozin (Senvelgo; Elanco). Both are once-daily oral agents.

: How do you decide whether to start a cat on insulin or an SGLT2 inhibitor? What specific indicators do you look for?

 Ideally, we’d distinguish type 1 from type 2 diabetes because type 1 cats [no endogenous insulin production] require insulin. We don’t have a simple in-clinic test that cleanly separates type 1 from type 2, but most newly diagnosed cats—roughly 80%—are type 2. So, we look for a newly diagnosed cat with classic diabetic signs [polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, weight loss] without other systemic illness or comorbidities. That means [they're] not lethargic, not anorexic, and [there is] no obvious liver disease, kidney disease, pancreatitis, or other complicating conditions.

You should also screen to rule out ketosis [urine ketones or blood β-hydroxybutyrate (βHB)] before starting an SGLT2 inhibitor. If the cat is systemically ill, ketotic, or has significant concurrent disease, insulin is the safer option. If the cat meets the “otherwise healthy, newly diagnosed” profile and is not ketotic, [it's] a reasonable candidate for an SGLT2 inhibitor, but you must watch closely early on.

: Are owners more adherent with SGLT2 inhibitors compared with insulin?

 Yes, administration is simpler. The 2 available SGLT2 products are palatable [one is liquid, one is a tablet], can be mixed with food or given directly, and only require once-daily dosing. That generally leads to high owner [adherence]. For the first month, the monitoring burden is similar to insulin; you’re just monitoring different parameters—ketones for SGLT2s vs glucose curves and hypoglycemia risk for insulin. After that initial period, the monitoring requirements for SGLT2-treated cats often decline.

: What influences diabetic remission in cats? What factors make remission more likely?

 Reported remission rates vary widely in the literature [15%-70% in different studies], which reflects differences in patient populations and treatments. Factors that increase the chance of remission include resolving any underlying disease that causes insulin resistance, achieving an appropriate body weight [obesity reduction], a low-carbohydrate diet, and—above all—good glycemic control. In my view, it’s not the specific insulin type that matters so much as achieving and maintaining effective glycemic control early in the course of disease.

: Are there any common misconceptions about SGLT2 inhibitors that you want to clear up?

 The major concern clinicians have is euglycemic DKA [euDKA]. Cats treated with SGLT2 inhibitors can become ketotic while appearing euglycemic because these drugs lower blood glucose by promoting glycosuria. That makes euDKA easy to miss if you only check blood glucose and not ketones. It’s correct to be concerned, but the incidence appears lower than some fear. In newly diagnosed, previously untreated cats, clinically significant DKA occurs in a minority—in my experience and the data I cited, around 5% of naive cats—and appropriate early monitoring can reduce risk by catching ketone accumulation before cats become systemically ill. Nevertheless, vigilance for ketones is essential.

: Can a cat treated with an SGLT2 inhibitor go into diabetic remission? How would you detect it?

 Some cats on SGLT2 inhibitors do go into diabetic remission, but the studies that led to approval didn’t follow cats long enough after stopping therapy to answer what percentage remain in remission. The key difference compared with insulin is this: An insulin dose that becomes excessive will cause hypoglycemia and reveal that the cat is producing enough insulin [so you can detect remission indirectly when insulin needs fall]. SGLT2 inhibitors don’t cause hypoglycemia the same way because renal glucose reabsorption mechanisms can buffer blood glucose, so excellent glycemic numbers on an SGLT2 do not reliably prove remission. The only way to know is to stop the drug and monitor for recurrence of clinical signs and hyperglycemia. [The] longitudinal, postwithdrawal data for SGLT2-treated cats [are] limited, and [this is] an area we need more research on.

: What research are you and your team working on now? Is there anything that clinicians should watch for?

 We’re validating ketone meters for cats. The Precision Xtra meter has been validated for [βHB] in cats, but its strips are expensive and not always available. We’re comparing the Precision Xtra [with] other meters that measure both glucose and βHB so clinics could use a single meter for both. That would simplify monitoring. We’re also evaluating βHB urine dipsticks because urine ketone tests measure acetoacetate, whereas blood tests measure βHB, and βHB is likely the more clinically relevant ketone. Practically, it’s often easier to get a drop of blood than a urine sample from a cat.

Separately, we’re analyzing long-term safety data from extended safety cohorts in the pivotal SGLT2 studies where some cats were followed for up to 3 years. That work should help clarify long-term renal outcomes, rates of ketoacidosis over time, and other potential complications. We’re actively recruiting for some of these studies, and we hope to have abstracts and manuscripts submitted in the coming months.

Catharine Scott-Moncrieff, Vet MB, MA, MS, DACVIM-SAIM, DECVIM-CA, explains when she prescribes insulin vs SGLT2 inhibitors, how to monitor for ketosis, and which factors most influence diabetic remission in cats.

How to choose and monitor diabetes treatment for cats

"A great culture allows people their humanity," explains Jennifer Edwards, DVM, ACC, CPC, ELI-MP, in this episode of The Resilient Vet: Mind and Body Strategies for Success.

Transforming practice culture: How individual wellbeing impacts the entire team

The Resilient Vet: Mind and Body Strategies for Success

, hosts Aaron Shaw, OTR/L, CHT, CSCS, and Jennifer Edwards, DVM, ACC, CPC, ELI-MP, delve into workplace culture and the role it plays in personal well-being. They explore how the well-being of each individual contributes to the collective culture and how that culture can either support or hinder the whole team. Shaw and Edwards discuss burnout and belonging, exploring what culture truly is, why it matters, and how veterinary professionals can cultivate environments where people and pets can thrive.

 podcast. Today, we’re going to be talking about culture—such an important topic for everybody in practice or any other workplace out there—and how individual well-being impacts the entire team. If you’ve ever thought about how amazing it would be to work at a place that you thought had great culture, or if you’ve worked at a place that maybe had some really good culture but deep down you just knew it could be better, then you definitely want to listen to this episode all the way to the end.

We all know that burnout is a huge issue in veterinary medicine. But I don’t know if you realized that, on top of many factors, practice and workplace culture play a huge role in impacting how quickly people reach that level that they refer to as “burnout.”

I’m Dr Jennifer Edwards, [a] veterinarian turned leadership and energy coach, and I am here today to help you learn more about culture on 

 podcast. You can find me at my website, drjenniferedwards.com.... Please feel free to download my free e-book on cultivating more happiness and joy in your life.

And my name is Aaron Shaw. I am the cohost with Jennifer. Thank you for joining us. I’m an occupational therapist, health span expert, and founder of the VetSpan Collective, which is a free online community with resources for people like you and me who want to be more resilient in the vet space. And that is exactly what we’re going to talk about today.

I think culture is a great topic. Culture is something that can really support us. Or, if you’re not in a really good culture, it can weigh us down or slow us from achieving our true potential. I’m super excited to hear Jennifer’s perspective on this. This is her forte, and I think the best way to start this conversation is by defining: What is culture? What does that mean?

I think we know inherently. We’ve been in places that are the worst—sometimes toxic workplaces—and I think that’s probably referring to the culture [or] the vibe of more than just 1 individual. So, what is culture? What does that mean?

Transcript has been lightly edited for clarity and cohesion.