Frequently Asked Questions
Explore our FAQ section, where we aim to answer all your questions about pet dentistry and our specialised hospital's role in it. We understand that caring for your furry companions is a top priority, and their dental health plays a vital role in their overall well-being.
Visiting Your Vet
We can treat any type of oral disease, but usually, your vet will handle routine cases if they are equipped to do so.
Call UsWhat Cases Would My Vet Refer To Sydney Pet Dentistry?
We can treat any type of oral disease, but usually, your vet will handle routine cases if they are equipped to do so. We receive referrals from as far away as Alice Springs! Most of our patients come from Sydney and regional NSW. The problems that are commonly referred to us include:
Emergencies
Pets that suffer trauma from a car accident or blunt injury often have mouth trauma. Teeth that fall out (avulsion) or break and expose the pulp should be considered an emergency. You can read more about emergencies here, but remember that your vet will stabilise and treat life-threatening problems before considering the treatment of a broken tooth. This is entirely appropriate. Broken teeth can be treated later, although the treatments are different.
Base Narrow Canines
Puppies with base narrow canines have a small window of a few weeks where we can intervene and save the teeth. We have certain techniques and therapies that allow for the erupting teeth to grow into a position where they don’t cause trauma and pain to the tissues around them.
Extractions
We take out a lot of teeth. A LOT of teeth. They get along just fine without them, and they don’t care if some (or all) teeth are missing. We efficiently extract teeth with as little trauma to the mouth as possible. That means less pain and a faster recovery. Most pets eat straight after they wake up from surgery! They go home on appropriate pain relief and are usually healed in two weeks.
Despite being so fast, some extraction surgeries can still take us 4-5 hours. These extractions can be handled at your local vet but will likely take a lot longer or may need to be performed in stages. For this reason, your vet may suggest a referral to Sydney Pet Dentistry.
Stomatitis In Cats and Dogs
Stomatitis can occur in cats and dogs. a painful condition often treated with multiple dentals and extractions, courses of steroids and antibiotics. In most cases, the only treatment is the extraction of all the teeth (including those below the gum line, only visible by x-ray). It is very confronting for a pet owner to consider having all their pet’s teeth taken out. These are often referred to Sydney Pet Dentistry for a second opinion or because we can operate quickly and efficiently with minimal trauma and a quick recovery. We almost always perform this procedure as a single surgery rather than staging it as multiple surgeries.
Old And Sick Pets
We see many old patients with multiple health problems. In this situation, the anaesthetic is important. Our ability to operate efficiently and with minimal trauma means less anaesthesia time, making for a safer procedure. We routinely use state-of-the-art monitoring and support equipment. We work with specialist anaesthetists where recommended; or if a client is worried about their pet going under anaesthesia. The anaesthesia service is open to anyone.
Root Canals and Endodontics
If your vet notices a broken tooth that is not ‘fresh’, they can consider extracting the tooth at their hospital or referring it for a root canal or extraction. Some teeth (such as the canines and big molars) are very important to the structure of the jaw. Extraction will weaken the jaw, which can lead to breaks in some cases, especially older animals. We have a lot of experience in root canals (to save the tooth and maintain jaw structure), and we have also developed ways of extracting canine teeth that does not weaken the jaw – it’s quite a trick!
We also perform other endodontic procedures (where the tooth’s pulp is exposed and needs a filling), such as reduction of the height of the tooth and restorations.
Gingival Hyperplasia
Some pets (think Boxers) have prolific gum tissue that needs to be removed. It is important to do this as accurately as possible and without the trauma of electrocautery. Electrocautery scalpels cut off the excess gum tissue and cauterise the heavy bleeding. Whilst this sounds good, it can irreparably damage the teeth. Think of someone putting an electric charge on your teeth!
My Vet Wants My Pet To See Sydney Pet Dentistry
Your vet may refer you to Sydney Pet Dentistry – our preferred method of seeing patients. We can then work with your vet and access previous medical records (blood tests, treatments, previous anaesthetic details etc.). This also minimises the risk of unexpected non-dental issues being discovered at your dental consultation, which may then need to be dealt with at your own vet before dental treatment.
Second Opinions
We can also see your pet without a referral if you are concerned about their dental health, especially in the case of an emergency. However, in most cases, your regular vet is the best place to start.
Examining Your Pet’s Mouth For Dental Disease
Your local vet will almost always have a look in your pet’s mouth as part of a routine examination, such as a vaccination. The most common sign of dental disease is bad breath, which you will notice at home and should mention to your vet. There is an 80% chance that if your pet is over three years of age, it will have some dental disease.
If your vet thinks the dental disease is severe enough to warrant treatment, she or he will recommend a ‘dental’. This is a cover-all word for an anaesthetic, oral examination, x-ray and treatment of your pet’s mouth.
It is likely (and preferred) that your own vet takes care of your pet. The name Sydney Pet Dentistry will probably not be mentioned, as your local vet can treat most dental problems. However, there are certain difficult conditions where your vet may suggest a referral or (just as valid) you would feel more comfortable with a second opinion. That is where we come in.
My Pet Doesn’t Seem To Be In Pain
Most pets are brave and do not show obvious signs of pain until it is excruciating. They will continue to eat despite significant discomfort.
When you think about it, they really have no other option. They may start to chew on one side or prefer softer foods, but in many cases the signs are quite subtle and easily missed, even by a diligent owner.
Pets with dental disease will not stop eating until the pain is so severe that starving slowly is an easier option. This can take months or years of disease to happen. Please don’t wait for this to happen.
My pet has bad breath – does this mean they have dental disease?
Bad breath is very common in dogs and cats for all sorts of reasons, some as simple as their diet.
However, persistent bad breath is definitely NOT normal! It is the most common sign of dental disease. What you are smelling is infection and pus. Plaque bacteria on the teeth causes gingivitis, resulting in painful, red, swollen, ulcerated or bleeding gums.
Left untreated, the bone surrounding the teeth also gets destroyed, leading to abscesses, loose teeth and even jaw fractures if nothing is done. Infection also spreads through the bloodstream to the vital organs, including the liver, heart and kidneys.
In a nutshell, persistent bad breath is most likely due to dental disease.
A Note On Ethics
Sydney Pet Dentistry advocates for your pet to have a mouth that is healthy and pain-free. We will do anything we can to this end, and we have many owners who are amazed at how much happier their pet is after surgery. However, we won’t submit pets to painful procedures for cosmetic reasons or to cover genetic faults in breeding lines. We offer genetic counselling and can give you options for treating your pet, but will not submit your pet to painful, unnecessary surgery.
Organising an Appointment
We can treat any type of oral disease, but usually, your vet will handle routine cases if they are equipped to do so.
Call UsMy Pet Is On A Long Waiting List But Seems To Be In Pain, What Can I Do?
Unfortunately, we go through periods where our patients need to wait for a while before we can see them. This is no different to the human medical system, but we understand it is your fur-baby and you want to get things done as soon as possible. Here are a few options:
Ask To Go On Our Cancellation List
If you are flexible with your time, we get cancellations at short notice. You can ask to go onto our cancellation list, and we will call you if a cancellation comes along.
Cancellations generally come up at short notice, which means there can be a lot of people and not much time to fill these appointments.
We will ring you if you are at the top of the list. Please put our landline number (02 9052 4881) in your phone and pick it up if we ring. We need to fill the space, and if you don’t pick up your phone we need to ring the next person on the list. If you miss us, don’t worry, you will keep your place on the list, and an appointment should show up again soon.
Speak To Your Local Vet About Pain Relief
The main concerns that people have on our waiting list is that their pet is in pain and infection. We strongly encourage you to speak to your local vet and organise some pain relief and if your pet needs antibiotics. Your vet is welcome to contact us to discuss what treatment is best.
I Am Worried About The Anaesthesia, What Options Do I Have?
We have performed thousands of anaesthetics with great success. However, there are risks associated with anything – including the dental treatment of your pet. The risks include drug reactions, post-operative complications and, of course, the anaesthetic.
Patients may have serious co-morbidities – like heart disease, liver or kidney disease, diabetes or cancer, etc. – and still require dental surgery. These patients are usually old or infirm. It’s perfectly understandable (and sensible) to be concerned about anaesthetising such patients.
We partner with anaesthetists to minimise the risk of anaesthetising these patients. This has two benefits
- You have a fully qualified veterinary anaesthetist handling the anaesthesia
- Our vets can focus on the dental surgery, making the procedure faster and reducing the anaesthesia time.
When making an appointment, you can discuss having an anaesthetist in charge of your pet’s anaesthetic. You can read more about this service here.
Please note we have a waitlist for the anaesthesia service. We are looking to expand this service as soon as we can. You can ask us to place you on our cancellation list and get some advice from Sydney Pet Dentistry or your local vet on ways to keep your pet comfortable.
How do I make an appointment?
There are a few ways to arrange an appointment with Sydney Pet Dentistry. If it is an emergency, your pet has other medical problems, or your pet is a puppy, you are best to call us on 1300 838 336 (see below).
There will soon be an online booking scheduler, which is great for rechecks and for consultations where no surgery is anticipated.
Once you have made an appointment, you will receive the following communications from us:
- A confirmation email. If you don’t receive this, please get in touch with us so that we can ensure there have been no mistakes in your booking.
- A phone call a few days before your appointment to confirm you are still coming and to answer any last-minute questions for you.
- If we can’t reach you by phone we will send you an SMS to confirm the appointment.
- Appointment spaces are very limited, so please confirm your appointment. Failure to confirm may result in us cancelling your appointment.
Please note that we reserve the right to change your appointment if necessary. This rarely happens, but sometimes after we review your pet’s history, we may need you to do extra tests with your local vet, organise an anaesthetist, or allocate more time than the scheduled day allows.
Call Us
You can call us on 1300 838 336. Our office hours are 8am-6pm Monday to Friday. You are always welcome to call and speak to our friendly team. We also suggest you call us if your pet:
- Has co-existing medical problems such as organ disease, diabetes, cancer etc.
- Is old.
- You are worried about the anaesthetic and want to discuss organise our anaesthesia service.
- Is on medications that may need to be discontinued for a period before surgery (eg warfarin or other anticoagulants)
We may call you for more information about your pet once we have reviewed your pet’s history.
Web Forms and Email
You can contact us via web forms and email, requesting us to call you back and make an appointment.
Our Same Day Service
Most surgeries can be performed on the same day as the consultation if your pet has fasted appropriately and there are no other health issues that need to be addressed first. This saves you time and your pet the stress of an extra visit to the hospital. You can also choose to schedule surgery later if you prefer.
Sometimes it is preferable to schedule surgery at a later date, if extra precautions or preparations are required prior to anaesthesia (such as extra tests, a course of medication, or a longer period of preoperative intravenous fluids). We will keep you fully informed of the reasons for this if necessary.
If you want to see us just for a consultation, please let our staff know when you book your appointment. That means you still get your consultation, but we can use the surgery space for other patients on our waiting list.
Do I Need A Referral?
Sydney Pet Dentistry working in partnership with your local vet ensures your pet receives the best care. Most of our patients have a referral from their local vet, which usually happens in one of two ways:
- Your vet suggests you call us and arrange an appointment.
- Your vet sends a referral to us, and we call you.
Appointments without a referrals are also accepted. A second opinion can assure you that your vet has offered you all the treatment options for your pet, and we can help you decide which option is best. We encourage you to return to your local vet for treatment but, of course, you can elect to have treatment with Sydney Pet Dentistry. Second opinions can be discrete if you prefer, but vets are usually okay with them. Call 1300 838 336 if you have questions about this process.
If you don’t have a vet, you don’t need a referral to see us. However, if your pet has not seen a vet for a while, it may have other issues more important than its teeth. We may advise you that your pet needs treatment for other conditions before proceeding with dentistry. In short, it’s best to see a vet first and get the all-clear.
Visiting Sydney Pet Dentistry
We have a lot of information on the site that will inform you, and make your visit to Sydney Pet Dentistry a caring, reassuring and professional experience. Knowing what to expect and having answers to the fundamental questions around your visit are extremely important and can relieve anxiety.
Call UsWhat Happens During Surgery?
There are two parts to the surgery – the anaesthesia and the surgery. For more information you can visit the Services section of our website.
General Anaesthesia
Your pet will be sedated after admission. This is a necessary prelude to anaesthesia, and also calms anxious pets. This means you don’t need to worry about your pet being scared in hospital – they are happily sedated!
When it is time for surgery, an anaesthetic agent will be injected into the drip line and your pet will fall straight to sleep – a general anaesthesia. A tube is placed into the trachea to allow for anaesthetic maintenance on oxygen and a gaseous anaesthetic agent.
Local Anaesthesia
If we are performing a painful procedure, we will administer local anaesthetic nerve blocks. Although your pet is under general anaesthesia, these local blocks mean we can keep the general anaesthetic lighter (and safer). Just as important, your pet will wake up much more comfortable, and studies suggest local nerve blocks help with longer term pain relief.
Anaesthesia Monitoring and Support
We actively monitor the vital signs of your pet during the anaesthetic. We support your pet with intravenous fluids and body-warming ‘huggers’, amongst other things.
Waking Up From Anaesthesia
Your pet will wake up warm, comfortable and under the close supervision of our staff.
Surgery
What happens during the actual surgery depends on what surgery is being performed. You can learn more about the different procedures in the Services section.
After Surgery
After surgery, your pet will recover from their anaesthetic under close observation. We will call you to let you know how things have gone, and confirm a time for you to be reunited with your pet when they are awake enough to return home.
How Is The Anaesthetic Kept As Safe As Possible?
Managed well, general anaesthesia is very safe. We minimise the risk by knowing your pet’s health status through their medical history, physical examination, and, if needed, supplementary tests (such as blood tests, chest xrays). We tailor the anaesthetic protocol to your pets requirements, and will discuss any special considerations with our visiting anaesthetists as needed.
Specialist Anaesthetists
We have visiting anaesthetists that are great for long or complicated anaesthetics. Whilst no anaesthetic is 100% safe, the skills and experience of an anaesthetist can be very reassuring.
If your pet has other health problems, is old, or if you are worried about the anaesthesia in any way, then speak to us on 1300 838 336. We can discuss then costs and benefits of this amazing service.
What Happens When My Pet Is Admitted To Hospital?
Your pet will be settled into a comfortable bed, and prepared for their surgery in the afternoon. An intravenous line (drip) will be placed to ensure they your pet is not dehydrated, and to support their blood pressure throughout the procedure. Any blood samples required can be taken at this time. Sedatives and pain relief may be administered to keep your pet calm, comfortable and happy until surgery.
Will my pet be able to eat if teeth are extracted?
This is a common and valid concern. The great news is that pet cats and dogs do absolutely fine without teeth, even if they have to have them all removed!
Pets need their teeth for hunting and chewing through carcasses, so as long as you continue to feed your pet so they don’t have to hunt, they will do well. In fact, many pets with no teeth at all will still eat biscuits, and some will even continue to hunt if allowed.
We only removes teeth where it is the best option for your pet – this means that, in fact, most eat far better without the pain and infection, despite having fewer teeth.
Will I need to take time off work while my animal recovers?
It is rare that you will need to take time off to nurse your pet (that’s our job!). With good surgical technique and the use of pain medication, most patients are up and eating several hours after surgery.
If surgery has been extensive, your pet will generally be kept in hospital until they can eat and manage themselves well – this allows them to receive strong pain relief, intravenous fluid support and loads of TLC until they find their feet again.
How will I give any medications required?
After surgery it is best to avoid handling your pet’s mouth in most cases. Where possible, medications are supplied as liquids that can be gently syringed into the side of your pet’s mouth or put in their dinner. Occasionally long acting injections or pain patches may also be used. Tablets are only used if necessary, and can generally be hidden in food.
Will I need to feed my pet a special diet?
This depends on the procedure performed.
In the evening after surgery, a small soft meal is usually appreciated, as your pet will still be under the effects of the anaesthetic.
If extractions have been performed, a soft diet is usually recommended for several days – this may include soaked kibble, small chunks of meat or chicken, or tinned food (small chunks are better than gravy-type foods).
We will provide all the details when your pet is discharged from hospital.
My pet has an increased anaesthetic risk due to concurrent illness (eg heart, kidneys, liver) – what should I do?
Pets with serious illnesses can also have serious dental issues that impact on their quality of life, as well as their overall health.
Many of our patients have multiple illnesses, yet if dental treatment is required, this can almost always be achieved through careful anaesthetic management and keeping the procedure as short as possible. See our section on anaesthesia and the options for a specialist anaesthetist.
Our pet dentists are experienced and can treat your pet very time-efficiently, without sacrificing on the quality of care. It’s all we do.
So if your pet needs a long or complex procedure or you are worried about the anaesthetic, we can certainly help.
My pet is elderly – should I even consider putting them under anaesthesia?
Every owner of an elderly pet shares this same concern. Dental disease increases with age, so a large proportion of our patients are elderly!
Most dental conditions cause discomfort or pain, and almost all involve infection that can enter the bloodstream and affect the rest of the body. Dental disease is just as painful for older pets as it is for younger ones, and older pets absolutely deserve to be happy and pain free. We have treated many, many elderly cats and dogs with great success, relieving their pain and infection and giving them back their quality of life.
Modern anaesthetics give us many options to make the anaesthetic as smooth and safe as possible so we can achieve this. Our surgical experience also means procedures can be done quickly to minimise the time under anaesthesia.
We can help you determine if your pet’s mouth is infected or painful, and how beneficial treatment is likely to be. The anaesthesia risk can then be weighed up and managed to give your pet the very best chance of regaining comfort in its old age. Indeed, it is common to find pets act many years younger once they have had good dental care!
Is anaesthesia-free dental treatment a better option for my pet?
In a nutshell, the only way to do dental work without an anaesthetic is to not do it properly. Sadly, it is common for pets that have had anaesthesia-free dental cleanings for several years to come in requiring multiple extractions that may have been avoided had a thorough dental procedure been performed under anaesthesia instead.
While we would love to be able to perform dental assessment and treatment on your pet without anaesthesia, we do not offer this service as it does not allow proper diagnosis or treatment.
Our aim is to find and alleviate all sources of infection and pain in your pet’s mouth. This means examining every tooth, above and below the gum margin, and being able to clean and treat all areas. While Christine has repeatedly asked for xray vision every Christmas and birthday, she is yet to receive it, and (like all other humans) can only see the tip of the iceberg when she looks in your pet’s mouth.
Most people find dental treatment unpleasant and uncomfortable – your pet is no different. A well-managed anaesthetic is far safer and more humane than attempting to use sharp instruments and power equipment in a mobile patient without a protected airway.
Does my pet need to be put under anaesthesia for treatment?
Almost every dental procedure requires a general anaesthetic, for several reasons.
Firstly, although we have many tricks for getting a good look in your pet’s mouth, it is not possible to thoroughly examine and clean all surfaces of all teeth (including the backs and insides of all of those back teeth). Nor can we check and clean below the gumline or take xrays unless your pet is asleep.
Secondly, dental cleaning and treatment can be uncomfortable and scary for your pet, especially if there are inflamed gums or damaged teeth. The instruments we use are very sharp (they have to be!), and the power equipment is noisy and sprays water. Your pet could be seriously injured if they move, or inhale bacteria or water during the procedure (cats and dogs don’t rinse and spit like humans do!).
Anaesthesia allows us to do a thorough job safely without your pet feeling pain and fear.
Will my pet need to stay in hospital overnight?
It depends on the procedure performed, and the overall health of your pet.
Most patients are discharged the same evening, but sometimes a sleepover in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) is required.
Extensive surgery may mean your pet needs stronger pain relief than can be dispensed for home use. Some patients may require extra intravenous fluid support and nursing care in the ICU until they are back on their feet and ready to eat and rest at home.
We will keep you informed if your pet needs this extra care.
What happens to my pet when they are admitted to hospital for treatment?
Your pet will be settled into a comfortable bed, and prepared for their surgery in the afternoon. An intravenous line (drip) will be placed to make sure they are not dehydrated, and to support their blood pressure throughout the procedure. Any blood samples that are required can be taken at the same time. Sedatives and pain relief may be administered to keep your pet calm, comfortable and happy until surgery.
After surgery, your pet will recover from their anaesthetic under close observation. Dr Christine or one of her team members will call you to let you know how things have gone, and confirm a time for you to be reunited with your pet when they are awake enough to return home.
What happens during the initial consultation?
The initial consultation is 30 minutes. We will discuss your pet’s medical and dental history with you while your pet explores the room and gets settled.
She will then perform a thorough oral examination (as thorough as your pet will allow!) and then discuss her findings with you. You can then go through all the treatment options, including the prognosis and costs, before making a treatment plan that suits you and your pet.
If your pet is staying for same-day surgery, they will be admitted to hospital for treatment. Otherwise you can take time to make any decisions, and schedule surgery for a later date.
Should I fast my pet before our visit?
If you would like the option of your pet having surgery on the same visit as your consultation, fasting is recommended. We recommend no food after midnight on the night prior to your arrival. Water should be available until you come to the hospital, especially in warmer weather. This is particularly important for patients with health issues such as kidney disease or diabetes.
If your pet is very young, has a medical condition such as diabetes, or takes medications that need to be given with food, please ask for advice on fasting when you book your appointment.
After Your Visit
We have a lot of information on the site that will inform you, and make your visit to Sydney Pet Dentistry a caring, reassuring and professional experience. Knowing what to expect and having answers to the fundamental questions around your visit are extremely important and can relieve anxiety.
Call UsI live a long way from the hospital – do I need to see Dr Christine or can I see my regular vet?
While Dr Christine always loves to see her patients, you don’t have to see her for the post-surgery check if this is inconvenient for you due to distance, scheduling, or life in general. She will send a report to your own vet following surgery so they are up to date with your pet’s treatment, and can take over their care again once you are home. If your vet is concerned or has any questions, they can contact Christine for further advice.
Do I need to make a follow-up appointment? How much will this cost?
A follow-up appointment allows us to check that the mouth is healing well and answer any questions you may have.
For most surgeries a follow-up appointment is recommended – we will let you know when we send your pet home. We uses dissolving sutures so you won’t need to have these removed.
The post-surgery check is free (it’s all part of the service). Just book through reception. If it’s more convenient, follow-ups can be done at your local vet, but this may incur a fee.
Will my pet be able to eat if teeth are extracted?
This is a common and valid concern. The great news is that pet cats and dogs do absolutely fine without teeth, even if they have to have them all removed!
Pets need their teeth for hunting and chewing through carcasses, so as long as you continue to feed your pet so they don’t have to hunt, they will do well. In fact, many pets with no teeth at all will still eat biscuits, and some will even continue to hunt if allowed.
We only removes teeth where it is the best option for your pet – this means that, in fact, most eat far better without the pain and infection, despite having fewer teeth.
Will I need to take time off work while my animal recovers?
It is rare that you will need to take time off to nurse your pet (that’s our job!). With good surgical technique and the use of pain medication, most patients are up and eating several hours after surgery.
If surgery has been extensive, your pet will generally be kept in hospital until they can eat and manage themselves well – this allows them to receive strong pain relief, intravenous fluid support and loads of TLC until they find their feet again.
How will I give any medications required?
After surgery it is best to avoid handling your pet’s mouth in most cases. Where possible, medications are supplied as liquids that can be gently syringed into the side of your pet’s mouth or put in their dinner. Occasionally long acting injections or pain patches may also be used. Tablets are only used if necessary, and can generally be hidden in food.
Will I need to feed my pet a special diet?
This depends on the procedure performed.
In the evening after surgery, a small soft meal is usually appreciated, as your pet will still be under the effects of the anaesthetic.
If extractions have been performed, a soft diet is usually recommended for several days – this may include soaked kibble, small chunks of meat or chicken, or tinned food (small chunks are better than gravy-type foods).
We will provide all the details when your pet is discharged from hospital.
