Alex and Mickey are the rare youngsters who do not fear a dental check-up. In fact, they are not quite sure what all the fuss is about. For them, a dental exam involves “sleeping” for awhile, and when they wake up their teeth will be cleaned, polished and possibly fewer in number. This is because Alex and Mickey, a dog and cat respectively, are receiving dental care for the first time at the hands of sophomore year veterinary technology students. Periodontal disease affects over 70 percent of cats and dogs and is preventable with regular veterinary and home care.
Joining Alex and Mickey were Baby Girl, Elody, Eloise and Hercules, as they all had their dental days at RWC on either April 22 or April 29. They were selected in collaboration with the Pets In Need clinic and the United Coalition for Animals (UCAN) Non-Profit Spay/Neuter clinic in Cincinnati.
These pets were especially in need of care because their owners have limited financial resources (a qualifier for the Pets In Need program). Vet Tech students visit UCAN weekly throughout the year to participate in wellness exams and learn about the facility. The pets were screened and had pre-operative blood work completed to ensure they were fit to undergo the anesthesia required for a dental procedure. In addition to cleanings, tooth extractions were performed as needed and dental radiographs were taken. Each pet was supplied with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and instructions for dental care at home.
Kelli Whitesel and Amber Brandt helped clean and extract the teeth of Eloise, a Pekinese mix. Ten days later they were able to meet Eloise again at UCAN for her booster vaccinations. Her owner was very thankful and the students said it was cool to meet the owner and see how much their new skills were appreciated. Without the aid of the veterinary technology program and UCAN, Eloise would otherwise continue to suffer from periodontal disease and would become another statistic.
The dental days were a great success for both the animals’ new smiles and students to gain experience in veterinary dentistry. For more information on UCAN or Pets In Need visit www.ucancincinnati.org.