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A survey in 2013 of 200 vets showed the following statistics with regard to veterinary dentistry
An Iams Gallup Phone Survey of 1000 pet owners in 2013 found;
~ 63% of pet owners have never had their pets’ teeth professionally cleaned.
~ Of the 22% of pet owners who brush their pets’ teeth
Veterinary dentistry is an exacting discipline, requiring skill, patience and special equipment. In spite of the ‘stats’ above, one might reasonably ask, “Should we bother?”
Therefore, investments in equipment and training are rapidly recouped. So it makes very good medical sense as well as making good business sense.
The prevalence of treatable dental disease is staggering when you know what to look for and how to recognize lesions. Various sources indicate that 60 to 90% of adult dogs have periodontal disease to a degree that necessitates treatment. A similar proportion of the feline population is also affected. A study at the Animal Medical Centre found that of cats presented for dental cleaning, 65% had at least one ‘neck lesion’ requiring attention. There are also fractured and traumatized teeth, orthodontic problems, oral tumours and a number of other conditions waiting to be diagnosed.
The end result is that you’ll be busier (and more profitable to boot), you’ll have healthier and happier pets (we all know how bad a toothache is) and your clients will be happier and more bonded to your practice.
On graduation I purchased a Veterinary clinic in Maitland, NSW and sold it in July 2009. At the time of purchase, it was a run down one person clinic with about a 90% mixed and 10% small animal component. The business grew well, so that at one stage there were 4 branches and 8 Veterinarians. At the time of sale there were 5 Veterinarians, 16 support staff functioning out of a purpose built ‘A’ class Hospital with one branch. In 2004 the practice won the Pfizer/AVA Practice of Excellence Award as well as coming 3rd in the Fujitsu Customer Service Awards. At this stage (and even slightly before), I started co-presenting at trainings and workshops and in 2007 I started developing and hosting my own workshops. In July 2009 I sold my practice so as to be able to concentrate fully on my coaching, training, speaking and workshop business – and to be able to move to Exeter (NSW) to be with my partner. I missed clinical practice, so in May 2018 I purchased a veterinary practice with the aim of building it up by providing a highly customer service friendly veterinary practice alternative to the local community. In 12m...
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