Stewart Street Veterinary Hospital has hosted a Cupcake Day to help raise money for the RSPCA and to educate pet owners about their pets’ dental care.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Cupcakes were for sale at the morning tea while clinic cat Buttons was there, receiving plenty of attention.
Veterinary surgeon Ann-Maree Shearer said dental care in small animals was really important.
It’s something we tend to neglect a little.
- Ann-Maree Shearer
“It’s something we tend to neglect a little bit in our animals,” Ms Shearer said. “[Poor care] can actually lead to renal and heart disease.”
Pets with bad dental problems are a daily case at Stewart Street Vets and, in severe cases, teeth will have to be completely removed.
In some unfortunate cases, Ms Shearer has even seen animal cruelty and neglect.
“I think sometimes neglect is not so much a cruelty, it’s a lack of education by the owners,” she said.
“They’re unaware that there are certain husbandry conditions that have to be kept, to keep an animal healthy.”
Ms Shearer has seen severe neglect, malnutrition, parasites and even abuse.
“We’ve seen animals shot with bows and arrows, gunsand knife wounds.”
Stewart Street Vets is offering free dental check-ups by appointment in August.