Commentary
Sponsored by the AVMA, February is National Pet Dental Month. Our industry has presented and marketed dental care myriad ways over the past three decades. Foundationally, the dental market sought the “endorsement” of veterinary dental products <Link>. When the World Small Animal Veterinary Association Global Guidelines recommended pet dental care in 2017, our industry began moving its focus toward client education and selling products to support dental health, including expanding offerings in the OTC categories.
Our team at AHD supports educating pet owners about oral care at home, Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment in the clinic, and dentistry as a component when home care fails, injuries occur and pets age. We’ve noticed recent trends that indicate veterinary teams are prioritizing COHAT as part of everyday exams year-round.
What will your message be this month, what are you marketing, and how does it complement all of your other prevention messages?”
There is also a growing focus and opportunity for oral care in the grooming industry <Link>. For clinics and groomers, this means supplies need to be replenished, as Heidi Lobprise, DVM, DAVDC, shares in the VPN article* below.
Sources:
- National Pet Dental Month, AVMA. Link.
- Search results for: COHAT, AHD Archives. Link.
- Search results for: dental, AHD Archives. Link.
- *Replenishing key consumables to deliver dental care, Veterinary Practice News, February 4, 2025. Link. Heidi Lobprise, DVM, DAVDC shares many tools and products that can help you provide optimal dental care for your patients in this article.
Personally, I urge practices and our industry to promote oral care assertively in the primary health care messages and dentistry as a supporting second message. Oral care always starts at home. Its failures come to the practice as bad breath and nasty teeth.”
Image credit: https://pin.it/7smP2PYWc
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