Third Ave Veterinary Surgery
pet dental care

Index

Dental Care

Periodontal disease is defined as disease of the structures surrounding and supporting the tooth ie. the gum, the bone of the jaw, and the ligament holding the tooth in the bone.

There are two types of periodontal disease: gingivitis and periodontitis.

 

Gingivitis – This is inflammation of the gums. This is the earliest stage of periodontal disease and is reversible with treatment.

Clinical features:

  • redness
  • swelling of the gum
  • discharge of pus
  • gums bleed easily

 

Periodontitis – This is inflammation of the gums and surrounding tissue with irreversible loss of bone and connecting ligament.

Clinical features

  • all of the signs of gingivitis, as well as:
  • bad breath
  • Possibly visible pain on eating
  • looseness of teeth
  • retraction of gums

Untreated periodontal disease causes any or all of the following:

  • pain
  • tooth loss
  • bacteria in the blood stream
  • abscess formation
  • halitosis (bad breath)
  • difficulty in chewing
  • bone loss with subsequent fracture of the jaw

Untreated periodontal disease is a major cause of a serious reduction of the quality of life, particularly of older pets, and frequently causes premature death through secondary effects such as kidney failure and heart disease.

 

Causes

Periodontitis is caused by bacteria living in the mouth. They form plaque, which eventually hardens to become tartar (calculus) and invade the gums and surrounding tissue. Every time an animal with periodontal disease chews on food, some of these bacteria are injected into the bloodstream: from there they end in the heart and kidneys.

 

Treatment

Our main aim should be prevention through good oral hygiene, such as regular chewing or brushing. However where the disease already exists it is necessary to:

• scale the teeth to remove tartar and plaque

• perform root planing to remove tartar below the gums

• polish the teeth (a smooth surface reduces new plaque formation)

• apply fluoride

• depending on the severity, it may also be necessary to extract teeth that are impossible to save.

 

Dental procedures

The first step in promoting oral health is to have the plaque and hardened tartar (calculus) removed from your pet’s teeth. This involves scaling and polishing all tooth surfaces with special instruments and dental equipment.

Unfortunately with pets, by the time the teeth are treated it is often too late for some teeth and they need to be extracted due to severe damage or root infection. However, if the right steps in preventative care are followed, in many cases this can be prolonged or avoided.

The second step includes using diet and oral hygiene to control further plaque build-up.

 

Home Care Maintenance

No matter how well cleaned the mouth is, it must be maintained with proper home care.

  • Dental diets such as Royal Canin Dental diet or Hills T/D diet offer a fully balanced prescription diet designed to help keep your pet’s teeth clean.
    This can be given alone or in combination with your pet’s normal diet.
  • Hexarinse, a gel developed to help prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar.
  • Brushing your pet’s teeth on a regular basis is only possible with a rare pet.
  • Diet: diet is a major factor in the development of plaque and tartar.
  • Canned foods often result in food debris remaining on teeth long after the meal is finished.
  • Dry dental diet food, dentisticks and rawhides help prevent tartar buildup.
  • We like bones but do not recommend bones if your pet does not chew and gnaw on the bones but swallows large pieces.
  • A new dental chew called Oravet is having great results.
Our passion is to provide the best care for pets in our local community.
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Caitlin

Vet Technician
Caitlin completed her Veterinary Technology degree and Cert IV in Veterinary Nursing from the University of Queensland in 2019 and has since worked in both small animal general practice and shelter clinics. She has a keen interest in feline behaviour and medicine, and surgical nursing. She loves providing TLC to her patients, and strives to make their experience a positive one.

Caitlin has 3 cats to keep her company at home, so there’s never a dull moment. Outside of work, she enjoys dancing, reading, travelling and spending quality time with family and friends.

Kerri

Veterinary Nurse
Kerri’s love of animals started back in 1998 when she scored an after school job at the local pet shop but her nursing career began in 2007 working in a small animal practice in Cairns. It is here, teaching Puppy Preschool that her love of behaviour and dog training began. After a few years she started making her way back to Brisbane working in other small animal clinics along the way.

After returning to Brisbane and beginning her family, she continued to work part time both as a nurse and also continuing her journey in canine behaviour and training. For Kerri her love of her patients shines through in her care for them. Whether it is a pat, a brush, scratch behind the ears or head bumps or just sitting in the sun with them. It is the bond and trust of her patients that helps to make her a favourite with her patients. A hazard of the job is when they steal your heart as is the case of Kerri’s old pup (they are all pups or kitties to Kerri) Scruff who came into her workplace in Maryborough as a stray and decided Kerri was his human. And after a month of trying to contact his former owners Kerri officially belonged to Scruff. Scruff now has another 4 legged companion a mischievous caboodle called Sunny.

When not at work or study you can find Kerri spending time with her daughters playing in the park, walking along the Margate foreshore, enjoying a movie or getting messy crafting, cooking or in the garden.

Kate

Veterinary Nurse
Kate has loved animals since she was very young. After studying multiple years of Veterinary Technology and Veterinary Science, Kate has landed on Veterinary Nursing as her chosen career. She has a keen interest in exotics and cat behaviour. Kate has also previously done wildlife care, stabilising wallaby joeys to pass on to their next carer.

Outside of work, she enjoys hanging out with her two cats, budgies, friends and family. She also enjoys sewing, doing jigsaw puzzles and a cheeky beverage every now and again.

Dr. Sarah Silveria

BVSc
Originally from the US, Sarah moved to New Zealand in the summer of 2009 and completed her veterinary training at Massey University in 2013.

After a few years of doing 100% dairy work in rural New Zealand, Sarah moved to Perth with her young family and made the move to companion animals. Sarah and her family have recently moved to Brisbane and are looking forward to becoming part of the Brighton / Sandgate community. She has an interest in dermatology and soft tissue surgery.

When not at work, you can find Sarah chasing her two kids around the coast, enjoying hikes in the hills and just relaxing in the sun.

Krystal Macey

Receptionist / Trainee Veterinary Nurse
Growing up Krystal wanted what most children want, to become a vet. From a very young age she would bring home all the strays she came across (dogs, cats, birds, lizards) and want to help them all!

In 2007 she did work experience in a Veterinary clinic and fell in love with the Vet Nurse roll and this became her dream career.

Krystal loves all animals, big, small, furry, feathery, and scaly, however in 2013 she fell into the Rescue world of cats and dogs, and that became a huge passion of hers. Once her two beautiful children reached school age, Krystal wanted to pursue her dream of becoming a Vet Nurse. She completed her Cert III in 2022 and is looking forward to starting her Cert IV soon.

Krystal shares her home with 2 dogs, 1 cat and has a revolving door for many foster animals.

Outside of work Krystal enjoys rescue life, bush & beach walks with her family and dogs, camping/BBQs with friends, or just relaxing with her kitty at home reading a book.

Olivia Byrom

Veterinary Nurse
Olivia is a veterinary science student half way through her degree at UQ and has thoroughly enjoyed the clinical experience she has gained whilst nursing. With the mentorship of the TAVS team, Olivia has developed a keen interest in cytology and soft tissue surgery and enjoys assisting with a wide range of procedures, and getting to know all of our lovely patients and clients.

Olivia has a very naughty rascal of a terrier cross called Luca to keep her busy in between work and study. Outside of work Olivia loves to explore new bush walks and hikes.

Maddy Evans

Veterinary Technician
Maddy joined our wonderful staff at Third Avenue Vet Surgery in 2019. Maddy came to us with Veterinary Technician qualifications plus a host of office administration experience.

She has had a love of all animals since a young age and enjoys being involved in soft tissue surgeries.

Maddy has been known to enjoy a lazy glass of red wine now and then, purely for medicinal purposes of course!

Dr Heday Nakayama

BVSc
Originally native Japanese living Down Under, Dr Heday is now a true blue Aussie and graduated from the University of Queensland in 2011.

After spending 7 years in different veterinary positions (from animal shelter to rural mixed practice) as well as 3 years of doing locums around Brisbane working in over 10 different practices, Dr Heday has now settled here at Third Avenue Vet Surgery in 2022. He loves all aspects of veterinary medicine and has a keen interest in surgery.

Dr Heday will bring joy and smiles to our clients and their furry friends at every visit.

In his spare time, he will be juggling taking care of a little human boy and two senior cats, together with his lovely wife.

Dr. Garreth van Bart

BSc BVSc
Originally native to Johannesburg, South Africa, Dr Garreth has had a passion for veterinary science since he can remember. This has been a driving force to get him to where he is today.

After qualifying from the University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science in Onderstepoort in 2002, he spent some time at the local RSPCA and did a few locums at other clinics in the area, before starting work at Rant en Dal Animal Hospital. Here Dr Garreth became a partner and stayed there until 2019, when he moved to Australia with his wife and two sons. Dr Garreth and his family love it here and love being a part of the community.

With a keen interest in surgery and canine reproduction, as well as small exotics such as reptiles, birds, guinea pigs, rats and mice, Dr Garreth believes he will fit right in.

When not at work he loves spending time with his family or fishing from his kayak out on the bay.

Dr Garreth is looking forward to meeting all your furry family members.

Send your message or call to make a booking

(07) 3869 3347