Home-school for dental care

To improve pet dental care, Pam Jamieson, administrative assistant at Catawba Animal Clinic in Rock Hill, S.C. created a brochure. This client education tool describes the importance of routine dental care both at the practice and at home by the owner. "I included photos of the stages of periodontal disease as well as suggestions of how owners can take care of their pets' teeth and what supplies they need," Jamieson says.

The surgery technician gives pet owners the brochure and tells them to review the information when they check in for a dental cleaning. "Then when the owners return to pick up their pets, technicians ask whether they're interested in any of the dental care products we carry, all of which are described and pictured in the brochure, to help maintain the oral health of their pet in between professional cleanings," she says.

Pam Jamieson created a brochure to educate clients about the importance of routine dental care.

During appointments, doctors and technicians also use the brochure to reinforce their message when they talk to clients about dental care early in the pet's life. "It's a great way to educate clients about the importance of dental care and prevalence of dental diseases. It makes it easier for our technicians to explain what pet owners can do at home," says Jamieson. "Since introducing the brochure to our team, I've been getting requests to print more almost every week."