Veterinary recommendations spur dental compliance, survey says

ST. LOUIS — Only 30 percent of pet owners schedule professional dental cleanings for their pets, yet four out of five owners in this group do so with a veterinary recommendation.

A recent survey conducted by Nestle Purina suggests that pet owners are unlikely to take certain steps for dental care unless specifically recommended by a veterinarian.

Dr. Grace Long, director of technical marketing for Purina Veterinary Diets, explains that the survey demonstrated a direct relationship between dental recommendations and client compliance.

"Most pet owners believe dental care is important, but their actions fall short of what we veterinarians would like to see," Long says. "And while veterinary staff members may believe they're making dental care a priority, pet owners may not be hearing that direction. There's clearly room to do even more with active recommendations."

Specific findings included:

• Seventy-six percent of pet owners feed special treats, and 48 percent feed special diets to promote dental health; roughly half of each group do so without veterinary direction.

• Just 25 percent of pet owners brush their pets' teeth — but if they do, it's because four times out of five, their veterinarians provided guidance to do so.

• While 76 percent of pet owners believe dental care is important to pet health, they may not understand that a complete dental-care program requires regular cleanings and home care in addition to dental diets and treats.

• Conversely, the study also showed that if veterinarians place a low priority on dental care, this attitude is reflected in owner behavior. Almost one-third of the owners profiled report their veterinarians have never discussed dental care with them, and accordingly, these owners tended to place a low importance on dental care.

The online survey targeted nearly 1,600 dog and cat owners, and was conducted in conjunction with the launch the company's new dental brand.

Aside from offering treats to their pets, the majority of pet owners currently practice no other form of dental care. Of non-brushers, 34 percent of dog owners and 48 percent of cat owners avoid the practice because they believe it will upset their pet. Cost and the lack of veterinary recommendation, on the other hand, are the primary reasons why almost 70 percent of pet owners surveyed don't have their pet's teeth professionally cleaned.

For fastest response, visit www.purina.com

• PetFirst Healthcare

Pet Insurance

PetFirst Healthcare revamped their existing pet insurance programs and is introducing new, easier-to-understand options.

The new programs, called Basic, Preferred and Preferred Plus, allow pet owners to submit claims without the restriction of a per-diagnosis limit for accident and illness care or the need to refer to a schedule of benefits.

PetFirst Healthcare plans reimburse policyholders for 90-percent of their veterinary expenses after application of the $50 deductible. Pet owners also can add an optional routine care rider to their PetFirst plan that covers the cost of routine veterinary visits.

For multiple-pet households, PetFirst created a new family plan. The family plan allows owners to insure multiple pets under one policy for a fraction of the cost.

PetFirst Healthcare offers pet insurance in 31 states and will finalize authorization in the remaining states in the coming months, the company adds.

For fastest response, visit www.petfirst.com

• Henry Schein

Veterinary Dental System

Henry Schein introduces the Ultima 250 Arm Mount Unit, a complete veterinary dental system that comes mounted on a 12-inch arm for a wall mount or pole mount to maximize workspace.

The Ultima 250 features a three-handpiece automatic-control head with a three-way air/water syringe that can be customized with Henry Schein's extensive handpiece line.

In addition to the built-in piezo scaler option, any ultrasonic scaler using the water-out quick disconnect can be attached to the unit's pressurized water system.

A dual clean-water system can switch between two one-liter bottles containing distilled water and chlorhexadine, which can be flushed from the system. Air lines are color coded, and the unit has a removable top for quick access to internal components.

The practice owner has the choice between nitrogen and a remote compressor for the pressurized air supply.

The unit has the same features and capabilities as the Ultima 500 with the advantage of saving space in tight treatment areas.

For fastest response, call

(800) 872-4346

www.henryschein.com

• Pets Best

Insurance Upgrade

Pets Best introduces an upgrade to insurance choices, making pet insurance more affordable during the active years of pets' lives.

Pets First and Pets Basic plans lock-in rates for the first eight years of an insured dog's life and 12 years of an insured cat's life.

The company is offering lower premiums with new multi-year lock-in rates.

The claim costs are lowered through better preventive care, the company says. The new plan will help pet owners increase their pets' insurance coverage without increasing their cost, the company adds.

For fastest response, visit www.petsbest.com