Resources

Young Horse Owner’s Guide

Young Horse Owner’s Guide

Having a young horse is exciting and dental visits are essential for their comfort  and to prevent small problems from progressing into more serious issues.

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Periodontal Disease

Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease refers to disease of the tissues surrounding the teeth (periodontium). It is generally characterised by inflammation and infection of the gingiva (gums) and periodontal ligament as a result of feed packing in between the teeth.

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Peripheral Caries

Peripheral Caries

Peripheral caries refers to caries (decay) of the outsides of the teeth. It is caused by acidic pH in the mouth leading to a chemical reaction that results in demineralisation, or ‘decay’ of the teeth.

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Sand Burden

Sand Burden

The most common clinical signs of a sand burden include weight loss, a poor coat condition and intermittent diarrhoea, which always seems to resolve on its own. As the sand travels through the digestive tract, it can irritate the gut lining which can result in colic or repeat episodes of colic if the sand burden itself is not treated.

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Parasite Control and Faecal Egg Counts

Parasite Control and Faecal Egg Counts

A lot has changed in our understanding and recommendations in terms of parasite control over the last decade or so and it can be hard to keep up with what is best practice. Here is some information to help navigate the latest information and recommendations.

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EOTRH

EOTRH

"Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis” is a disease affecting the teeth of older horses, most commonly the incisors and canines of horses over 15 years of age.

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Endodontic Disease

Endodontic Disease

This is when disease affects the vital part of the tooth, the pulp cavities where the blood vessels and nerves are. Disease in this area often causes the tooth to die and can lead to a secondary painful tooth root abscess. “

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Infundibular Caries

Infundibular Caries

Infundibular caries are areas of decay in the middle of the upper cheek teeth within a structure called the infundibulum of the tooth. Each upper cheek tooth contains two of these infundibula, which are normally filled with infundibular cementum.

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Recent Blogs

The impact of diet on equine dental health

The impact of diet on equine dental health

Learn how hay, pasture and feed choices influence your horse's dental health and long-term comfort.
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The importance of floating horses teeth

The importance of floating horses teeth

A beginner's guide to tooth floating. Learn why it matters and how it supports comfort and performance.
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Supporting the equine community

Supporting the equine community

Read how our team supports working horses worldwide through volunteer dentistry and welfare programs.
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Equine Dentistry

Equine Dentistry

Routine dental maintenance, including comprehensive examination of all dental and oral tissues as well as a full dental chart with recommendations.

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Lifetime Dental Care

Lifetime Dental Care

Our vets will work with you and your horse on a comprehensive and tailored preventative dental care plan.

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Advanced Dental Procedures

Advanced Dental Procedures

Performing everything from endodontics, restorations, extractions and treating advanced periodontal disease.

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Equine Wellness Services

Equine Wellness Services

These include wellness consultations, vaccinations, microchipping, faecal egg counts (FEC), drenching, blood testing for metabolic disease, radiographs, euthanasia services and lameness work ups.

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In-Clinic Services

In-Clinic Services

Take advantage of the state-of-the-art facilities our clinic has to offer. We are equipped with stables and yards with post, rail and mesh fencing and reticulated paddocks for your convenience. Clients can leave their horses for dental treatments, or stay and watch.

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Mobile Services

Mobile Services

While we pride ourselves on our industry-leading clinic, we also bring premium care directly to your property when needed. Our mobile units are fully equipped to bring the same quality of care wherever you are.

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FAQs

Where in Perth is Dental Vet located?

Dental Vet is based at 440 Nicholson Road, Forrestdale WA, just south of Perth. Our purpose-built equine dental clinic provides a calm, safe space for routine and advanced dental procedures. As fully qualified veterinarians, we can also provide our patients with a range of wellness services for your convenience.

The clinic is just off Armadale Road. It’s also worth noting that there are two driveways onto the property. The first driveway when heading south down Nicholson Road, which usually has a Dental Vet sign out the front, is the driveway to access the clinic. Look for the big grey gates and push the button to open them.

Does Dental Vet offer a mobile service?

While we love welcoming clients to our state-of-the-art clinic, we also understand that sometimes on-farm consultations and treatments are preferred for your convenience.

Our fully equipped mobile service is available throughout Perth’s south-east corridor and nearby regions, including Perth, Armadale, Byford, Oakford, and Serpentine. However we can travel as far south as Harvey, east to Toodyay or north to Lower Chittering, typically anywhere around 100km of the Forrestdale clinic.

If you’re unsure whether we can visit your area, get in touch and we’ll be happy to confirm.

What does Dental Vet do?

We’re Western Australia’s only dedicated equine dental veterinary clinic, offering both comprehensive routine and advanced equine dentistry. Our services include dental examinations, floating, extractions, fillings, root canal therapy, periodontal therapy, and oral X-rays.

As part of your appointment, we offer a variety of wellness services for your convenience. Our veterinarians can perform vaccinations, microchipping, faecal egg counts (FEC), drenching, blood tests for metabolic disease, radiographs and lameness work-ups.

We also pride ourselves on providing compassionate care and thorough examinations, so we provide sedation for our patients for their comfort and to allow us to properly diagnose and treat any dental pathology present.

Who performs the dental work?

All procedures are carried out by registered veterinarians Dr Kirsten Jackson and Dr Victoria Kö-Peternelj, veterinarians with postgraduate qualifications in equine dentistry. Each has extensive training and provides clinical and educational support for referring veterinarians.

As veterinary surgeons, they can administer sedation safely, diagnose complex dental issues, carry out patient wellness assessments and perform advanced medical or surgical treatments.

Our Veterinary Nurse Kelly Dunford and Veterinary Assistant Meg Burns support every procedure, ensuring each appointment runs smoothly and that your horse remains calm and comfortable throughout.

What equine animals does Dental Vet treat?

Dental Vet provides care for all equine species including horses, ponies, donkeys and mules. Our team is experienced in managing the unique dental needs of each, ensuring every patient, from the smallest miniature to the largest draft horse, receives safe, effective and compassionate treatment.

Why is equine dental care important?

Dental problems can cause pain, weight loss and behavioural problems. Many horses hide discomfort until it becomes severe. Unfortunately by the time they present symptoms, the issue has usually escalated to severe infections and disease which can impact the lifespan of their smile and overall health. For ridden horses, placing a bit in a painful mouth can make them resist, act out, or even become dangerous. Studies show almost 60% of Western Australian horses have some form of peripheral caries, often linked to local diet and water pH 1. This highlights why regular, professional veterinary dental examinations are essential for horse health in our region.

Whether you've got a new foal, referring a patient for review, or are worried about your horse's wellbeing, we're here to help!