Our Team

Advanced and Compassionate Care from a Team Who Love What They do.

Our experienced veterinary team bring a shared expertise and passion for preventative equine dentistry. Every member of the Dental Vet team plays a vital role in providing the highest standard of dental and veterinary care, ensuring every horse receives gold-standard treatment tailored to their individual needs.

Dr Kirsten Jackson

Dr Kirsten Jackson

Veterinary Surgeon BSc BVMS (Hons) | PhD | MANZCVS (Equine Dentistry)

Dr Kirsten Jackson is the Owner and Director of Dental Vet. Kirsten is passionate about her craft, treating every patient with the time, care, and consideration she would give to her own family. She is dedicated to improving the comfort and well-being of horses and other equine patients through advanced, preventative and compassionate dental care.

Since graduating in 2007 with honours from Murdoch University in Western Australia, Kirsten has dedicated her veterinary career to the welfare of horses and other equine species. Throughout this time, she has focused almost exclusively on equine dentistry, dedicated to uncovering and relieving the hidden pain that horses often endure silently. Her approach is hands-on, with a commitment to education, prevention and research that has made her a leader in this field.

Dr Victoria (Tory) Kö-Peternelj

Dr Victoria (Tory) Kö-Peternelj

Veterinary Surgeon BSc DVM | DVM | MANZCVS (Equine Dentistry)

Born and raised in Perth, Dr Victoria (Tory) Kö-Peternelj is an experienced equine veterinarian at Dental Vet, where she leads patient care in all aspects of equine dentistry. Known for her clinical precision, her work centres on detailed oral assessments, client education, and treatments ranging from periodontal therapy and extractions to advanced diagnostics such as dental radiography and oral endoscopy.

After graduating with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Murdoch University, Western Australia, Tory worked in several general equine practices around Perth. During this time, she developed a strong interest in dentistry, inspired by the impact that quality oral care can have on equine comfort and well-being. This led her to join the Dental Vet Team in 2021, bringing her strong background in general equine practice to the team. After several years of continued study and providing advanced dental treatment, Tory achieved Membership of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (MANZCVS) in Equine Dentistry in 2024.

Kelly Dunford

Kelly Dunford

Veterinary Nurse Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing

Kelly Dunford is a highly attentive and skilled veterinary nurse at Dental Vet, supporting the team, clients and horses through every stage of dental care. She brings an innate affinity for animals and a strong sense of purpose in improving their welfare.

Kelly’s journey into veterinary nursing began unexpectedly when she adopted rescued chickens from the egg industry. This experience opened her eyes to the health challenges faced by production animals and sparked her passion for animal welfare. She went on to complete a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. Before joining Dental Vet, Kelly worked in husbandry roles at Perth Zoo and volunteered at several animal sanctuaries, gaining practical experience caring for horses, donkeys, and zebras.

Meg Burns

Meg Burns

Veterinary Assistant

Meg Burns is a veterinary assistant and the glue that holds the Dental Vet team together. She supports the clinical team by keeping them organised and ready to deliver seamless, high-quality veterinary and dental care for every equine patient. With nearly a decade of experience working in the equine industry, and a lifelong love of horses, Meg brings her practical know-how and reassuring pats and cuddles to every appointment. Balancing that experience with a calm, perceptive approach, Meg finds satisfaction in ensuring every procedure runs smoothly and every patient feels at ease.

Before joining the team, Meg spent nearly ten years working as a saddle fitter, during which she developed an in-depth understanding of equine anatomy and the crucial connection between physical comfort, performance, and overall well-being. Her curiosity about how oral health affects that balance led her to pursue a career in equine dentistry, ultimately landing her a role at Dental Vet.

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.

Read More Read More
Lifetime Dental Care

Lifetime Dental Care

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

Read More Read More
Advanced Dental Procedures

Advanced Dental Procedures

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

Read More Read More
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.

Read More Read More
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.

Read More Read More
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.

Read More Read More

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!