Chew on this: Mainely Veterinary Dentistry opens in Windham
Courtesy / Mainely Veterinary Dentistry
Dr. Jennifer Keaten, right, recently opened Mainely Veterinary Dentistry at 158 Roosevelt Trail in Windham. She is shown here working on a patient named Brutus as staff member Maureen Readdy prepares the operating table.
A trip to the dentist can be daunting for even the bravest patients, but especially so for dogs and cats.
That's the word from Dr. Jennifer Keaten, a veterinarian who opened a new business in Windham earlier this month called Mainely Veterinary Dentistry.
Dental health "has the potential to make such a big impact on cats' and dogs' overall health and life because if you've ever had oral pain as a person, it's pretty debilitating," she said in a phone interview ahead of today's grand opening.
"It's such a great feeling when the owners come back and say their pet is acting like a puppy and kitty again," she said. "That not only improves the animals' lives but also the human-animal bond."
The practice, located at 158 Roosevelt Trail, opened for business Dec. 6 and is celebrating with an official ribbon-cutting today.
Keaten, who grew up in Fryeburg, has more than 15 years of experience in veterinary medicine. She previously worked for Norway Veterinary Hospital before opening her own practice.
She actually started Mainely Veterinary Dentistry last year as a traveling practice, going to other vets' offices to help with cases before finding a bricks-and-mortar space of her own in a former water pump systems store that also briefly served as a day care center.
"We pretty much gutted the inside," she said.
The company employs four technicians, three of whom are full time.
Keaten says she got a lot of interest from job applicants because of the niche nature of the practice, and says she plans to add more staff later.
"My first hire will be a receptionist, and then a client care representative as we get busier," she said.
The practice charges $125 for an initial consultation and offers several dentistry services for cats and dogs. Keaten said dentistry isn't taught in veterinary schools, so she also plans to provide education and training for colleagues across New England.
Interestingly, Keaten notes that cavities in dogs and cats are rare since they are caused by sugar, but underscores the importance of preventative care just like in humans.
"Daily brushing is the No. 1 best thing," she says, "but we also have other alternatives like chews, water additives and general diet recommendations."
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments