Vet Dentistry Hurstville
Your dog or cat needs the dentist here, not you. Ask around Hurstville for a dentist and you will mostly be pointed at practices for people, so to be plain: this is vet dentistry for animals, the cleaning and tooth work your pet needs, at Rockdale Veterinary Hospital on Forest Rd in Bexley, open 7 days a short drive from Hurstville in Sydney’s St George area. We clean teeth properly under anaesthetic, take dental X-rays and remove teeth that hurt.
Dental Care for Dogs and Cats, Done Here in One Place
Most pets need their teeth cleaned properly at some point, and much dental disease hides below the gumline where a glance can never reach it. So a dental visit starts with a proper look in the mouth and an honest assessment. From there, the work your dog or cat may need is done in our own building: a scale and polish that cleans below the gumline, dental X-rays to see the roots and the bone, tooth extractions when a tooth is broken or diseased, and minor oral surgery.
That covers the great majority of pet dental problems we see. The exceptions are the complex ones: advanced oral surgery, orthodontics and root canal work go to a registered veterinary dental specialist, and when your pet needs that level of care we refer you on rather than attempt it ourselves. You get a straight answer either way about what is best done here and what is best done by a specialist.
Why a Proper Dental Clean Is Done Under Anaesthetic
People ask whether the anaesthetic is really necessary, and the honest answer is yes. A thorough clean means scaling below the gumline, checking every tooth, taking X-rays and polishing the surfaces, and no awake dog or cat will hold still for that. An anaesthetic-free scrape only tidies the part of the tooth you can see and leaves the disease underneath untouched, so we do not offer it.
We do the anaesthetic carefully, because we know that is the part owners worry about. Before anything begins your pet has a pre-anaesthetic check and bloodwork so we can plan the safest approach for their age and health. During the procedure they are on intravenous fluids, monitored throughout, and given pain relief so they are comfortable as they wake and afterwards. The gentle, Fear Free approach we are known for carries right through the dental visit, from a calm arrival to a settled recovery.
Routine Dental Clean
- Price includes dental charting and a full mouth scale and polish under general anaesthetic
- Day procedure available Monday-Friday
- Any extractions required would incur additional charge that would be discussed with you prior to the procedure
Who Performs Your Pet’s Dental Work at Rockdale Veterinary Hospital
The dentistry here is led by Dr Robert Kay, our owner and head vet. He is a Royal Veterinary College graduate with more than 20 years of experience, Fear Free qualified, and he works alongside a team trained the same way. Rockdale Veterinary Hospital has been family-owned since 2022, and it is the same team you would see for general vet care or if you’re trying to find an animal hospital near Hurstville.
Our pricing is set to keep good care reachable. Consultations run a full 30 minutes, with separate dog and cat rooms, so there is time to talk through your pet’s mouth without feeling rushed.
What a Dental Clean Costs for Your Pet
What a dental clean costs depends on what we find once we have looked: a young dog needing a light scale is a different job from an older cat with several teeth to remove. So rather than quote a figure that turns out to be wrong, we give you a clear estimate after the dental assessment, and nothing goes ahead until you have approved it.
If your pet is insured, the gap-only billing makes a bigger dental procedure far easier to manage, because you pay the difference rather than fronting the lot and waiting on a refund. Either way you will know the cost before we start, not after.
Signs Your Dog or Cat Has a Dental Problem
Dental disease is easy to miss because pets rarely show pain the way we do. The signs worth watching for are bad breath that does not shift, yellow or brown tartar on the teeth, gums that look red or bleed, a pet dropping food or chewing on one side, and pawing at the mouth. Any of these is a reason to book a dental check.
It is worth treating. A sore, infected mouth makes eating uncomfortable and the bacteria can affect the rest of the body, so a clean and any needed extractions usually leave a pet brighter, eating better and free of a pain they had quietly learned to live with. This is general guidance rather than a diagnosis, and the surest way to know is to have us take a proper look.
Booking a Dental Check From Hurstville
We are open 7 days: Monday to Friday 8:00am to 7:00pm, Saturday 9:00am to 5:00pm, and Sunday 10:00am to 3:00pm, closed on public holidays. You can call us on 02 9123 6888, email team@rockdalevets.com.au, or book a dental check online. We are at 335 Forest Rd, Bexley, a short drive from Hurstville with parking at the door, and the same clinic neighbours reach for vet dentistry in Allawah and vet dentistry in Carlton across the areas we care for. For genuine emergencies outside our hours, care is referred to Veterinary Specialists of Sydney.
Questions Hurstville Pet Owners Ask About Pet Dentistry
