[PRESS RELEASE] Four in five dogs develop tooth disease by age three, and most owners miss the signs

Tropical Vets is offering free dental checks with its nursing team throughout September, after industry data shows most pet owners can't reliably tell when their animal's teeth or gums need attention.

Vets across the nine-clinic network say the same pattern comes up again and again: owners write off bad breath as normal, assume dental disease is an older pet's problem, or don't realise how good pets are at hiding oral pain. None of that makes it any less serious.

"By the time we see a pet with a genuinely sore mouth, that pain has often been building for months," said Dr Callan Solari, veterinarian at Tropical Vets. "Cats especially will keep eating and behaving normally right up until a tooth is causing real infection. A free check with one of our nurses is a low-pressure way to catch it early."

Around four in five dogs show some form of tooth disease by the age of three, and dental disease is one of the most under-reported conditions in general practice, with bacteria from inflamed gums capable of affecting the heart, liver and kidneys if left untreated.

Tropical Vets is offering free dental checks with its nursing team across its Innisfail, Tully, Ingham, Ayr, Atherton, North Shore Townsville, Babinda, Cardwell and Mission Beach clinics throughout September. Bookings are recommended well in advance.

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About Tropical Vets: Tropical Vets have cared for companion and large animals across North Queensland since the early 1970s. The practice today employs around 132 staff, including 42 veterinarians, across six major and three minor clinics spanning Atherton to Ayr, and is partnered with Gener8 Reproduction to service the region's cattle producers. Tropical Vets is one of only three clinics in Queensland accredited by the Australian Veterinary Association as an Employer of Choice.