I Thought Dentals Were Optional - until Ruby
written by Kat Lee, Practice Manager
My name is Kat, and I’m the practice manager here at Cheney Veterinary Clinic. I wanted to share a personal—and a little vulnerable—story about the importance of dental health in our pets, through the lens of my own dog, Ruby.
For a little context: I joined CVC about six months ago. I originally started my career in veterinary medicine nearly 20 years ago, then took a long, winding path that eventually brought me back. Life has a funny way of doing that.
About five years ago, I adopted a wonderful little Yorkie named Ruby. Like many small dogs, she had terrible breath and significant tartar buildup. Before I started working at Cheney Veterinary Clinic, I did what many loving pet owners do: I took her in for her annual vet visits, vaccines, and wellness exams. And every year, I was told she “needed a dental.”
But here’s the thing—I wasn’t educated on why.
No one explained that dental disease isn’t just cosmetic. No one told me about the chronic, systemic inflammation that can occur when oral disease is left untreated. I didn’t know that bacteria from bad teeth can impact vital organs like the heart, kidneys, and liver. Without that information, a dental felt optional. Easy to put off. Something to “get to later.”
It wasn’t until I started working at CVC—listening to our doctors, learning from them, and brainstorming how we wanted to educate our community about dental health—that it really clicked for me. Dental care isn’t something we can afford to overlook.
And that, honestly, has been one of the biggest differences I’ve felt between CVC and other clinics I’ve worked at or visited. The doctors here are deeply committed to educating their clients. Not just telling you what your pet needs, but explaining why. Empowering you to make informed decisions for your furry family members.
Unfortunately, putting off dentals for a few years had consequences for Ruby.
I brought her in for what I thought would be a routine dental—truthfully, I was planning to film a behind-the-scenes “day in the life” dental video for social media. But once LVT Kieona began taking dental X-rays, it became clear that the bad breath and tartar weren’t just surface-level issues. The disease had traveled deep into the roots of her teeth.
To protect Ruby from ongoing inflammation and potential systemic effects, we made the decision to remove all of her teeth.
I won’t sugarcoat it—I went through a shame spiral.
Ruby is family. I love her deeply, and I truly believe I take good care of my pets. And on top of that, I work in a veterinary clinic. I’ve worked in vet clinics before. I felt like I should have known better.
But after sitting with those feelings, I reminded myself of something important: I was doing the best I could with the information I had at the time. And that’s where education matters.
The word “doctor” comes from the Latin root docere, meaning “to teach.” At its core, medicine is meant to be educational. Yet today, veterinarians often get a bad reputation—clients sometimes assume recommendations are driven by profit rather than care.
That’s not what I experience here at CVC.
The doctors here are committed to teaching, not just recommending. We want you to understand what’s happening in your pet’s body and why we’re suggesting certain treatments. Because informed decisions are empowered decisions.
You’re going to start seeing a shift in what we share on our website and social media pages. My goal is to ripple that educational intention outward into our community. As I continue learning (and re-learning) veterinary medicine, I’ll be sharing those insights with you—honestly, openly, and without judgment.
If Ruby’s story can help even one pet avoid pain, illness or a full mouth extraction down the road, then it’s worth telling.
Cheney Veterinary Clinic offers an annual Dental Month promotion during January and February, featuring 15% off routine dental cleanings. This discount applies to the full dental package, including anesthesia, IV fluids, the dental procedure, and full-mouth radiographs.
Speak with our team to determine whether your pet is an appropriate candidate for dental cleaning this season. Spots tend to fill quickly during these months, so early scheduling is recommended.
☎️ Call or text (509) 235-6860 to book your pet’s dental appointment!
