Two people with local roots have created a veterinary practice with a concentration on dental health care.
Dr. Jacqueline (Rondeau) Myers and her husband Clayton Myers, graduates of Camas High School in 2002 and 2004, respectively, opened Forever Pet Dental in 2013 in a small clinic attached to their house. They relocated to a storefront at the Cascade Village shopping center in Vancouver, in June 2014.
A dental cleaning package for a dog or cat includes a physical exam, oral exam and dental charting, as well as an IV catheter and fluids, scaling and polishing of teeth, use of fluoride, anesthetic monitoring and antibiotic injection, if needed. There is also sedation, gas anesthesia, dental X-rays, day hospitalization and nail trim.
Dental disease affects approximately 80 percent of dogs and cats over the age of 3.
The American Animal Hospital Association recommends annual dental cleanings beginning around the age of 1 to 2.
“The need for tooth extraction can be significantly reduced with routine, effective dental care,” Jacqueline Myers said.
As a child, she thought she wanted to be a veterinarian.
While at CHS, she set her sights on “human medical school.”
“During my undergrad experience at the University of Washington, I realized that the path I was on was not making me excited,” Jacqueline Myers said. “So I got a job as a veterinary assistant at a small animal veterinary hospital in Seattle and knew immediately this was what I wanted to do.”
At UW, she majored in biological anthropology.
Jacqueline Myers then earned a doctorate in veterinary medicine, at Washington State University in Pullman.
“Much of my dental training was post-graduation on the job and through continuing education programs,” she said.
The Myers opened Forever Pet Dental with the goal of making dental care more affordable so it could be done on a regular basis to try to prevent dental disease.
As a general practitioner veterinarian, Jacqueline Myers is able to perform dental cleanings and extractions, as well as oral mass removals. She does not perform root canal therapy.
Clayton helps with the management of the practice. That includes monthly bookkeeping, planning, maintenance and human resources/hiring. Forever Pet Dental has 15 employees, including five veterinarians.
“Every day I have clients compliment my staff and tell me how well they were treated and what a great team we have, and I agree,” Jacqueline Myers said. “The staff members at Forever Pet Dental are not only compassionate. They are passionate about what we do and the services we provide.”
There are oral hygiene kits available for purchase, as well as toothpaste for dogs or cats, Greenies dental treats and Advantage topical flea treatment.
Forever Pet Dental, LLC, is located at 615 S.E. Chkalov Drive, Ste. 14. For more information, call 859-3790, email info@foreverpetdental.com or visit www.foreverpetdental.com.
