Why Choose Sydney Pet Dentistry?

Sydney Pet Dentistry is the only dedicated veterinary dental hospital in NSW – all we do is pet dentistry.

For over 15 years we have offered a referral service for veterinarians in NSW in the rapidly progressing field of veterinary dentistry. Here are just some of the things about Sydney Pet Dentistry that make us special.

Call Now Enquiry

Our core belief is that every pet deserves to have a healthy, pain-free mouth.
Our hospital in Artarmon, Sydney is completely dedicated to veterinary dentistry.
We are totally committed to improving the dental health and the welfare of our companion pets.
We offer a wide range of dental education programs for vets, vet nurses, breed clubs, and pet lovers.
Our years of training, focus, and expertise give your pet the best treatment.

Our Services and Customers

Helping Pets

Sydney Pet Dentistry has talented staff and an amazing hospital that has, as its only focus, helping pets with dental and oral disease. It’s all we do, and we have many years of experience at it.

With our laser-sharp focus on the mouth, we can offer diagnostics and, importantly, the broadest range of treatment options in Sydney. It’s important that you know all the treatment options for your pet.

This may mean a simpler treatment option rather than going for gold standard treatment.

Helping Vets

Local vets are crucial because they are the ones seeing our pets regularly. If your pet hasn’t seen your vet within the last twelve months, it’s time for a checkup. Your vet will examine your pet and (very commonly) diagnose dental disease.

Most vets can and should treat most dental diseases- standard extractions, preventative treatments, diagnoses (usually with dental x-rays) etc. However sometimes a patient may need referral care, which is where we come in.

Whilst we take second opinions directly from pet owners, patients receive the best outcomes when local vets and Sydney Pet Dentistry work together. It’s always best to see your local vet first and decide if referral is appropriate.

How We Make A Difference

Building a veterinary dental hospital allows us to expand our services and treat more pets with less waiting time.

Reduce bad breath
Reduce pain
Care and Communication
Working Closely With Other Vets
Expertise In The Only Pet Dental Hospital In Australia
Overflow and Emergency Care

The Sydney Pet Dentistry Story

Pet Dental Health In 2005

Christine Hawke created Sydney Pet Dentistry in 2005 after completing her veterinary dental qualifications through the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists (Membership). Back then, veterinary dentistry was in its infancy – a surprisingly overlooked part of pet health. Bad breath and other oral health issues had always been accepted rather than investigated – leading to terms like ‘dogs breath’. The assumption was that if a pet was still eating, then it’s mouth must be ok.

Yet dental disease was silently causing our pets pain and disease. The emphasis is on silently. Animals can’t express pain like humans, and they still needed to eat, even if it was painful. Often pets would gulp their food down very fast. This wasn’t always out of enthusiasm, but rather to eat quickly and minimise the pain of chewing. It’s also a pack instinct not to show pain; and so they would suffer in silence. Dental disease was also affecting distant organs like the heart, liver and kidneys in ways we were only beginning to understand.

A Growing Community

Christine joined a small but growing community that raised awareness of dental disease amongst veterinarians and pet owners in Sydney, and across the world. Sydney Pet Dentistry started training courses for vets and vet students, and set up a referral service to treat the pets of Sydney and NSW.

After working at various specialty hospitals in Homebush, Rosebery and Artarmon for eighteen years, Sydney Pet Dentistry is opening its own hospital in Artarmon in 2023. This state-of-the-art veterinary dental hospital will be the first of its kind in Australia, with unique diagnostic tools and treatments to allow even better treatment of our pets.

Sydney Pet Dentistry Today

Our philosophy is that your pet doesn’t need a perfect mouth – just one that is healthy and not painful. Importantly, some dental treatments, such as cosmetic dentistry, are unnecessary and arguably unethical in animals. We will be honest with you about this when we present your pets treatment options.

Now, as when we started, we want to raise awareness of dental disease and help the pets of Sydney and NSW receive the treatment they deserve.

The Sydney Pet Dentistry Team

It’s our staff that makes Sydney Pet Dentistry special – they are, without exception, dedicated and caring professionals. Sydney Pet Dentistry is a family-owned small business… and proud of it.

Our staff make your visit friendly and reassuring. When we advise you, it is always with your pet’s best interests in mind. Above all, we treat your pet just like we would treat our own.

Read a little about our staff’s background, skills and interests and put a face to a name. These are the people you will be trusting to take care of your pet.

Dr. Christine Hawke
Veterinarian

Christine has been a vet since 1993, graduating with First Class Honours and the University Medal from the University of Sydney. After several years in small animal general practice (in both Australia and the UK) she went back to study and was awarded her PhD in immunogenetics in 2004.

Following a break to start her family she returned to the University of Sydney as a lecturer and small animal clinician. It was during this time that she was bitten by the dental bug! Christine achieved her Membership of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (MANZVCS) in Veterinary Dentistry in 2006 the following year.

She founded Sydney Pet Dentistry in 2007 and has been devoted to providing excellent dental care to the pets of Sydney and its surrounds ever since.

When she gets a spare moment or two, Christine loves hanging out with her family, which includes two awesome children (Ella and Henry), her three much loved Devon Rex cats (Johnny, George and Helix) and her crazy Cavoodle (Jack). Ironically, she is allergic to cats, but can’t imagine life without them!
Dr Leah Skelsey
Veterinarian

Leah has been a vet since 2009, graduating from the University of Sydney with first-class honours. Since graduation, Leah developed a passion for oral health and began pursuing additional studies in dentistry (both animal and human!).

In 2018, Leah obtained Membership to the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists by examination in Small Animal Dentistry and Oral Surgery. Following this, Leah completed her studies in human dentistry, graduating from Charles Sturt University in 2020.

When she’s not working, Leah co-founded and works for Pets In The Park, a charity providing care for the pets of people experiencing homelessness across Australia – a wonderful cause!
Lourdes
Head Nurse

Lourdes is triple-qualified to help our patients. Firstly, she is a veterinarian from El Salvador and since coming to Australia in 2009 she has worked and studied as a veterinary nurse, gaining her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing and also an Emergency and Critical Care Diploma that provides us with a very skilled level level of nursing care.

She loves being a dental nurse and bringing quality care to our patients. She keeps us all moving, happy and organised through our busy days.

Out of work Lourdes speaks fluent Spanish and English, likes to travel when possible and spends time with her cat Wayno.
Eds
Administrator

Eds helps with administration and coordinating the necessary information we need to make your pet’s referral experience as easy and smooth as possible. She has a Bachelor of Science in Commerce, with a major in Business Management. She has a son, Martin, and a young pup, Poochy.
Heidi
Receptionist

Heidi started working with animals from a young age by volunteering at a local vet clinic. After a few years being a kennel hand Heidi went into veterinary nursing. Whilst nursing in a general practice clinic Heidi took an interest in animal dentistry.

When not working Heidi is normally chasing around her four fluffy terrors, Rick, Morty, Locky and Millie who love to keep her busy. Heidi has always had a passion for animals and feels lucky to work with them!