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This on-line "pet dental service", like several other similar services, purports to offer pet dental services which have been expressly regulated by state agencies and specifically defined by National Veterinary Dental Organizations which, uniformly, find that the services provided constitute Veterinary Dentistry. Unfortunately, these services providers are UNLICENSED, "self-trained", and guilty of unconscionable manipulation of pet owners' "fear" of using anesthesia on their pets.
Oddly enough, these so-called "practitioners" use the same or similar dental tools on pets that veterinary dentists use, attempt to clean the same or similar areas of pet teeth that veterinary dentists clean - ALL OF WHICH CONSTITUTES THE UNLAWFUL PRACTICE OF VETERINARY DENTISTRY. The down side is these "service providers" can cause serious pet injury, and more importantly are only competent to provide cosmetic surface cleaning, something which any pet owner can do - WITHOUT PAYING THEIR ASTONISHING FEES OF UP TO $300 per treatment.
DON'T BE MISLED OR SCARED INTO USING THESE CHARLATANS!
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
BS to all the naysayers, probably vets or paid shills for them. I took all 5 of my dogs to Houndstooth years ago and couldn't have been happier with the experience. Conversely, two years ago I took my toy poodle to a "professional trained" veterinarian for teeth cleaning. They overdosed him on anesthesia, giving him permanent brain damage and a two year decline into dementia. Now he's dead.
Does anyone know or have heard why Hounsdtoooth no longer comes to the Canton or Garrettsville, Ohio vet offices for dental cleanings? No reason is given by Vets office where Dali used space. I've had my dogs teeth cleaned at the Garrettsville location for years now not available with no explanation.
This is all confusing. I've had three Italian greyhounds and all were treated by Houndstooth at my home with me present and I marveled at how comfortable my pups were with Kathy. I did think that she was treating my dogs perio problems, not just cleaning teeth, and referred me to vet if something required anesthesia. I believed Kathy had been a hygienist so was knowledgeable re all -from equipment to procedure. In looking for someone since she left CA (was her case the reason? I will have to look up code) I see that the reigns on nonanathesia cleaning are tightening and are mostly done at vet's office with vet present. My pup doesn't relax in this setting so now what? Wait until it's bad enough to require anesthesia? One place recommended light sedation but her regular vet said no, it would have adverse effect. I also learned that IG's are so fragile that they can get disjointed if pressure is applied incorrectly. I have a call into her vet. Guess I'll care for her teeth until I find a way to get gums scaled. She doesn't require anathesia at this time.
Wow, I am surprised at the negative feedback. I first had my dogs teeth cleaned by Dali at my Veterinarians office in Great Barrington, MA. Dr. Donna Raditic, who is a graduate of Cornell and teaches at the University of TN was the Vet. I was thrilled to find Dali. She did an excellent job on all 3 of my dogs and did tell me that Minnie (Italian Greyhound) may have some issues later. IG's are prone to bad teeth so I am sure other dogs are also. I am so glad there are people that posted positive feedback. I moved to TN and have been trying to get Dali to come here as I would have no other organization do my dogs. I only trust them. Hats off to the smart people on here and man the negative ones sure have some anger issues. Hope you get some help for that.
My Panda (little Shih Tzu) was going every 6 months to get her teeth cleaned by a licensed veterinarian and I was brushing her teeth and she still kept losing teeth as she seemed to have a genetic disposition to teeth problems. I started to take her to see Dali, and Dali was professional and would tell me that one tooth was loose and I really needed to see a dentist to pull it. I felt Dali was very honest and it amazed me she could clean Lexi's teeth with me sitting there since Lexi was scared of anyone new that she did not get to know. She helped keep my little Lexi alive, along with the Cardiologist for 3.5 more year as Lexi was born with 2 holes in her heart and almost died when she was 5 and was not able to be put under anesthesia. If we humans go every 6 months for a teeth cleaning, we still may get decays, gum disease and lose teeth. I am starting to supplement my own teeth cleaning now with an under the gum medicated kind to save my own teeth. Some vet technician's at vets do a good job and some do not despite anesthesia. I plan to use both services for my new little puppy so that her teeth are cleaned every 6 months. I know Dali found a tumor in Sassy's mouth that my vet missed during an exam a few weeks earlier. I was then told to go to a vet to have it removed and I switched vets. I feel this is a service that many would like and it is a shame more vets do not work to offer more frequent teeth cleanings. I do know the first time I had Lexi's teeth cleaned and my Skeeter's cleaned, I was given antibiotics from a vet that approved this service as they were both not able to be put under anesthesia any longer due to their health problems so this is how I found the Houndstooth on-Anesthetic Dental Clinic from researching who would clean their teeth without anesthesia since it was either this way or no teeth cleaning. By the way, it would take two vet tech's at my vet's office to hold Skeeter and one to muzzle him and then cut his nails so I was surprised my little Maltese let Dali clean his teeth as she really is good with animals.
Hi. I am very alarmed reading these negative things written about Hounds Tooth Dental Cleaning. I just have a few thoughts on the comments of the naysayers... Just because you get your dog's teeth cleaned at a veterinarian under anesthesia does not guarantee that your dog will not get periodontal disease. If a human goes to the dentist to get teeth cleanings every 6 months does that guarantee they will not get cavities or receding gums or needing fillings or crowns? THE ANSWER IS NO. I don't think that getting your dog's teeth cleaned by HoundsTooth will cause your dog's teeth to rot and fall out... My vet quoted $1, 400 for a teeth cleaning. I cannot afford to pay that so what should I do, Not get the teeth cleaned and leave the plaque on his teeth?
I went to the NYC clinic recently and had a very positive experience. My dog's teeth cleaner was very gentle and showed me two places where my dogs teeth are cracked. She gave me the contact information of a vetranerian dental specialist who works for Animal Medical Hospital. I don't think this company would continuously refer customers to a vet specialist if they did awful things. Animal Medical Hospital is a VERY large vet organization. HoundsTooth's employees are good people providing a service that fills a void in the market for dental cleanings without anesthesia in a safe and comfortable environment. Anesthesia is not safe for my dog and different vets have differing opinions on whether or not he is a candidate for an anesthesia vet dental cleaning.
We returned from getting the teeth of our greyhound Molly cleaned in N. Canton, Ohio. Our vet was very impressed with the job that Dali did. He is considering contacting Houndstooth Dental to come every year, to Richmond, KY.
Just curious is Dali still coming to Canton? Because she isn't coming to Garrettsville any more. 9/26/17
I wanted to take this opportunity to let you know that we have been using Houndstooth's dental cleaning services for our Yorkie for a couple of years, religiously every 6 months, in addition to almost daily cleaning at home. Much to our surprise, our Yorkie had 20 teeth extracted last week due to periodontal disease, bone loss, and some loose teeth. Dali, Houndstooth's proprietor & technician, did inform us during our last two visits that our dog needed to see a vet dentist for his loose teeth so we finally did. Please note that never in all of our visits did Dali mistreat our little Yorkie. In fact, she is a marvel with all dogs in getting them to be calm and she was informative with questions that we asked. However, I think Houndstooth needs to instill some cautionary measures when they advertise or speak with their clients. Houndstooth should NEVER give the community of dog owners/clients the impression that their cleaning will keep their pets from periodontal diseases and other dental challenges. Every tech should indicate to their client the importance of seeing their vet dentist and to emphasize how their services do not guarantee the prevention of periodontal diseases. It’s also very important to polish a canine’s teeth after each scraping/cleaning. Since this episode, I have learned that Houndstood has been banned in California. Needless to say, I am so concerned with how ethical and skillful this organization is and only hope that they will continue to improve their services in the future and be more sensitive to the complaints that are being conveyed to them.
My sister took her dog to Houndstooth and loved her experience with them. However, she learned that holistic cleanings with Houndstooth every 6 months destroyed her dog's gums and teeth. Their dog ended up with a lot of abscesses, loss of bones etc the dog lost about 20 teeth! Just a suggestion...please Google the company for any complaints or history. They are out there!
Dali from Houndstooth cleaned our dog's teeth. She is a little snooty woman from California.
According to the California Veterinary Medical Board published update, In June 2012, Katheryn Shafer (DBA Houndstooth Pet Teeth Cleaning) was convicted of Business and
Professions Code section 4825-Licensure Requirement. Ms. Shafer was sentenced to 24 months of
probation, 80 hours of community service, assessed $2, 000 fine, and $120.00 payment to State
Restitution Fund, and is prohibited from performing any unlawful dental services on animals.
Seems as though most of the people commenting on this page knew what they were talking about!
DogloverinLA sounds more like someone associated with or shilling for Houndstooth than a supposed "Dog Lover".
Whoever "DogloverinLA" really is, visitors to this webpage should be aware that even the the most ardent supporter of Houndstooth publicly states on her webpage that the services these allegedly "trained" (but unlicensed) teeth "cleaners" provide CAN LEGALLY ONLY BE OFFERED AT A VETERINARIAN'S OFFICE. Yet DogloverinLA's coments clearly show that she has her pets undergo this "service" IN HER HOME, without the benefit of having a licensed vet nearby in case the inevitable happens.
See the article and comments at http://www.dogs4dogs.com/doggydental2.html
Our family uses Houndstooth for cleaning their dogs teeth and the dogs are far less stressed having their teeth cleaned at home than being dragged into the vet's office put under risky anesthesia and have a vet tech 'clean' their teeth. At least with Houndstooth, you can witness how the animal is being treated. When you drop your dog off at the vet you have no idea how you animal is being treated.
In this economy it is a good deal financially as well. the vets will lure you in to spending hundreds of dollars on this service.
I wonder if the negative comments above are from vets who are threatened by this service as it will take business away from them.
You seem to have a preoccupation with the cost of pet dental services rather than the more appropriate concern over the efficacy of such services. You ask EDMk6 why legitimate vets put pets under anesthesia and administer antibiotics at a cost of $350 or more when "a petowner can do cosmetic surface cleaning himself".
People like Houndstooth do far more than "cosmetic surface cleaning"...they draw blood from their agressive below-the-gum line procedures, use unapproved tools, and though they purportedly claim to defer to and refer to qualified vets when the pet they are torturing is found to have advanced periodontal symptoms, by the time such "referral" is made - if it ever is - (without prophylactically and pre-treatment precautionary administration of antibiotics) infection has already set in and the health of your dear loving pet is already in jeopardy.
Basically, your focus on money and cost is an example of the kind of ignorance which these nonanesthetic "practicioners" (with their bogus certifications) prey upon. Good luck to you and your pets.
Houndstooth is owned by a well respected Veterinarian with 40 years in practice. He also owns a six veterinarian animal hospital in NJ. The service is safe and effective.The techs are CVTs. You never used Houndstooth so you have af alse vision. Feel free to call them. There are no "people like Houndstooth".
If they had hurt your pet like they did mine, you would be singing a different song. They are a traveling team from California, Dali Shafer ( since passed and her sister.)
Houndstooth does dental cleaning, not dental treatments. They will recommend your pet to the vet if there was an issue with decayed or loose teeth, or infected gums. I was quite happy with the service yesterday evening. Brought two dogs in, and she was wonderful with my 27-lb male terrier mutt. It took 20 minutes for her to clean my dog's teeth, he was pretty comfy and stayed still for the most part. My second dog (she's almot two), she checked and said she did not need teeth cleaning, maybe next year (which I wasn't surprised coz her teeth are clean). I paid $80.00. All this time I was in the room with her as she did the cleaning. I've had more horror stories of how technicians handled my pets at vet clinics over the past 16 years. I'm recommending Houndstooth to my pet-owner friends. Just a quick question for EDMk6. If a petowner can do cosmetic surface cleaning himself, then why would two vet clinics deem it necessary to put them under general anesthesia, IV, antibiotics, etc...and quote me $350 (that's discounted from $500) to do that?
We couldn't concur more -- as pet health advocates and advisors, this disturbing pseudo-vocation with it's self-annointed "certified technicians" (which do not even exist in any State) should really be scaring and creating fear among the innocent pet owners who instead are victims of inaccurate and unprofessional misrepresentations as to the dangers of anesthesia as well as efficacy of these illegal "dental treatments".
Pet owners beware! And educate yourselves before paying for these "treatments"