Cats are masters at hiding pain.

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In the wild, showing weakness could make them vulnerable, so many cats continue eating, grooming and behaving almost normally even when suffering from significant dental disease.

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That's why feline dentistry isn't simply about removing tartar.

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It's about identifying painful disease that often lies hidden beneath the gumline, providing a safe anaesthetic, managing pain effectively and helping your cat return to a comfortable, healthy life.

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At Fortitude Valley Vet, we've designed our dental protocols specifically with cats in mind. Every recommendation we make is guided by one simple philosophy:

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Treat every cat as if they were our own.

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From advanced dental imaging and personalised pain management to modern anaesthetic monitoring and transparent pricing, our goal is to provide comprehensive feline dental care without compromising on quality.

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Whether your cat needs their first professional dental clean or treatment for advanced dental disease such as tooth resorption, our experienced team is here to help.

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Why Our Feline Dental Care Is Different

 

Many veterinary clinics advertise dental cleaning.

However, what's included can vary significantly.

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Some clinics may charge separately for dental X-rays, intravenous fluids or advanced anaesthetic monitoring, while others may not routinely include them.

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At Fortitude Valley Vet, we've designed our dental packages to include many of the components we believe are essential for high-quality feline dentistry, making it easier for owners to understand exactly what's included before their cat's procedure.

Because we believe transparency is just as important as excellent veterinary care.

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Every Anaesthetic Is Carefully Planned

 

Your cat's safety begins long before the dental procedure starts.

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Every feline dental patient receives:

• A comprehensive pre-anaesthetic health examination

• Individualised anaesthetic planning

• Anti-nausea medication

• Intravenous catheter placement

• Intravenous fluid therapy

• Continuous monitoring by an experienced veterinary nurse

• Advanced multiparameter monitoring

• Warmed oxygen therapy

• Active warming using a specialised warming blanket

 

These measures work together to help keep your cat comfortable, maintain normal body temperature and support a safe anaesthetic from beginning to end.

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Why this matters

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These measures help maintain stable blood pressure, support circulation, reduce anaesthetic risk and promote a smoother recovery.

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Our priority is ensuring your cat remains as safe and comfortable as possible from admission through to discharge.

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We Look Beyond What You Can See

 

One of the biggest differences in our dental service is that we routinely include full-mouth dental X-rays.

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Many feline dental diseases develop beneath the gumline where they cannot be detected during a routine examination.

Dental X-rays allow us to identify problems such as:

• Tooth resorption

• Tooth root infections

• Hidden fractures

• Bone loss

• Advanced periodontal disease

• Retained tooth roots

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Why this matters

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Without dental X-rays, many painful conditions can remain undiagnosed.

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A tooth may appear perfectly normal above the gumline while significant disease is developing underneath.

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That's why we believe dental X-rays are an essential part of modern feline dentistry.

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Cats Hide Dental Pain Better Than Almost Any Other Animal

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One of the biggest misconceptions about cats is:

"She's still eating, so her teeth must be fine."

 

Unfortunately, that's often not the case.

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Cats frequently continue eating despite severe dental disease because their survival instincts encourage them to hide pain.

Instead of refusing food altogether, you may notice subtle signs such as:

• eating more slowly

• chewing on one side

• dropping biscuits

• grooming less

• sleeping more

• becoming quieter

• hiding more often

• bad breath

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Many owners tell us their cat seems brighter, more playful and more affectionate after dental treatment because the source of their chronic pain has finally been addressed.

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Personalised Pain Relief for Every Cat

 

Dental disease is painful.

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That's why effective pain management begins before treatment even starts.

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We use personalised multimodal pain relief, including ant-nausea medication and Vitamin B supplement, tailored to your cat's individual needs during and after their procedure.

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Why this matters

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Effective pain management helps:

• improve comfort

• reduce nausea

• encourage eating sooner

• support a smoother recovery

• reduce stress following anaesthesia

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Our goal is for your cat to recover as comfortably as possible.

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We Make Every Anaesthetic Count

 

While your cat is comfortably asleep, we also perform a complimentary nail trim.

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Why this matters

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Many cats dislike having their nails clipped while awake.

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Performing this during the anaesthetic saves many owners an additional appointment and avoids unnecessary stress for their cat.

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Keeping Your Cat Warm During Anaesthesia

 

Many cat owners don't realise that body temperature naturally drops during a general anaesthetic.

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Cats are particularly susceptible because they have a relatively small body size, a large surface area compared to their weight, and are completely still while under anaesthesia.

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Even a small drop in body temperature can slow the body's normal functions.

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To help reduce this risk, every cat undergoing a dental procedure at Fortitude Valley Vet receives active warming throughout their anaesthetic, including:

• Warmed oxygen

• A specialised warming blanket

• Careful temperature monitoring throughout the procedure

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Why this matters

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Maintaining a normal body temperature can help:

• reduce anaesthetic risk

• support normal heart and lung function

• improve blood circulation

• assist the liver and kidneys in processing anaesthetic drugs

• promote a smoother recovery

• help your cat wake up more comfortably

 

Because cats lose body heat so easily during anaesthesia, active warming has become an important part of our anaesthetic protocol rather than an optional extra.

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Transparent Pricing With No Hidden Surprises

 

We believe owners deserve to understand exactly what they're paying for.

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Our dental packages are designed to include many of the essential components of high-quality veterinary dentistry.

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If we discover your cat requires additional treatment—such as tooth extractions—we'll explain our findings and discuss our recommendations with you before proceeding whenever practical.

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Why this matters

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You can make informed decisions with confidence, knowing there are no unexpected surprises.

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Package inclusions vary between veterinary clinics, so we encourage owners to compare written estimates carefully when considering their options.

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Compare What's Included—Not Just the Price

 

When comparing dental estimates, consider asking:

• Are full-mouth dental X-rays included?

• Are IV fluids included?

• Is advanced anaesthetic monitoring included?

• Is active warming provided?

• Is anti-nausea medication provided?

• Is personalised pain relief included?

• Will I be contacted before extractions are performed?

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The lowest advertised dental price doesn't always represent the best value.

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Understanding what's included allows you to make the best decision for your cat's long-term health.

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Why Brisbane Cat Owners Choose Fortitude Valley Vet

 

Every recommendation we make has one goal:

To provide safer anaesthesia, better dentistry and a more comfortable recovery for your cat.

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We're proud that many families travel from Fortitude Valley, New Farm, Newstead, Teneriffe, Bowen Hills, Spring Hill, Paddington, Red Hill and Kelvin Grove because they value our thorough, transparent approach to veterinary dental care.

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Our Dental Value Promise

 

We believe every cat deserves high-quality dental care.

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If you've received a written estimate from another veterinary clinic, we're happy to help you compare what's included. If another clinic offers the same comprehensive level of care—including full-mouth dental X-rays, IV fluids, advanced anaesthetic monitoring, active warming and personalised pain management—for a lower price, we'll do our best to match their written estimate where possible.

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Our goal isn't to be the cheapest. Our goal is to provide outstanding value without compromising your cat's safety or comfort.

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