In the past, veterinarians used to perform dental procedures on animals in their general treatment area or surgical suite. However, with the growing importance of dental hygiene for dogs and cats, more veterinarians are now considering specialization and creating dedicated areas for these treatments.
Connect CRE recently spoke with Dan Eisenstadt, CEO of Terravet Real Estate Solutions, about this emerging trend and its impact on veterinary-specific real estate.
Dan Eisenstadt: Can you tell us more about the increasing interest in veterinarian dental care?
Over the last decade or so, there has been a greater awareness of how important proper dental care is for dogs and cats. In fact, it wasn’t until 1995 that the American Veterinary Dental College was fully accredited. Since then we have seen an increase in boarded veterinary specialists focusing on dentistry. As a result of this growth in specialized professionals as well as increased awareness among general practitioners about regular oral health exams being crucial to overall pet wellness; many progressive practices have established designated areas equipped with X-ray machines specifically designed for oral surgery after pets are under anesthesia.
Connect CRE: So does this mean there’s been an uptick in specialty pet dentistry within traditional vet practices?
Absolutely! With more boarded specialists available than ever before; many general practice vets now understand just how vital regular checkups can be when it comes to identifying issues like cancer earlier rather than later – which can make all difference when treating them successfully down-the-line . What’s even better is that not only do these services help keep our furry friends healthy but they also add revenue streams into clinics’ bottom lines while simultaneously boosting client visits frequency!
Connect CRE: How does all this affect real estate options specific to vets?
Historically speaking most standalone animal dentist facilities were converted houses , strip malls or small freestanding buildings occupying less than 3k square feet each . But over time we’ve noticed a shift towards purpose-built structures exceeding 5k square feet. This is partly due to the growing demand for dedicated dental areas within practices. As a result, many facility owners have had to renovate and redesign their treatment spaces and surgery suites in order accommodate these new requirements . In fact, we’ve seen a number of clinics opt for larger scale renovations specifically because they want designated dental spaces.
Connect CRE: What’s the outlook like when it comes to veterinary specialty real estate?
We’re confident that there will be continued growth in this area – particularly with regards to general practices employing five or more vets who operate out of modern purpose-built facilities exceeding 7k square feet each . These types of buildings tend feature multiple exam rooms allowing several doctors work simultaneously while also having enough space set aside just for dentistry procedures alone! At Terravet REIT our focus lies on developing , renovating & owning precisely these kinds structures which explains why our average building size currently stands at over 10k sq ft per property !
