QUEENSLAND'S pet owners are spending up big on orthodontic braces, cosmetic dental work, root canal fillings, polishes and mouth washes to give their pooches dazzling, no-gap smiles and "kissable breath".

Veterinary surgeon Kevin Cruickshank said: "There is a big shift in how pet owners look after their pets. They want them to fit in with the family, and many are treated like children."

Image-conscious owners wanted their pets to look good - and there is nothing fun about "doggy kisses" by an animal with severe gum disease, said Dr Cruickshank, who runs the Gold Coast Vet Surgery, which has a specialist dental suite.

"I have come across pet-owners who have braces put on their dogs because the teeth are crooked, or get teeth fixed for cosmetic reasons to avoid gaps.

"Those cases are referred to specialists, but the majority of people who bring their animals to the dental suite simply want their pets to live a long life and be pain free.

"Pet-owners understand dental work is not a luxury. It can add years to a pet's life."

Pet patients are called to the dental suite every six months for a check-up.

With close to 80 per cent of family pets over the age of three suffering a dental problem, August has been tagged Australian Veterinary Association's Pet Dental Health Month. Some vets are offering free dental check-ups throughout this month.

Dr Gary Wilson, a top veterinary surgeon and specialist in dental work, said: "Yes, we do put braces on pets and we do root canal fillings, but it is not all about the pets looking good. The reality is that it can cost just as much to extract a tooth from a dog as it does to fix it. It's really the general anaesthetic and the procedure that add to the cost.

"If I had the chance to save my animal's tooth I'd choose to keep it. It's not as expensive as human work."

An RSPCA spokesman said: "Old dogs and cats should have their teeth inspected regularly.

"They can suffer from a variety of dental problems."

WHAT IT COSTS:

Braces $1500*

Root canal filling $1000*

Polish - up to $490

Toothpaste $15.50

Finger brush $5.20

Mouthwash spray $26.90

Check-up $64

Source: Gold Coast Vet Surgery

* Varies case to case

sinnertonj@qnp.newsltd.com.au

Twitter @JSinnerton