The American Veterinary Dental College has revealed its first 12 board-certified equine dentists, capping a five-year process to create the specialty. More than 100 active veterinarians, many of whom focus on small animals, are on the Haddonfield, N.J., organization’s roster of dental diplomates. The 26-year-old college partnered with the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry in 2009 to take the steps necessary for recognition of an equine specialty. The American Veterinary Medical Association executive board approved the AVDC Equine Dental Specialty in April 2014. The 12 veterinarians who passed the certifying examination, making them AVDC diplomates, were: Robert M. Baratt of Salem Valley Veterinary Clinic in Salem, Conn. James Carmalt of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Nicole du Toit of Tulbagh Equine Dentistry in Tulbagh, South Africa. Edward T. Earley of Laurel Highland Veterinary Clinic in Williamsport, Pa. Jack Easley of Equine Veterinary Practice in Shelbyville, Ky. David Foster of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Stephen Galloway of Animal Care Hospital in Somerville, Tenn. Michael Lowder of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. Robert Pascoe of Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic in Mereworth, England. Jennifer Rawlinson of the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Hubert Simhofer of the University for Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria. Gary J. Wilson of Advanced Animal Dentistry in Gatton, Australia. AVMA’s American Board of Veterinary Specialties recognizes about 20 certification-granting organizations, ranging from the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners to the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. AVDC petitioned the American Board of Veterinary Specialties in 2013 to ask for recognition of qualified equine dental specialists. “Most AVDC diplomates are not interested, equipped or willing to work with equids; therefore, there is only a small pool of veterinary dentists currently willing and capable of providing this advanced service,” the organization stated. “Therefore, equine dentistry has become a very distinct and identifiable specialty as a veterinary dental discipline steeped in literature and research with only a small number of veterinarians qualified to perform specialist-level clinical service. “The proposed AVDC equine specialty seeks to address this deficiency in veterinary dentistry.”
