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Pets whose teeth need a bit more care than their regular veterinarian can provide now have another option in North Jersey, Veterinary Dentistry Specialists.

Offering advanced oral care for dogs and cats, VDS opened a new location in Madison. It marks the company’s fourth nationwide. In New Jersey, it’s the second, following an original site in Mount Laurel. 

According to the specialists, VDS is the only veterinary dentistry practice in the nation staffed by a board-certified veterinary dentistry specialist and anesthesiologist at all times during business hours. 

Dr. Ellen Scherer is co-owner and medical director of the Madison practice, located at 240 Main St. 

Scherer noted that while routine home care is one of the best ways to take care of pets’ oral health, “there may come a time when your veterinarian recommends more advanced treatment. That’s where we come in.” 

Before joining Veterinary Dentistry Specialists Madison, Scherer practiced for more than five years at a multispecialty hospital in northern New Jersey, according to VDS.

Scherer earned her veterinary degree from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed a rotating internship at Fifth Avenue Veterinary Specialists in New York City. After, she participated in a three-year dentistry residency at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine. The latter earned her the status of a diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College.

Filling a need

In an email, VDS founder Dr. Carlos Rice told NJBIZ the company chose Madison for its next location “because we wanted a presence in northern NJ where [there] was a need for advanced veterinary dentistry.” 

Rice added that it was a convenient location for Scherer. He said the “beautiful” Main Street building “works perfectly for us.”

The additional VDS locations are in Chadds Ford, Pa., and Katy, Texas.

Veterinary Dentistry Specialists’ services include endodontics, extractions, jaw fracture repair, malocclusions, oral cancer surgery, orthodontics, palate surgery, periodontics, prosthodontics and restoratives, salivary gland surgery and more. 

VDS Madison is open 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday by appointment. Referral from a primary care veterinarian is “always appreciated,” but not required.

Veterinary Dentistry Specialists Madison is located at 240 Main St.

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