Finland's pet owners are being warned about a dangerous mobile service offering unlicensed dental procedures from a van. A veterinary clinic in Vaasa issued a stark public warning after treating a dog that suffered severe complications following a 'tartar removal' performed at a roadside service station. The animal required 13 teeth to be extracted after the procedure caused significant inflammation and pain, a situation veterinarians say was entirely preventable with proper care.
A Warning from the West Coast
The case came to light when the dog's owner brought their pet to Eläinklinikka Saari in Vaasa for examination. The owner reported that a 'tartar removal' had been performed on their dog four months earlier at an ABC service station. The individual providing the service had claimed one tooth was bad and needed removal. When the dog arrived at the proper clinic, its condition was alarming. The animal was aggressive, fearful, and attempted to bite, making an oral examination impossible while it was conscious. The owner also described how during the previous procedure, the dog had been forcibly restrained. The service provider wore gloves while holding the animal, a clear sign of unnecessary force being used on a conscious, resisting pet.
Veterinarians at the clinic were only able to assess the true damage after safely sedating the dog. They discovered a severely inflamed mouth, ultimately requiring the extraction of 13 teeth. "This suffering would have been completely avoidable with proper dental care performed by a real veterinarian," the clinic stated in its social media post. The clinic decided to go public with the warning because this was not an isolated incident they had encountered.
The Mobile Service and Regulatory Gaps
The service in question involves a person traveling in a van, offering 'tartar removal' for pets without the appropriate veterinary medical training. The procedures are conducted in the vehicle without any possibility to sedate or anesthetize the animal, a fundamental requirement for safe and thorough dental work. Performing dental scaling or extractions on a conscious animal is considered both inhumane and dangerous, as it causes extreme stress and pain and prevents a proper assessment of oral health below the gum line.
This incident highlights a significant gray area in Finland's regulation of animal care services. While the practice of veterinary medicine is strictly regulated and requires a university degree and licensure, the boundaries for other 'animal care' or 'grooming' services are less clear. This allows unqualified individuals to offer procedures that border on medical treatment, exploiting pet owners seeking affordable care. The Finnish Food Authority (Ruokavirasto) is responsible for overseeing animal welfare and veterinary practice, but enforcement against mobile, pop-up services is challenging.
A Pattern of Concerns and a Public Figure
National media have recently reported on a company named 'Sinun lemmikkisi' (Your Pet), which offers mobile tartar removal services. The individual operating the van-linked service commented on the initial reports, identifying herself as Tarja Malmström from the 'Sinun lemmikkisi' company. Malmström is a familiar figure in the Finnish public sphere, having initially gained attention years ago as the fiancée of late entertainer Pertti "Nipa" Neumann.
It is important to note that the veterinary clinic's public warning did not specifically name the company involved in the case they treated. The clinic's goal was to raise awareness of the practice itself, regardless of the specific business operator. However, the emergence of a named company offering similar mobile dental services has brought the issue into sharper public focus. The core problem, according to veterinary professionals, is not necessarily a single operator but the existence of an unregulated market for procedures that should only be performed in a clinical setting by trained experts.
The Veterinary Perspective: Why This Practice is Harmful
Assaf Wydra, a veterinarian at Eläinklinikka Saari, explained the profound differences between proper veterinary dentistry and the service described. "Professional dental care for pets always requires general anesthesia," Wydra stated. "This is non-negotiable for animal welfare, patient safety, and the quality of the procedure." Anesthesia allows for a complete oral examination, including dental X-rays to assess the health of tooth roots and jawbones, which is impossible to see otherwise. It also enables thorough cleaning below the gumline, where periodontal disease begins, and allows for pain-free extractions if needed.
Performing scaling on a conscious animal only cleans the visible crown of the tooth, leaving the harmful plaque and bacteria under the gums untouched. Worse, it can create a false sense of cleanliness for the owner while the disease progresses unseen. The forced restraint causes immense psychological trauma, often leading to long-term fear of veterinary visits or handling of the mouth. Furthermore, without anesthesia, any extraction attempt is barbaric and risks fracturing the jaw or leaving painful root fragments behind.
Consumer Protection and Owner Responsibility
The situation presents a clear consumer protection issue. Pet owners, often motivated by lower costs and convenience, may not understand the significant risks involved. The mobile service's presentation at a common, trusted location like a service station can lend it an air of legitimacy. The Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (KKV) could potentially investigate misleading marketing if services are advertised in a way that suggests professional veterinary care.
Veterinary associations emphasize that pet owners have a responsibility to seek care from licensed professionals. They advise asking for the practitioner's credentials and ensuring any dental procedure includes pre-anesthetic blood work, safe gas anesthesia, monitoring by a trained nurse, and the availability of dental radiography. The initial lower cost of an unlicensed service is quickly negated by the subsequent expense and suffering caused by treating the complications, as seen in the Vaasa case where the dog needed extensive corrective surgery.
Looking Ahead: Calls for Clarity and Enforcement
This scandal has sparked calls for clearer regulations and more proactive enforcement. The Finnish Veterinary Association (Suomen Eläinlääkäriliitto) has long advocated for stricter definitions of veterinary acts to prevent unqualified individuals from performing procedures that cause harm. They argue that any procedure involving an instrument entering an animal's mouth for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes should be legally defined as an act of veterinary medicine.
Parliamentary attention may be needed to amend the Veterinary Act (Eläinlääkintälaki) to close existing loopholes. In the meantime, municipal environmental and health authorities (ympäristö- ja terveysvalvonta) hold some responsibility for investigating animal welfare complaints related to such services. The national case serves as a cautionary tale that resonates beyond Finland's borders, as the trend of unregulated mobile pet services emerges in other countries. The lasting question is whether regulatory frameworks can evolve quickly enough to protect animal welfare in the face of entrepreneurial ventures that prioritize convenience over professional standards and compassion.