Thorough dental and oral examinations are critical to keeping our patients healthy. The video to the left shows a technique that can be helpful when examining the oral cavity. Dachshunds, bloodhounds, and other long-muzzled dogs are especially prone to palatal pockets and abscesses. A cursory dental exam would not reveal this type of palatal pocketing. Intra-oral dental radiographs are required to fully assess the extent of disease and direct the best treatment.