Dentistry for dogs

While GPZ was inspecting the latest occupants of the pet shop window I was struck by the notice on the side. In this affluent, animal-friendly district of Philadelphia it's possible to buy a range of products to maintain your pet's dental hygiene to the best possible standard.
And yet, last year it was revealed that 25% of American children have untreated tooth decay which is now the most common chronic illness among the school-aged, while 25% of those receiving Medicare are missing all of their natural teeth. Low-income families and racial and ethnic minorities without insurance are disproportionately affected because they can't afford dental treatment. Even those children nominally covered by Medicaid are turned away by dentists because the profit margin is so low; instead they end up needing radical treatment in hospital emergency rooms after experiencing months of pain.

Just one of the strange paradoxes to be found in the world's richest nation.