$1000 to have dogs teeth cleaned

[eliza61]

I have wondered about dental cleaning for dogs too. Do people do this every year? We have had two dogs, no real dental problems, and every time we would go to the vet they would suggest a $400 cleaning.

One dog passed away recently at age 21. The other is 8 and in good health. We have changed vets often because we've moved about every 2 years and every single vet has suggested an expensive cleaning. I know people who can't afford to take their kids to the dentist, so I wondered how many people get their dog a yearly $400 cleaning.

No way am I doing this every year. In fact my dog is 6 years old and this will be his first cleaning. I will start cleaning his teeth.

Truthfully I'm going to go with many people don't do this. My dad was a nyc cop, we had german sheppards my entire life and I don't ever remember my dad taking them to get their teeth cleaned nor was he shelling out 50 bucks for high end dog food.

 

[bedogged]

I used to take my dogs to a vet that I really didnt like.Nothing she did outright, it was just that feeling. I felt maybe it was just me. Alot of my friends took their pooches there and my mom too. They all loved her.

Our one collie always had bad teeth. Thats the reason we ended up with her. She was a show dog who wasnt able to be shown because of her teeth.

Every year we went to the vet, I asked her , what do you think of her teeth? She always answered , yes they are bad but not enough to put her under and have them cleaned.

A new vet opened near my house so i switched. She says Bella's teeth are bad and need cleaned and maybe some extracted. The estimate close to $1100. Holy crap!!!!!

Plus Bella is 9 1/2. My cousins Lab, same age died last year after going under anesthesia to get some simple cysts removed.
The vet says you have to weigh the pros and cons.

Her gums are red in some places and she does have alot of tartar. She eats hard food just fine, chews on rawhides and toys just fine.

I just cant shake the phone call I received from my cousin last year that her dog was dead and I'd be lying if I said the $1100 wasnt a factor too. Plus my 9 yo screaming mom please dont let them kill Bella.

Oh my!

I know it sounds really expensive, but sometimes you get what you pay for. Does the price quoted include pre-dental blood work? Also, the kind of anesthesia used can affect the cost. You sometimes have to pay extra for monitoring during the surgery. All that adds up. If your vet thinks your dog needs to have a dental with teeth removed, I would do it rather than just brush. Infection of the teeth can lead to an infection of the heart. You can add years of life to a pet by having his teeth cleaned. Also....I have lost a beloved pet under dental surgery and I still recommend that you have it done.

 

[1stTimeDisneyer]

I am also in the Pittsburgh region and dental cleanings are not cheap. Our Bella was 8 1/2 when she had her cleaning a few months ago. She had extra gums removed, blood work before hand, x rays, and meds. And that cost almost $650. However, she is much happier now and she can chew and eat without pain and bleeding from her extra gums. We have been to many vets in this area and found one we really love and trust. Bella has horrible allergies too and our vet has been great with her. Please let me know if you want our vets information for a second opinion.

 

[mm1971]

I used to take my dogs to a vet that I really didnt like.Nothing she did outright, it was just that feeling. I felt maybe it was just me. Alot of my friends took their pooches there and my mom too. They all loved her.

Our one collie always had bad teeth. Thats the reason we ended up with her. She was a show dog who wasnt able to be shown because of her teeth.

Every year we went to the vet, I asked her , what do you think of her teeth? She always answered , yes they are bad but not enough to put her under and have them cleaned.

A new vet opened near my house so i switched. She says Bella's teeth are bad and need cleaned and maybe some extracted. The estimate close to $1100. Holy crap!!!!!

Plus Bella is 9 1/2. My cousins Lab, same age died last year after going under anesthesia to get some simple cysts removed.
The vet says you have to weigh the pros and cons.

Her gums are red in some places and she does have alot of tartar. She eats hard food just fine, chews on rawhides and toys just fine.

I just cant shake the phone call I received from my cousin last year that her dog was dead and I'd be lying if I said the $1100 wasnt a factor too. Plus my 9 yo screaming mom please dont let them kill Bella.

Oh my!

I wonder what people did 20 years ago when dogs were pets and not family members that needed to goto the dentist? Sorry if I sound uncaring or spiteful. $1100 to clean a dogs teeth? Someone somewhere is making a lot of money.

I would ask for alternate options. Brush your dogs teeth and provide chew products to help. Otherwise, save the $1100. I'm sure your dog would appreciate a fe new toys and treats for $100 as opposed to being sedated and having it's teeth cleaned.

Sorry for your cousin's loss. If the teeth don't bother you and he/she is eating without problems, I suggest saying "no thank you" to the vet.

 

[LJSquishy]

February is pet dental month nationwide and most vets offer a 10%-20% discount on all dentals/extractions/etc. By the sound of the condition of your dog's teeth, I'm not sure you can wait that long, but if your vet does offer a discount it would save you a chunk of money.

Abolutely get a quote from another vet office. My vet will give general quotes over the phone so you can try calling and asking what the price is for pre-op bloodwork (absolutely necessary), x-ray if needed, anesthesia, the actual cleaning/scaling, and the price per extraction with sutures.

You may find that both quotes are similar in price, or you may find that your current vet is charging way too much. It won't hurt to get a second (or third) quote.

The two biggest expenses of a dental are the extractions and the anesthesia. The larger the dog, the more anesthesia is needed, and if there are more than a couple of extractions, they need to be under for a much longer time than just a simple cleaning. I can't be of much help with the price you were quoted because my two dogs are 7lb Maltese. lol But, $1,000 does seem high to me even with multiple extractions.

I can tell you what I've paid before. For a regular cleaning with the teeth in overall good shape, it was $75 including anesthesia...not including bloodwork. Several years ago we had a Maltese who needed 2 extractions and his teeth were in sort of bad shape (he was only 1 year old!...genes play a big part of it) and his dental with extractions, bloodwork, and a pain relief injection was about $150-$175 if I remember correctly.

I do not take my dogs in for dentals yearly...I don't believe anesthesia used that often is safe. One of mine is 5 and has only had one dental when she turned 2 and doesn't need another one anytime soon. The other dog is 4 and really needed a second dental in February but I procrastinated so now I need to schedule it soon. His teeth don't stay as clean as my older Malt.

 

[LJSquishy]

I also wanted to recommend a product for you to use on your dog's teeth once they are cleaned...You could start using it now even, but since your dog needs extractions I would probably wait until after his dental.

It's called Petzlife Oral Spray. They also make a gel that is like toothpaste if you decide to brush his teeth, but otherwise use the spray. It truly works, I swear. For existing tartar you use it twice per day and it will help it flake off. On clean teeth you use it as a maintenance treatment and use it once per day (if there is a little tartar), or once every few days on super clean teeth. My younger dog who gets a lot of tartar buildup now has a fairly clean mouth thanks to the Petzlife spray. I started with twice per day and now use it a couple of times per week. I noticed a major difference after about 2 weeks. Seriously. You can get it on Amazon.

 

[Toy Story Fan]

At my dogs last visit, the vet suggested that I get her teeth cleaned. She has no real issues, (dental) but since she's getting older, (9) that it would be a good idea. Then he told me the price $1350! This did not include any extractions, just normal cleaning. I thought he was off his rocker!! She already has to go for blood tests every 6 months due to heart and kidney issues at a cost of $300 and then her check ups and medication. I told him that I wasn't willing to spend that kind of money, if nothing is wrong.

 

[maxiesmom]

I wonder what people did 20 years ago when dogs were pets and not family members that needed to goto the dentist? Sorry if I sound uncaring or spiteful. $1100 to clean a dogs teeth? Someone somewhere is making a lot of money.

I would ask for alternate options. Brush your dogs teeth and provide chew products to help. Otherwise, save the $1100. I'm sure your dog would appreciate a fe new toys and treats for $100 as opposed to being sedated and having it's teeth cleaned.

Sorry for your cousin's loss. If the teeth don't bother you and he/she is eating without problems, I suggest saying "no thank you" to the vet.

If the dog has an abscess or infection, just brushing their teeth won't help. And the vet bill could be even larger if they get really sick as the infection moves through their dog's blood stream and organs. Whether I would pay for the cleaning would depend on how bad the teeth are.

 

[Mad4Mickey]

I work for a Vet and do dental checks everyday . If you are getting blood work, xrays, the cleaning and a couple of extractions in that price it is within reason .

My own dog is going to be 7 and is not in need of a dental . My Weenie dog who lived to be 14 had to have a dental every year . Poor thing had more teeth pulled then he had left in his little mouth .

I would be just like you if I had a older Collie that needed to go under .

 

[NeverlandClub23]

We have three dogs and our Min Pin has terrible teeth. I know what you mean about just having that feeling about not liking a vet. I finally found a vet we liked after taking them to a few in our area. Our Min Pin has to be knocked out to have his teeth cleaned. Last year was the first year he got his teeth cleaned. They did two extractions (she left one that she had said may need to be extracted because the root looked pretty good and may reattach once it's cleaned [or something like that]), cleaned his teeth, AND removed a fatty growth from his shoulder for $500.

We'll have to get his teeth cleaned every year. All of our dogs get their teeth brushed regularly, but the Min Pin is the only one with such bad teeth. I do have to say his teeth are beautiful and his breath is so great after it's done!