[A1Malinois]

When he was at the vet a few months back she mentioned that he needs his teeth cleaned. I dont know if I agree with that. She quoated me at $600 without issues and if he needed teeth out it could hit $1000-$1500. It costs me $100 to get my teeth cleaned at my dentist without insurance...I scraped a lot of tarter off his teeth 2 years ago and since then there hasnt been anymore. I scrape off what does form. I brush and have started petzlife spray.

All that I notice is the middle teeth the gums bleed a bit when he plays with his rope toy with me. They dont appear to bother him. His other side of his mouth looks the same as this one. They are just stained yellow...no chips, fractures etc that I can see. Just narsty breath I attribute to being kibble fed.

 

[A1Malinois]

Here is the other side of his mouth. You cant really see the yellowing because my camera flash. But his back teeth are yellow. No calculas buildup or anything. Gums arent swollen.

My vet will bring his teeth up again in December when I go for his recheck. I just dont feel his need to be cleaned as of yet. The little teeth between the incisor and back canine are all yellow. Stupid camera...Santa? lol

 

[Rainheart]

Personally, I think his teeth look GREAT! I wouldn't do a dental unless a dog needed a tooth pulled or they had a ton of tarter on the teeth which was causing issues to the gums. That's usually how my vet goes by it, too. We mostly do dentals on small dogs just because they have such small mouths (and usually terrible bites) that they need cleaned a lot more often.

 

[A1Malinois]

You dont think because his teeth are yellow they are of concern? He is 4 years old.

Ruby my Shi poo is 10 and her teeth are still white O__o. vet doesnt believe shes 10 but I have had her since 6 weeks so I think I know how old she is lol

 

[lgnutah]

The dog would need to be anesthetized for his teeth to be cleaned, so that is partly why it costs more for his teeth to be cleaned than yours.

 

[A1Malinois]

I know they need to be put out. But it only would cost $100 to put mine out. So thats $150 for the teeth cleaning and $100 for the medication we are at $250. I am fine with that. Im just not seeing a minimum of $600 as right.

I dont think he needs them done yet I was just asking for others opinions

 

[GoldenCamper]

They look just fine and nowhere even close to warrant a professional dental cleaning at the vet IMO.

 

[maus]

I'd get a second opinion. My lab had to have a gum scaling and wound up having 10 teeth removed. Total cost on that was $690.00 up to $1,500 sounds really expensive.

 

[A1Malinois]

Nah I dont need a second opinion. I called a few vets in the area and they were all the same rough price. Not sure why my vet said they need to be done, im not even sure the yellow you come off as it looks like staining

 

[IowaGold]

But it only would cost $100 to put mine out. So thats $150 for the teeth cleaning and $100 for the medication we are at $250.

Where do you get those numbers? Just the induction medications at my clinic would be anywhere from $50-$100 depending on which meds were appropriate and the size of the dog. Add on 1-2 hours worth of gas anesthesia (at ~$200 per hour). Plus we wouldn't just "clean" the teeth. There would be digital dental x-rays of the whole mouth. Pain meds and antibiotics before surgery (and after, depending on what all was involved). Plus age-appropriate pre-anesthetic testing.

I would ask your vet for a detailed estimate so you can see what things actually cost rather than what they *should* cost, especially if everyone in your area charges the same.

 

[BayBeams]

I have noticed that your posts often seem to indicate that you don't have a lot of trust in your vet. If I felt so doubtful about my vet's recommendations I would change vets and find one that I felt comfortable questioning in the areas where I had concern or needed clarification.
The vet I have now is great in the way he handles my dogs, answers my questions and offers the most appropriate treatments (with itemized cost estimates). We don't always agree, especially in the area of vaccines, but he is willing to discuss options.
There is a lot more to the cleaning of our dog's teeth and the administration of anesthesia than what seems obvious. I would suggest you have a conversation with a vet that you trust so that you can make sure your dog is receiving the best care.

 

[Running Star]

My Girl is 8 1/2 and I just got her teeth cleaned 2 weeks agoand the vet bill was NO way near that much.
Sounds like your vet is over charging you.
If you want the price break down just let me know and i will send it to you.
From the picture your Dogs teeth look good.

 

[mylissyk]

Is this the vet you are planning not to use anymore? I'd ask the new vet, but in my totally unproffessional opinion, I don't think they look like he needs a cleaning.

 

[A1Malinois]

I got prices from 5 vets I called. Blood work and x rays are optional. This price just includes the actual cleaning, meds to put them out and their time. No x rays, blood work or medication. Those are all optional. They provide a pain injection but if I want pain meds to take home those are extra.

In Canada, vets are more expensive. If I could cross the border I would just take him to the vet in New York that would charge me $300. If any teeth need to come out it would cost me more which is why I extended it to $1500. I dont think any will have to come out of his yap tho.

Its not that I dont trust vets here, its just I dont like the prices when I hear of people getting the same things done so much cheaper. I buy Revolution here for $160 after taxes for 6 tubes, my friend in the states pays $80...

I really like my new vet, I trust her more then ive trusted others. A lot of vets here have the "I took 7 years of schooling and I am right and here you are questioning me" attitude. My Rottie had a thyroid problem. The one vet here disagreed but the specialist said he had one. He got peeved at me because I wanted a second opinion..

 

[Running Star]

Teeth Cleaning at my vet
Total Blood Work Makup $ 98.60
Cleaning and polishing $ 70.60
Anesthesia $ 41.70
Hydromrphone Injectible $ 4.50
Midazolam Injectable $ 4.50
Infusion Catheter $ 17.50
Injectable Anesthetic $ 20.00
Fluid Bag 500 ml $ 18.85
This is for Grade one Cleaning the higher the grade the more it cost
It all depends on how bad the teeth are and how much cleaning they have to do
The higher the grade the more it codt.

 

[Rainheart]

Ours would never come close to $1500, either. We did a few today with a bunch of major extractions, but still no where close to that.

I believe teeth cleaning (which includes anesthesia) is $200
Then you may need bloodwork, which would just be a mini panel (at the most $81 if done that day, cheaper if sent out a few days before which is $37)
Dental x-rays- about $15 each
Teeth pulled: We have simple ($15) or complicated ($60)
Medications (we usually estimate about $55)

 

[A1Malinois]

Wow...x rays here are $70 each

 

[Rainheart]

Ours are digital, so maybe that is why (only our dental ones, at least).

 

[A1Malinois]

Maybe yeah. I will call a vet tomorrow or monday and ask for a break down of costs.

 

[IowaGold]

Its not that I dont trust vets here, its just I dont like the prices when I hear of people getting the same things done so much cheaper. I buy Revolution here for $160 after taxes for 6 tubes, my friend in the states pays $80...

I wonder if some of the discrepancy isn't because the Canadian dollar and the US dollar weren't roughly equivalent not too many years ago. I remember when DH and I were first going up to Canada fishing, the Canadian dollar was only worth 1/2 of the American dollar so everything seemed really expensive to us (although the wages sounded proportionally higher). Now they are pretty close, but maybe the prices didn't change? I'm not sure whether people in the US are under paying or if Canadians are overpaying or if it's some of both.