Cat teeth cleaning costs

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pjana
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Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by pjana »

I would like to solicit some opinions on whether these costs are reasonable.

Our 12 yr old cat has gingivitis and possibly some teeth problems. The vet will only do
the evaluation under anesthesia if we have a blood test first to confirm there are no
liver or kidney problems. (Liability issues) So here is our costs:

Blood test $202
Anesthesia $ 99
Evaluation $129
Dental Fluids $ 79
Xrays $ 84
Antibiotic $ 79
Pain reliever $ 45

That comes to $717 !! Any extractions are $101 plus $38 for additional Xrays.

I would think our family dentist would be much cheaper.
Maybe I am wrong. Has anyone had any experience in this area?
livesoft
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by livesoft »

For a dog, teeth cleaning under full anesthesia has been $250 and $450 with lower price found in a ZIP code with less wealthy people.
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DiamondplateDave
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by DiamondplateDave »

About 4 years ago, I adopted a stray neighborhood cat. I started taking him to the same vet I took my chinchilla to. About two years ago, the vet moved to a spacious new office, complete with a new dental theater. That same year, the vet started recommending I get the cat's teeth cleaned. Same thing, blood work, anesthesia, x-rays. This started about $500, which would then increase if problems needing more work were found. I put it on the back burner as an unexpected expense, and was surprised to find that I was subjected to a campaign including a "Cat Dental Health" magazine, monthly postcard "reminders" and a never-ending flurry of emails. I can only surmise that the vet's office contracted with some company for a new revenue center. They also said that the cat's teeth should be cleaned annually.
I recently switched the cat to another vet, and they recommended the cat's teeth be cleaned. They said $300-400, again more if problems were found, but told me it was probably not something needed every year. I believe they said 3-4 years. So, I will get this done over the summer, on the fact that the cat has bad breath and tartar and I should do anything within reason to prevent him from suffering. It also would seem likely that having the cleaning done as a preventative may save me money in the long run, or even an extremely difficult decision.
I live in a small city in Upstate NY, I don't know how your COL compares. I don't think what you are quoted is outrageous, it seems about in line with what I was told, but you might be able to find somewhere that would do the evaluation/work for less if you shop around.
runner3081
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by runner3081 »

My wife used to brush our cat's teeth. Wasn't too bad, they have special toothpaste and toothbrushes for cats.

I don't know whether it is even needed. Grew up with cats and not once did they have their teeth brushed.
Ztx
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by Ztx »

It might be a bit on the expensive side. We had our cat's teeth cleaned about a year ago and paid $199 for cleaning and anesthesia (but no other services included).

Edit: This is in a major metro area, but not an affluent neighborhood.
tomd37
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by tomd37 »

Two weeks ago today paid a total of $175 for teeth cleaning for our four year-old cat. That included antibiotic injection, Dexdomitor sedation, Butorphanol injection, Telazol anesthesia (small), and ultrasonic cleaning and polishing.
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skepticalobserver
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by skepticalobserver »

Our vet quoted $200 for a pre-op work-up and $400 for the cleaning.

I want to shake the hands of those who can use a toothbrush. The very idea makes my cat laugh :D . She won't even let me trim her nails.
takeshi
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by takeshi »

As with anything, shop around and compare. Our cats haven't made it to their first cleanings though one of them recently had to have 3 extractions and that was a lot more than $101 though we use a specialist instead of our regular vet who would have cost less.
MBJ0909
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by MBJ0909 »

Just had this done last week in a major city in North Carlolina. The initial quote was $300 because I had bloodwork done the previous month during the annual appointment. If I had needed pre-dental bloodwork it would have been $360. However, during the cleaning, the vet found issues with two teeth that had to be pulled which brought the final bill to $535.
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flamesabers
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by flamesabers »

runner3081 wrote:My wife used to brush our cat's teeth. Wasn't too bad, they have special toothpaste and toothbrushes for cats.

I don't know whether it is even needed. Grew up with cats and not once did they have their teeth brushed.
I think I read somewhere that around age 5, a lot of cats will start to develop teeth/gum issues if nothing is being done to keep their teeth cleaned.

Rather then brushing my cats' teeth, I give them a few dental kibbles every day. Chewing these dental kibbles helps keeps their teeth clean.
tomd37 wrote:Two weeks ago today paid a total of $175 for teeth cleaning for our four year-old cat. That included antibiotic injection, Dexdomitor sedation, Butorphanol injection, Telazol anesthesia (small), and ultrasonic cleaning and polishing.
This amount sounds like what I paid to have one of my cat's teeth cleaned several years ago. Fortunately her teeth has stayed in good condition, so I haven't had to pay for anymore cleanings. :)
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TheTimeLord
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by TheTimeLord »

From my experience the blood test from your cat's annual exam can be used if the dental is done within 2 or 3 months of the exam. $202 sounds like the price for onsite blood tests that day instead of being sent out to a lab. The evaluation fee confuses me, don't understand what it is for (is it cleaning and evaluation?). The cat was partially evaluated when it was determined they have gingivitis. Antibiotic seems high to me, I pay about $40 for a convenia shot at my vet. Fluids, anesthesia, x-rays and pain reliever seem in line with my experience. Extractions seem inline but I don't remember have extra x-rays being broken out separately. Any idea what the maximum amount of $38 ex-rays is? Don't see a charge for the cleaning itself. All this said, rotting teeth can cause lots of issues and pain for cats which will hide it unfortunately. My vet always has me sign and estimate before this type of procedure showing the possible range of the bill, did your vet provide a range, is $717 the low end? I would highly recommend getting any needed extractions done. FWIW, I have had more than my share of experience with feline dental extractions and paid north of this amount.
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Tamarind
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by Tamarind »

The extraction price you were quoted seems within the bounds of reason, but the blood work quote is more than twice what I paid last year for the same service.
guitarguy
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by guitarguy »

pjana wrote:I would like to solicit some opinions on whether these costs are reasonable.

Our 12 yr old cat has gingivitis and possibly some teeth problems. The vet will only do
the evaluation under anesthesia if we have a blood test first to confirm there are no
liver or kidney problems. (Liability issues) So here is our costs:

Blood test $202
Anesthesia $ 99
Evaluation $129
Dental Fluids $ 79
Xrays $ 84
Antibiotic $ 79
Pain reliever $ 45

That comes to $717 !! Any extractions are $101 plus $38 for additional Xrays.

I would think our family dentist would be much cheaper.
Maybe I am wrong. Has anyone had any experience in this area?
Seems high to me. You should get an estimate from another vet IMO.

I would say overall with no extractions around $300 is average.

My wife is a vet tech.
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JonnyDVM
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by JonnyDVM »

I try not to reply to these threads since I do enough of this at work but I'll give my two cents. Your pre-op blood panel seems a little high. I'm assuming they're recommending a full senior panel. You may be able to ask about running a less comprehensive panel. Most vets have some level of flexibility on this. I would have at least a mini panel done to ensure the anesthesia is low risk. Your radiology and anesthesia quote is relatively low. I'm assuming they're making this up with the "evaluation" fee. Usually that's included in a dental cleaning. The cost for antibiotic and pain control are what I would usually quote.

Where I work a routine dental is about $300. A mini pre-op blood panel can be done for around $100. Cats teeth are a real PITA to extract. I don't know many vets that love doing them. The mouths are tiny and you can't leave any roots in or it can cause issues for the pet down the line. That's why the seemingly way too high cost. The price per tooth for extractions really depends on what tooth and how diseased it is. If it's coming out with gentle traction then it's only about $20. If It's a multiple root tooth and I'm drilling,sectioning, flushing the cavity and closing it up with suture then it can be over $100 for just that one tooth. Usually my cat dentals with a couple extractions run total somewhere between $500-$900. The absolute worst dentals can be $1200-$1500. I put a upper limit cap on my estimate to avoid unhappy clients, but that's just me. A lot of time I end up doing work I did not quote for and then not charging for it. It is difficult to determine how much work really needs to be done until you have the pet under anesthesia and can really examine the oral cavity.

When you go to someone that's doing pet dentals on the cheap usually they're not doing a great job. There's a wide variety in quality. Is someone monitoring anesthesia? Is there even the ability to take x-rays? Are the extraction sites going to get closed appropriately? Are all the teeth that should be extracted coming out? Don't assume you're getting the same quality of care when another vet gives you a quote that's half as much as another. The quality may indeed be fine, but then again, it may not be.

For the record I don't ask anyone to brush their cats teeth. A small percentage of cats and owners may be amenable to it, but most are not. There are water additives and dental prescription diets that can be done as an alternative but as I tell my clients there's no substitute for a good dental cleaning. Doesn't matter how often we brush our teeth. The dentist has us come twice a year for a scaling.
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IFRider
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by IFRider »

Breakdown of the last dental for my 3 year old female:

Blood profile 80
Catalyst t4 clip 42
IV catheter/fluids 55
Anesthesia 151
Cleaning/Polish 85
Radiographs 85
Convenia Inj 38
Total 536
Topic Author
pjana
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by pjana »

Well, thanks everyone for your replies!

I live in western Oregon. I called 16 veterinaries today and to my surprise, almost all had fees
well above $400. All required an additional exam and some wouldn't even except the blood
test which I just paid $202 yesterday. (the test showed all is fine)

The vet and I agreed on $346 which wont include any Xrays, extractions, etc.
So my total cost comes to $548.

Maybe next time I should consider medical tourism...
obgraham
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by obgraham »

Basic old school question here: Why the heck does a cat need its teeth cleaned? It's a Cat!
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IFRider
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by IFRider »

obgraham wrote:Basic old school question here: Why the heck does a cat need its teeth cleaned? It's a Cat!
Because gum disease is painful.
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Pajamas
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by Pajamas »

I'm putting "Worrying about the cost of feline dental health services" at the top of my running list of First World Problems. :beer
mouses
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by mouses »

obgraham wrote:Basic old school question here: Why the heck does a cat need its teeth cleaned? It's a Cat!
What shape would your teeth be in if you never had them cleaned and never brushed?
iamlucky13
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by iamlucky13 »

You will see different levels of care at different clinics, and therefore a very wide range of prices.

The clinic my wife used to work for would not do any other care without there being a current annual check up on record (often done at the same appointment) and being current on vaccines. I think blood work was required if they were going to be doing anesthesia, and I don't think they worked on cats without anesthesia, because it is both stressful for the cat, and risky for the staff - cat claw infections can get very serious. Cat claws are literal biological weapons.

Still, I don't remember her saying the price of a dental was in the $700. I want to say it was closer to $500, in a relatively high income area.

She was aware of other clinics that would just sedate the cat, clean the teeth, and you're on your way. I don't have a clue what the statistical risk of skipping the health assessments and doping vs. anesthetizing is. Just that the vets she worked for considered it reckless.
Last edited by iamlucky13 on Thu Jun 29, 2017 5:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
iamlucky13
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by iamlucky13 »

obgraham wrote:Basic old school question here: Why the heck does a cat need its teeth cleaned? It's a Cat!
Cats and dogs can get tooth decay and conditions like periodontal disease just like humans. Just like humans, in advanced stages, it is painful, which causes them to under-eat, resulting in poor nutrition and general health, and can lead to infections. Both lower quality of life and life expectancy.

So cleanings are recommended to reduce the risk.
jezo
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by jezo »

My dog just needed a tooth extraction. In one zip code it was $1000. In another zip code it was just under $500 for everything.
Blood work was optional so I decided to forgo test.
HornedToad
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by HornedToad »

My cat just had a tooth extraction and was around ~$800.
The tooth cleaning without an extraction for other cat is expected to be around ~$500-550.
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IFRider
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by IFRider »

Pajamas wrote:I'm putting "Worrying about the cost of feline dental health services" at the top of my running list of First World Problems. :beer
Pain is pain friend. I love my cats and I take care of them. They've given more comfort and unconditional love than any human I've encountered. I put worrying about how I can possibly retire on my millions+ portfolio at the top of my running list of first world problems.
123
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by 123 »

I never knew there were so many dental services available for cats. Perhaps it won't be long until they offer braces, dentures, implants, and veneers for felines as well.
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Frisco Kid
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by Frisco Kid »

Yes, feline dental care can be quite expensive. Most recently $1045.03 for cleaning with xrays's, etc. Since 2007 have spent $6500 total. Don't even ask how much anymore, it is almost a joke at this point. Insurance in our case would not save any $. Cost of ownership as is the insanely priced $2 can prescription diet cat food.............. Love our kitty though!
Mudpuppy
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by Mudpuppy »

As I have said on previous posts with this specific topic (the cost of pet teeth cleaning comes up surprisingly often on Bogleheads), I have sought out the "Boglehead of veterinarians" for my pets' care. He has had the same office space for over two decades (low overhead on office space), he only upgrades equipment if the old equipment breaks or if the new equipment provides significantly better care (low overhead on equipment), and so on. He passes those cost-savings along to his clients, so he is significantly cheaper than other veterinarians in town. He's also a highly competent veterinarian, so it's not like one is sacrificing quality of care for cost of care.

With respects to teeth cleaning, he does not require blood work before-hand, but he does let the owner know that blood work is advised and can eliminate some of the risks of the surgery. If the owner doesn't want to pay for that though, he just has the owner sign a waiver absolving him of liability should a foreseeable complication arise. It's been a couple years since I've had a cat in for teeth cleaning, but it was around $150 for the cleaning itself, about $30 for each extraction required, and about $30-50 for antibiotics (depending on how long he prescribes the antibiotics for after the cleaning). He never has line-item charges for things like fluids, pain relievers, etc. during the surgery or for any post-operative care. That's all bundled into the cost of the procedure itself.

I will admit that this sort of veterinarian is rare. Every time he closes for vacation or a conference and I have a pet emergency that requires going to another veterinarian, it's been expensive and the level of care is no better than what I get at this veterinarian. I've been dreading the day that he decides to retire, but I'm hoping it's at least another decade or so down the road.

Edit: I should also add that he's located in a semi-rural, industrial part of the metropolitan area, so there's also a lower overhead for that area as opposed to the city-core. That also means he's got a bit of a 'country vet' vibe, such as allowing the blood work waiver instead of insisting on blood work prior to surgery. Just getting some people to bring their animals into the vet can be a bit of a battle here, because they see it as an unnecessary expense. So by keeping his costs low, he encourages people to bring their animals in.
jharkin
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by jharkin »

mouses wrote:
obgraham wrote:Basic old school question here: Why the heck does a cat need its teeth cleaned? It's a Cat!
What shape would your teeth be in if you never had them cleaned and never brushed?
Animals in the wild never see a vet, let alone a dentist. And their teeth don't fall out.


Threads like these make me glad I don't have pets anymore.
gloomydog
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by gloomydog »

If you don't absolutely need to do teeth cleaning, I suggest you don't. Having to go under GA is a risk. Few months ago a friend's greyhound died that way (never woke up from his tooth cleaning) and he's had that procedure before. It's just always a risk.
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IFRider
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by IFRider »

jharkin wrote:Threads like these make me glad I don't have pets anymore.
Granted, this is a touchy subject, especially on Bogleheads. I wasn’t a cat person for most of my life. In fact, I would echo the ‘It’s just a friggin cat’ comment to anyone that cared enough to even feed one.

But then, begrudgingly, I took in my sister’s cat to save her from certain euthanasia. I had her for eleven years and she completely changed my attitude toward cats and animals in general. Now I get it. But believe me, I understand the anti-cat attitude. I understand people that don’t get it. I take a lot of cr%$p for being a “cat person” now.

I don’t have kids or a wife or anyone relying on me to bring home a paycheck and save for retirement. I could live quite comfortably on about 15 bucks an hour.

But I have two cats that provide companionship and love, and for someone that grew up around alcoholics, drug addicts, and lived in about four different homes before high school, that's a lot of stability for just a fifty dollar price tag. So, I take them to the vet and spend nearly six hundred bucks for a dental. Yes, I cringe, but then I see how much better they feel after those dental visits and I get it. They are happy and pain free, and to me it's worth it.

You guys spend vast amounts of money getting your kids into MIT or Harvard or whatever. You spend hundreds of thousands, if not millions on houses. You make tons of money and build fortunes, and that's awesome. I learn a lot from you.

I will never have any of those things. I will never be wealthy, but I can provide security and comfort to a homeless animal that gives so much more than its fifty dollar price tag and I think it’s a pretty good deal, even in a Boglehead world.
Carefreeap
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by Carefreeap »

jharkin wrote:
mouses wrote:
obgraham wrote:Basic old school question here: Why the heck does a cat need its teeth cleaned? It's a Cat!
What shape would your teeth be in if you never had them cleaned and never brushed?
Animals in the wild never see a vet, let alone a dentist. And their teeth don't fall out.


Threads like these make me glad I don't have pets anymore.
No wild animals don't get dental care but they also don't live as long. My cats are living 15+ years with my original Siamese making it to 21 1/2. Just like any being animals require care. Remember it was only 100 years ago that people were dying from untreated cavities which would go septic. Not hard to make the connection with other animals.
Every day I can hike is a good day.
Carefreeap
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by Carefreeap »

IFRider wrote:
jharkin wrote:Threads like these make me glad I don't have pets anymore.
Granted, this is a touchy subject, especially on Bogleheads. I wasn’t a cat person for most of my life. In fact, I would echo the ‘It’s just a friggin cat’ comment to anyone that cared enough to even feed one.

But then, begrudgingly, I took in my sister’s cat to save her from certain euthanasia. I had her for eleven years and she completely changed my attitude toward cats and animals in general. Now I get it. But believe me, I understand the anti-cat attitude. I understand people that don’t get it. I take a lot of cr%$p for being a “cat person” now.

I don’t have kids or a wife or anyone relying on me to bring home a paycheck and save for retirement. I could live quite comfortably on about 15 bucks an hour.

But I have two cats that provide companionship and love, and for someone that grew up around alcoholics, drug addicts, and lived in about four different homes before high school, that's a lot of stability for just a fifty dollar price tag. So, I take them to the vet and spend nearly six hundred bucks for a dental. Yes, I cringe, but then I see how much better they feel after those dental visits and I get it. They are happy and pain free, and to me it's worth it.

You guys spend vast amounts of money getting your kids into MIT or Harvard or whatever. You spend hundreds of thousands, if not millions on houses. You make tons of money and build fortunes, and that's awesome. I learn a lot from you.

I will never have any of those things. I will never be wealthy, but I can provide security and comfort to a homeless animal that gives so much more than its fifty dollar price tag and I think it’s a pretty good deal, even in a Boglehead world.
+1

I love your post. I like to say that while my cats have cost us a lot of money over the years at least I don't have to pay for braces or college tuition. :wink:
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by junior »

jharkin wrote:
mouses wrote:
obgraham wrote:Basic old school question here: Why the heck does a cat need its teeth cleaned? It's a Cat!
What shape would your teeth be in if you never had them cleaned and never brushed?
Animals in the wild never see a vet, let alone a dentist. And their teeth don't fall out.
Animals in the wild will likely have teeth problems similar to humans there's just no way for treatment.
MindBogler
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by MindBogler »

jharkin wrote:
mouses wrote:
obgraham wrote:Basic old school question here: Why the heck does a cat need its teeth cleaned? It's a Cat!
What shape would your teeth be in if you never had them cleaned and never brushed?
Animals in the wild never see a vet, let alone a dentist. And their teeth don't fall out.


Threads like these make me glad I don't have pets anymore.
Humans in the wild only lived about 30 years, too. It was great.
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flamesabers
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by flamesabers »

jharkin wrote:Animals in the wild never see a vet, let alone a dentist. And their teeth don't fall out.
Cats in the wild are much more likely to die from disease, parasites, predators or humans before they develop problems with their teeth.
IFRider wrote:I will never have any of those things. I will never be wealthy, but I can provide security and comfort to a homeless animal that gives so much more than its fifty dollar price tag and I think it’s a pretty good deal, even in a Boglehead world.
I also have two cats and I fully agree. I think stress relief is another benefit of having companion animal(s) around.
boglegirl
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by boglegirl »

IFRider wrote:
jharkin wrote:Threads like these make me glad I don't have pets anymore.
Granted, this is a touchy subject, especially on Bogleheads. I wasn’t a cat person for most of my life. In fact, I would echo the ‘It’s just a friggin cat’ comment to anyone that cared enough to even feed one.

But then, begrudgingly, I took in my sister’s cat to save her from certain euthanasia. I had her for eleven years and she completely changed my attitude toward cats and animals in general. Now I get it. But believe me, I understand the anti-cat attitude. I understand people that don’t get it. I take a lot of cr%$p for being a “cat person” now.

I don’t have kids or a wife or anyone relying on me to bring home a paycheck and save for retirement. I could live quite comfortably on about 15 bucks an hour.

But I have two cats that provide companionship and love, and for someone that grew up around alcoholics, drug addicts, and lived in about four different homes before high school, that's a lot of stability for just a fifty dollar price tag. So, I take them to the vet and spend nearly six hundred bucks for a dental. Yes, I cringe, but then I see how much better they feel after those dental visits and I get it. They are happy and pain free, and to me it's worth it.

You guys spend vast amounts of money getting your kids into MIT or Harvard or whatever. You spend hundreds of thousands, if not millions on houses. You make tons of money and build fortunes, and that's awesome. I learn a lot from you.

I will never have any of those things. I will never be wealthy, but I can provide security and comfort to a homeless animal that gives so much more than its fifty dollar price tag and I think it’s a pretty good deal, even in a Boglehead world.
You win the internet for today. Thank you for this touching tribute to your pets.
negative101
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by negative101 »

Private vets cost a lot. Check around and call some local rescues and animal shelters. They can recommend a clinic that does it for less. You may have to drive a little further but dental disease can be very painful for cats and worth the cost.
mariezzz
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Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by mariezzz »

The blood tests seem high but it depends on what they are doing & how old the cat is ($130-150 is more what I get charged). But otherwise, not all that out of the ballpark.

Depending on how much you trust your vet, you could get a 2nd estimate, but that would involve a basic examination fee. Most cleanings aren't urgently needed so you could go to another vet in 9 months for another annual exam & see what that person charges. (Also, ask friends who have cats. Fees vary by locality.)
  • How bad are the teeth? Have they been cleaned before? How long ago?
  • How urgent is the cleaning? They may also get into the cat's mouth and discover a tooth or two needs extracting - that will be an extra charge, that they should tell you in advance (how much an extraction would be).

I've never had x-rays with a cat's cleaning - as the vet said a few posts above, it may be that not all clinics have x-ray facilities - or maybe they just weren't needed in my case. The vet said my cat had a broken tooth that had to be extracted, and showed me a before/after picture (not an x-ray).
[I always am at the vet when my cats are put under anesthesia - it may mean I have to sit in the office until they get to my cat, but I just bring work to do in the waiting room.]

I buy Hills Prescription T/D and that makes up about 25-30% of my cats' daily food. I've been told by a couple of vets that amount will help stretch of the length of time between cleanings. I also feed mainly dry food. The larger kibble of T/D is supposed to help keep the teeth cleaner.

My cats have all been strays, so I figure I'm doing good just by taking them in. I provide them a reasonable amount of care (some might consider it too much, others too little). I spend a little more on food to try to keep them healthier (not crazy expensive ; just opt for Iam or Science Diet), and don't overfeed them).

Unfortunately, as with people, some cats have teeth that need to be cleaned more. I've been able to stretch cleanings out to about every 5-6 years. Given your cat's age & health, I'd make sure to check with the vet within 3 years & have the cleaning done by age 15, if the cat's health permits. That would likely be the cat's last cleaning, and if the cat's health goes downhill at some point after age 15, you likely wouldn't want to risk having a cleaning done.

We know from humans that problems with teeth can lead to other health problems as well, so there's no reason to believe that wouldn't be true in a cat. Painful teeth means painful eating, and cats need to eat. If the cat develops health problems down the road, at least you'll know teeth problems won't be likely to add complications.

Usually, if you ask a vet: how bad are the teeth? - is this needed soon?, in my experience, you get an honest, carefully considered, answer. If you don't think the vet's honest, why are you at that vet? What you really want in a vet is someone you can trust in an emergency situation where decisions have to be made quickly & under pressure.

As IFRider mentions, many people find that the value they get out of having a cat more than offsets the cost for vet fees & food. I certainly agree. Others spend a lot for restaurants, or a better car, or to go to the movies, or buy clothes - I'd rather spend money on my cats.

Edit to add: Get a photocopy of all your cat's lab results & keep them all together in one place. That can be useful info if the cat has an emergency of some sort, or to track changes over time.

My cost breakdown from a year ago was:
Annual exam: 51
Blood tests: 120

This was from the estimate for the cleaning (estimate said cost could vary between $250 & 360, or higher if more extractions):
IV catheter 40.
Feline prophy 110
Anesthesia, General: 94.60
Monitoring, Nursing care, Toe nail trim (if needed) 0
Dental, special procedure 18 (I'm sure I asked what this was but can't remember; might have been an "if needed" fee)
Extraction of deciduous teeth, per tooth $55
Laser dental tx per side: 5.30
Misc medication: $40

One thing I'll mention is that most vets provide a good amount of uncompensated care for pet owners who really cannot afford to pay (or can pay very little, but love their pets a lot).

I view what I pay the vet (in full) as helping the vet provide discounted or charity care for others. (This wouldn't apply if you were going to some chain veterinary service, at least not as much - I don't know that vets at those have the same leeway as independent vets have for doing that.)
Last edited by mariezzz on Thu Jan 25, 2018 9:16 pm, edited 6 times in total.
mariezzz
Posts: 1026
Joined: Mon Oct 02, 2017 11:02 pm

Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by mariezzz »

JonnyDVM wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2017 12:42 pm I try not to reply to these threads since I do enough of this at work but I'll give my two cents. Your pre-op blood panel seems a little high. I'm assuming they're recommending a full senior panel. You may be able to ask about running a less comprehensive panel. Most vets have some level of flexibility on this. I would have at least a mini panel done to ensure the anesthesia is low risk. Your radiology and anesthesia quote is relatively low. I'm assuming they're making this up with the "evaluation" fee. Usually that's included in a dental cleaning. The cost for antibiotic and pain control are what I would usually quote.

Where I work a routine dental is about $300. A mini pre-op blood panel can be done for around $100. Cats teeth are a real PITA to extract. I don't know many vets that love doing them. The mouths are tiny and you can't leave any roots in or it can cause issues for the pet down the line. That's why the seemingly way too high cost. The price per tooth for extractions really depends on what tooth and how diseased it is. If it's coming out with gentle traction then it's only about $20. If It's a multiple root tooth and I'm drilling,sectioning, flushing the cavity and closing it up with suture then it can be over $100 for just that one tooth. Usually my cat dentals with a couple extractions run total somewhere between $500-$900. The absolute worst dentals can be $1200-$1500. I put a upper limit cap on my estimate to avoid unhappy clients, but that's just me. A lot of time I end up doing work I did not quote for and then not charging for it. It is difficult to determine how much work really needs to be done until you have the pet under anesthesia and can really examine the oral cavity.

When you go to someone that's doing pet dentals on the cheap usually they're not doing a great job. There's a wide variety in quality. Is someone monitoring anesthesia? Is there even the ability to take x-rays? Are the extraction sites going to get closed appropriately? Are all the teeth that should be extracted coming out? Don't assume you're getting the same quality of care when another vet gives you a quote that's half as much as another. The quality may indeed be fine, but then again, it may not be.

For the record I don't ask anyone to brush their cats teeth. A small percentage of cats and owners may be amenable to it, but most are not. There are water additives and dental prescription diets that can be done as an alternative but as I tell my clients there's no substitute for a good dental cleaning. Doesn't matter how often we brush our teeth. The dentist has us come twice a year for a scaling.
Thanks for this comprehensive explanation. It's this kind of info that makes us pet owners understand better! I didn't know the details about how difficult extractions can be in cats. How exactly does one tell if a vet will do a great job? (price doesn't always tell you that!)

From your description, I now realize the extraction the vet did on the last cleaning was a reasonable price!
BuckyBadger
Posts: 1221
Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2011 11:28 am

Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by BuckyBadger »

jharkin wrote: Sat Jul 01, 2017 8:18 pm
mouses wrote:
obgraham wrote:Basic old school question here: Why the heck does a cat need its teeth cleaned? It's a Cat!
What shape would your teeth be in if you never had them cleaned and never brushed?
Animals in the wild never see a vet, let alone a dentist. And their teeth don't fall out.

Threads like these make me glad I don't have pets anymore.
Yeah, they would just die of infection from abscess...

Some people can afford expensive dental work for their animals. Some can't and will need to put that animal down. Fact of life.

Some cats also have genetic factors to tooth disease my very said. That's why one of our cats had several procedures that cost about that much, and our other cat never needed dental work at all.

That price isn't unreasonable with extractions. Some vets want bloodwork done that morning.
Benton Bair
Posts: 135
Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 8:06 am

Re: Cat teeth cleaning costs

Post by Benton Bair »

IFRider wrote: Sat Jul 01, 2017 10:54 pm
jharkin wrote:Threads like these make me glad I don't have pets anymore.
Granted, this is a touchy subject, especially on Bogleheads. I wasn’t a cat person for most of my life. In fact, I would echo the ‘It’s just a friggin cat’ comment to anyone that cared enough to even feed one.

But then, begrudgingly, I took in my sister’s cat to save her from certain euthanasia. I had her for eleven years and she completely changed my attitude toward cats and animals in general. Now I get it. But believe me, I understand the anti-cat attitude. I understand people that don’t get it. I take a lot of cr%$p for being a “cat person” now.

I don’t have kids or a wife or anyone relying on me to bring home a paycheck and save for retirement. I could live quite comfortably on about 15 bucks an hour.

But I have two cats that provide companionship and love, and for someone that grew up around alcoholics, drug addicts, and lived in about four different homes before high school, that's a lot of stability for just a fifty dollar price tag. So, I take them to the vet and spend nearly six hundred bucks for a dental. Yes, I cringe, but then I see how much better they feel after those dental visits and I get it. They are happy and pain free, and to me it's worth it.

You guys spend vast amounts of money getting your kids into MIT or Harvard or whatever. You spend hundreds of thousands, if not millions on houses. You make tons of money and build fortunes, and that's awesome. I learn a lot from you.

I will never have any of those things. I will never be wealthy, but I can provide security and comfort to a homeless animal that gives so much more than its fifty dollar price tag and I think it’s a pretty good deal, even in a Boglehead world.
I liked your post and share your feelings. I was allergic to cats from early childhood on. 7 years ago I found a kitten under my car and the only thought that crossed my mind was that I had to adopt him or he would perish. I knew nothing about the costs or needs of caring for a cat and gave no thought about my allergies. Fortunately for me my cat is the first one I've ever been around that does not cause any allergic reaction. Bringing him into my home was one of the very best decisions I ever made. Annual veterinary exams and treatments are just the cost having a wonderful pet companion. Any cost is money well spent. I hope he's with me for another decade.
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