I feel like my vet is trying to rip me off...

[Blondie22]

…so I’m going to get another vet. Duh.

However, this vet now has me worried. I took kitty for his yearly check up this week. Vet says all looks good but kitty’s teeth have plaque on them…well obviously, he’s 8 years old and he doesn’t brush them. Vet makes it seems like if kitty doesn’t get his teeth cleaned (for $800), he will die, lose teeth, etc etc.

Anyone never cleaned their cats teeth and lived to tell the tale? It’s not really about the money, but I would rather not stress kitty and myself having him anesthetized and all that jazz.

[oliverreed]

My most recent hire is at the vet today getting his teeth cleaned to the tune of around $300.00. He’s about 5 1/2. It does potentially save them from health problems down the road. They don’t all need it, this kitty may never need it done again (don’t know what his diet was before I adopted him last year).

[Horsegal984]

Depends on the cat. Bacteria on the teeth can lead to endocarditis, an infection of the heart. Basically the dirtier the teeth the more bacteria they are swallowing every time they eat/drink. Cats can get resorptive lesions along the gum line as well which means the body is trying to get rid of the teeth on its own.

Without seeing your cats mouth in person I really can’t judge on if your vet is making their recommendation based on medical or just “trying to rip you off.” I would say though, if this is the only issue you have with said vet maybe it’s worth talking to them about it instead of jumping to a new one.

[Marshfield]

Depending on your area that may be about par. Some of it may depend on if your veterinarian is anticipating possible extractions. A lot of how much work needs to be done isn’t known until you get a good look in a fully sedated pet. My own cat has had to have a couple of teeth removed due to issues at the gum line; his most recent dental took 15 minutes as I did one proactively. On the other end of things, I went to do the health certificate exam on a cat that was being adopted out from a practice I work at (owners had asked for help finding him a home and under state law a health certificate is required) and found some painful teeth. He had resorptive lesions and lost 8 teeth and it took an hour. He was a different cat once his mouth healed. We all felt awful about not realizing how much pain he had been in.

[independentlyawesome]

Here’s a good starting article on teeth cleaning - I like the information presented on veterinarypartner.com. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?A=640

It sounds like you may need a new vet if a routine conversation about teeth cleaning made you so upset, but nothing about that conversation screams “ripping you off.”

Yes, there are many cat owners who don’t ever get the cat’s teeth cleaned. And there are many cats with severe periodontal disease whose owners are either oblivious or don’t care.

[IdahoRider]

@Blondie22;7574554

Vet makes it seems like if kitty doesn’t get his teeth cleaned (for $800), he will die, lose teeth, etc etc.

I can’t comment on how easy it is to clean a cat’s teeth, but I can comment on what happens if you don’t take care of them.

My nine year old, indoor only, neutered cat had a severe tooth infection that we would have caught if we had been doing any kind of cleaning/examining. The infection spread to his jaw, which then spread throughout his other teeth. The first we were aware of it was when he abscessed and it started draining out through his lower mandible.

He almost died from the infection. He was in the vet’s office for almost a week and he ended up losing all his teeth. It was so preventable! Believe me, we now have our other cats in yearly for a dental cleaning and general tooth exam.
Sheilah

[oliverreed]

My vet examines teeth yearly. This was the first time in years and years that I have had a cat that needed a cleaning (I always have 4 cats). Just heard from vet who said they actually did have to remove 3 teeth today, so poor baby has little stitches in his mouth, has had nerve blocks done, and is going home on pain meds. And can’t eat dry food for 10 days.

[kmwines01]

Depending on the cat brushing their teeth can be hell raising or normal. I had trouble with mine just because his mouth is so small and he was wiggly. Brushing also will probably not do very much for the existing plaque/tartar that he has.

My own cat has had about 8 teeth pulled for resorptive lesions. Full evaluation with radiographs + cleaning + anesthesia cost me about $800. Dental radiographs are very specific and if your vet does them it’s going to bump the costs up more than a regular cleaning.

[Rudy]

I didn’t know a vet looking out for the immediate and long term health of your cat was considered trying to rip you off…who knew.

[asb_own_me]

Even with radiographs, a full work-up, pre-anesthesia bloodwork, antibiotics, and extractions, this shouldn’t cost $800.

My dogs, cats and horses all get dental care, which means something different for each individual. They aren’t on calendar schedules, they are on individual what-works-for-them schedules. For example, our youngest dog is 4 1/2 and hasn’t needed a dental yet. His teeth are remarkable. He obviously has a combination of excellent genetics and spends a lot of time chewing My older male needed a cleaning before his first birthday, due to poor dental development caused by malnutrition as a puppy (he was a rescue).

My now-deceased house-master-cat had dentals on an as-needed basis. He had a couple extractions as he got older. The bills were nowhere near the range you’re talking - maybe half, if that?

Does your kitty need a good dental exam/cleaning? Yes. Do I think you should seek a second opinion/estimate? Absolutely.

[tabula_rashah]

I don’t think it’s a bad idea to do but that’s an insane amount of money.I would definitely look elsewhere

[AllWeatherGal]

I have regularly had my cats’ teeth cleaned. $800 seems very high unless there is more than one extraction required. I don’t recall spending less than $250, ever, though. (San Francisco Bay Area and Orlando Florida area)

[Rudy]

Initial exam: around $45
Full dental x-ray: usually around $80-200
Pre-Op blood work: ~$80-170
Oral exam/Dental cleaning ~$50-200
Extractions: ~$40-60 per tooth

I agree that $800 is quite high. I’m wondering if the vet is expecting a lot of work/extractions and quoted high because of it?

[Blondie22]

Thanks for the input. There are a few other reasons why I feel like the vet is trying to “rip me off” but not important. I want to be sure that I’m doing what is best for my kitty, not what the vet wants me to do to pay their bills.

As I said, I’m not opposed to it but I’m going to seek a second opinion, like we all do for most medical issues.

[Ibex]

Where do you live…? When I lived in a more yuppy area, I had a vet who charged like crazy for everything. My favourite was the time they wanted to, in the course of an annual exam, check blood pressure. Sure, no prob. Old vet back east did that as routine. Nope… extra $60 on my bill! :eek: I drew the line when I got the same song and dance about my cat’s teeth. $800 ANNUALLY, EACH, or else they wanted to charge more each time.

When I moved out here I found a sane vet… nope, kitties didn’t need teeth done at that time and the anesthesia was deemed more of a risk than the dirty teeth. Each of my old cats got done a couple of times in their lives… passed at 16 and 17.

[Blondie22]

I do live in a “yuppy” area but have been talking to friends who live around me to find out who they use/what they think. If the cat needs it done, the cost isn’t the issue but like I said - I just get the sense that this vet wants charge me for anything/everything.

I guess I feel a bit miffed about all of this because I definitely don’t feel any sort of pressure (nor have I ever) from my horse’s vet, but small animals seem to be different!

[redkat]

I’ve spent anywhere from $400-$700 on dentals. Orange dude has had two extractions, and the Maniac doesn’t produce an enzyme in her mouth that assists with fighting plaque, so she needs a lot of dental maintenance and even then still will eventually lose all of her teeth. My vet always does a full blood work up prior to anesthetizing kitty, so that adds to the expense. But it is worth it.

I’ve seen what can happen if you don’t care for a cat’s teeth, which are all types of infections, infections that spread into their jaws, etc. If kitty is 8 and has never had a cleaning, it is very likely time. Go ahead and find another vet if you aren’t comfortable with the one you have, but a recommendation for a dental is far from unusual and is par for the course.

[Blondie22]

I’m really not sure if kitty has ever had his teeth cleaned. It’s probably unlikely. He’s 8 now. I rescued him from the shelter at age 6 where he had been adopted/returned 3 times already.

[Rudy]

[QUOTE=Ibex;7575009]
nope, kitties didn’t need teeth done at that time and the anesthesia was deemed more of a risk than the dirty teeth. [/QUOTE]

Talk with an actual veterinary dentist and they will point out that dirty teeth and disease XYZ may be exactly why they should be put under. I know one and he hasn’t lost a pet under anaesthesia knock on wood x 1000 in about 15 years or so. He has seen many chronic conditions disappear after a great dental including heart murmurs (most likely from endocarditits). Granted an owner will pay more for their higher risk animal by using an actual Anaesthesiologist.

Teeth are just as important in a pet as it is in a human. The public perception just hasn’t caught up yet.

[candyappy]

I think you are being ripped off. If a dentist can do an exam, clean and ex-ray human teeth for under $200 a vet should be able to as well.

I have never , ever had a cat get its teeth done. Never had a cat with teeth problems / health issues. All my cats live into their mid teens. I feed my cats kibble only, no other food unless they choose to hunt it and consume it. That might have something to do with it, I don’t know? My cats are indoor/ outdoor.

My mom has had her cats teeth done in the past, but she feeds both soft and dry food , plus treats and her cats stay indoors 99% of the time.