The Cost of Pet Dentistry

Human beings are trained at a very young age to practice good dental hygiene. Imagine if you will, what your teeth and gums would look like if you didn't brush and floss daily (you do, don't you?). The repercussions of not brushing our teeth regularly go far beyond bad breath, cavities and yellow teeth, however. Poor dental hygiene can lead to periodontal disease which can cause swollen and tender gums, bleeding, and painful lesions in the mouth. If left untreated, periodontal disease can also lead to tooth loss. Additionally, the inflammation and infections associated with periodontal disease can damage the heart, liver and kidneys, and lead to other serious health problems.

The same is true for our cats and dogs. Unfortunately, as trainable as many dogs are, without opposable thumbs it's unlikely they'll ever learn to brush their own teeth. And everyone who's ever had a cat knows that most of them can't be trained to do anything other than come to the food bowl when you call them. This is why pet dentistry exists, and why it's very important for cats and dogs to have their teeth cleaned professionally by a skilled veterinarian. The frequency of pet teeth cleaning required depends upon many things, such as diet, individual breeds and the existence or absence of at-home dental care (more on that later).

What's involved in pet dentistry, and how much it will cost to have your cat or dog's teeth cleaned will also vary considerably. This is why vet offices rarely give quotes for pet teeth cleaning over the phone. Besides, your pet will need to be examined first before the teeth cleaning procedure, which is considered a surgery since it requires anesthesia. This pre-surgery exam typically costs less than a regular office visit if you schedule the appointment for the pet dental procedure at the same time. After the exam, your vet can provide you with a cost estimate for your pet's teeth cleaning.

The basic cost of pet dentistry (including the exam) will typically run between $150 to $200. If you have an older cat or dog, the vet will most likely recommend that you have blood work done prior to your pet's teeth cleaning. Although there is an extra fee for this (around $50), a health profile can help your vet determine if there are issues which make the anesthesia a more risky procedure. Generally speaking, for healthy animals under ten years of age, the blood work is optional and not usually needed (but please follow your vet's recommendation on this).

The anesthesia is probably the biggest cost involved with your pet's dental procedure; however, getting your pet's teeth cleaned without anesthesia is really not an option. Even the most docile dog and gentle cat can become highly aggressive and dangerous when subjected to a thorough teeth cleaning. The cost of anesthesia depends to some degree on a pet's weight, so teeth cleaning for cats and small dogs will cost less than medium and large dogs. For older animals, your vet may recommend putting in an IV catheter so that they have a readily available "port" to administer fluids should it become necessary during your pet's teeth cleaning surgery.

While your pet is under the anesthesia you may want to do other procedures such as nail trimming. Sometimes a pet may need to have one or more teeth extracted if they are causing problems or badly decayed. Your pet may also be sent home with post-op pain medication, especially if there were extractions. Your vet may also recommend having a sealant put on your pet's teeth to help cut down on tartar formation, and send you home with plaque prevention gel that you apply to your pet's teeth on a regular basis. All of these extra items will of course add to the cost of pet dentistry, but may be necessary as well as helpful to your pet in the long run.

Your pet will need to stay at the vet's office for most of the day after their early morning dental procedure, but most do not charge extra for this hospitalization. There is usually a small biohazard fee with each pet teeth cleaning, which generally is not more than a few dollars.

You can help keep the cost of pet dental procedures down by doing some at-home care. Apply the plaque prevention gel if recommended by your vet, and learn to brush your pet's teeth. It might seem daunting at first, but have your vet show you the proper way to do it, and in most cases dogs and cats can adjust to regular brushing. The optimum time to start brushing your pet's teeth would be at the kitten and puppy stage, but even older animals will eventually adapt. Start gradually and be patient! Don't use regular toothpaste however, as it is not made to be swallowed; there is specially formulated pet toothpaste that comes in chicken, seafood and other yummy flavors your pet will love.

The cost of pet dentistry certainly doesn't come cheap, but considering the unconditional love our animals give us, keeping their teeth healthy is well worth the expense.