I have some questions about a dental

venusgirltrap

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Sep 5, 2007
Messages
172
Purraise
1
My cat recently went for her check-up at a new vet and the vet said she needs a teeth cleaning. My old vet had also said this and from a visual check I can see she does have build up and red gums in the molar area.

My current vet charges $550-700 depending on extractions and whether her physical/blood is current. This seems really high to me. I called my old vet, but they won't give me an estimate without seeing her...they will only tell me that the dental is $269 and the physical is $45...I assume this doesn't include heart monitor, catheter etc (which they would probably do) and it would end up being around $500.

There is a vet around me that advertises cleanings as low as $150...but that is probably just for the cleaning and then there are all the add-ons and I'm not sure if it's right to choose a 'budget vet'.

Should I try getting more estimates? There are a few vets I've gotten recommendations to. My mom also goes to a very reasonable vet because she livesin the boonies and since I live in the city everything is marked up. How much have you guys paid for dentals?
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #2

venusgirltrap

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Sep 5, 2007
Messages
172
Purraise
1
Oh, I've also thought about checking out Banfield because the banfield around here has good reviews. I know in general they are looked down upon, but I guess the vet at the one here is pretty good...so buying a year package might be cheaper.
 

lauren_miller

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
May 20, 2010
Messages
565
Purraise
1
Location
Portland, OR
I was quoted between $865-$1200 for Hurley. He doesn't even have any tartar! He just needs two of his tiny front teeth extracted. I wish they would of told me to sit down before they gave me that estimate. I told them there was no way I could afford that. I called around and got much better quotes. The lowest was around $300.

I would definitely keep calling around and seeing if you can get it done for less. Some vets just like to gouge people.
 

Primula

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 1, 2010
Messages
6,838
Purraise
533
Location
Connecticut, USA
Originally Posted by venusgirltrap

My current vet charges $550-700 depending on extractions and whether her physical/blood is current. This seems really high to me.
One of my cats has the same problem as yours. Our vet has given us an estimate of $400+, maybe more if some teeth need extracting.
 

snickerdoodle

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Jan 28, 2008
Messages
935
Purraise
2
Location
Central North Carolina
Well, every vet is different. I tried to get a quote from an actual veterinarian dentist and he wouldn't get me an estimate without seeing Boo first. I paid less than 200 dollars for a simple cleaning, I'm sure on that. For three extractions and two days of hospitalization (He was a kidney failure kitty) it was about 400 bucks. The three extractions Boo had done were the small front incisor teeth on his bottom jaw. You may want to ask friends if they have a vet they recommend.

Don't skip the pre-dental blood work, it is very important to know what is going on with your kitty.
 

maewkaew

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 22, 2010
Messages
1,821
Purraise
155
Location
Chicago, Illinois, USA
It's around $600 at mine which is a cat only vet in a major city. that did include the tests but no extractions. I have been hearing of people paying a lot less, more like 200-something.

I would definitely call around, and check on Yelp etc.
It can vary a lot. It often is related to the cost of living and to the rental costs So vets in rural areas /small towns are usually much less but it varies by city neighbourhood too.
 

sharky

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
27,231
Purraise
38
300 - 400 was the ave when I would do a dental on an animal ...
 

breamarie

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Nov 9, 2008
Messages
131
Purraise
4
My regular vet quoted me at $130 for a cleaning, and $5 for each tooth pulled. I paid a lot more than that at Banfield, but still not nearly as much as some of you guys have. Sheesh, I wonder what makes it so expensive.
 

Primula

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 1, 2010
Messages
6,838
Purraise
533
Location
Connecticut, USA
Okay, just looked them up in Yellow Pages and there's one quite close to us. Never ever heard of it. Any good?
 

Primula

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 1, 2010
Messages
6,838
Purraise
533
Location
Connecticut, USA
Good to know. Probably my husband wouldn't go there, he hates any kind of a chain. Funny to me that I've never heard of this place - must be a good reason for that.
 

cococat

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Feb 2, 2007
Messages
4,953
Purraise
12
Location
USA
Originally Posted by venusgirltrap

Oh, I've also thought about checking out Banfield because the banfield around here has good reviews. I know in general they are looked down upon, but I guess the vet at the one here is pretty good...so buying a year package might be cheaper.
Save that thought.
Yeah the marketing department wants to appear cheaper on paper with that "payment plan", that is until they got you on a contract and start surprising you with all the add on's and extra fees while you are locked into a binding contract with them.
There are class action law suits forming against them and they have a horrible BBB rating, this is for a reason.
 

white cat lover

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Nov 17, 2005
Messages
22,206
Purraise
35
My vet charged $250 for full mouth extractions (including bloodwork). It was also $250 for a dental cleaning/some extractions. I have two more dentals I need to schedule for this fall, if not 3 - 4. I can get them all done for what some people pay for one dental!
 

kylew

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Apr 14, 2010
Messages
203
Purraise
3
Location
NYC
I just spent $1,600 on an exam and 9 tooth extraction with an Vet Dentist. I live in NYC and he is the only vet dentist in the city!
 

breamarie

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Nov 9, 2008
Messages
131
Purraise
4
Personally, I thought the Banfield vets were pretty good, just very expensive. I've read that a lot of vets who are newly out of school will start at Banfield, and then go on to open their own practices.

In one way, it's good for some things to go to vets who have a lot of experience. But in another way, I found that some of the Banfield vets, being newly out of school, were more knowledgeable about certain treatments and conditions, possibly because they were fresher in their minds.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #18

venusgirltrap

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Sep 5, 2007
Messages
172
Purraise
1
Thanks for all the responses. I just had a full physical and bloodwork done so if I make an appt soon I can use those tests and not have them re-done. I might try checking around a bit more then. Too bad my old vet wouldn't just give me a quote over the phone.
 

otto

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 7, 2008
Messages
9,837
Purraise
197
Here's my take: If you have a vet you trust, who knows your cat, who better to have do dental cleaning and dental surgery on your cat?

If you think the vet is gauging you, you want to find another vet anyway. Why did you leave the previous vet?

Ask for a breakdown on the estimate. Perhaps there are things you can omit. However, as was already said, do not leave out blood work. I would not let a cat of mine have anesthesia without blood work.

I know I would not want to take my cat to a "cut rate" vet for an important procedure like dental work. Especially if extractions are involved. Cat tooth roots are very very small and fine. One tiny piece, one filament, getting away can cause very serious problems. I lost a cat to sinus cancer that way, after a poorly done dental with extractions.

Don't mess around with dental work, have it done right with a vet you trust. And don't put it off, as dental disease causes kidney failure and heart trouble, among other things.

Keep us posted on your kitty.
 
Top