Delilah needs a dental :(

We just went to the vet for checkups and Delilah needs a dental. Belle had some tartar build up, but it was not bad enough for a dental yet.

I got a quote and the total was about $700, including $93 for the pre-screen and $99 for the repair of her umbilical hernia (that was supposed to be fix when she was spayed, but wasn't....I figure if she's being put under, we might as well fix it). Is this fair?

I also see the dreaded Meloxicam on the quote for anti-inflammatory and pain killer. Not overly comfortable with this one (I know the stories) and I would like to know what others who get their cats dentals have for pain-killers instead.

I'm considering going for a consultation with another vet, as I'm not a huge fan of our current vet (like the clinic and techs, but the old vet required and I've never been overly comfortable with the new guy, although he's never really given me reason to doubt him).

Please do get another consult by a different vet.... I did this with my yorkie( a breed known for bad teeth) ... Vet A said she needed one right away she was 7 .... Vet B said No need at this time ... she needed her first dental at 13 by that vet

It has been yrs since I have done a dental ... but I think buperex was used( no pain meds sent home )

I took my Lily in today for her yearly shots and physical. She has to have a dental, too. I knew this was coming. I had her a year (today!) and I knew she had teeth problems when I got her, and that a couple teeth would have to be pulled eventually. One for certain is going to need to come out, and since she will be under, the dental will be done anyway. However, if it weren't for the bad tooth, it wouldn't be done at all.

It has been about 15-20 years since any of my cats had to have a dental. And some of them have lived to be about 20 years old. A good diet seems to prevent the need for this very often. So, I would be cautious about it.

The vet I've been going to for 25 years came to this animal hospital right out of vet training. He made a very good impression on me by arguing (with the older, senior vet who was his employer then) that my geriatric cat, (who had had to have his teeth cleaned many times) should not have his teeth cleaned at that point (about age 16), in his opinion. His argument was that the cat was so old that the anesthesia was more of a risk, too much of a risk, and that the teeth were not that bad. He stuck his neck out for the patient, rather than go along with his superior, and lost the fee the practice would have made by the procedure. That cat lived to be over 18.

So, I think I'd get another opinion, too, if I were you.


Robin