Quote:
Originally Posted by heybert
You can always shop around. Get references. We saved about $500 when our Jack Russell had to have his teeth done. Got a recommendation from a friend and checked out the vet. Great references, so we were happy to have him work on out dog.
|
^^^^
This!
Quote:
Originally Posted by daveyn
Seems to be a thing now with vets that they want to tell you how bad your dogs teeth are and how much work they need, cleaning etc. Dogs are descendants from wolves and I am confident the wolf pack doesn't have a dental plan and their teeth have never been cleaned. Dogs live max 10 to 12 years which really is not enough time for real dental problems to develop IMO. Not like they are sitting around eating Mars bars and swilling Cokes.
Our dog has 2 missing lower front teeth and a chipped canine. Vet quoted over $4000. We declined and the dog is still happily chewing on buffalo bones she drags up from the river.
|
This is good in theory but really not accurate. Most modern dogs are about as far from a wolf as you can get and still be a canide. Their diets are VERY different and let's face it, far too many pet owners (and their kids) feed their dogs things they shouldn't.
All this adds up to dental issues.
Also, it's silly to think wolves don't have dental issues. You're not a wolf dentist are you? Did you consult anybody who studies wolves to see if they know?
It's silly to think wild canide's don't have dental issues.
Your dog may be "happily" chewing on bones but that doesn't mean he/she isn't hurting when they're doing so. One of an animals insticts is to hide when they're hurting because showing weakness (in the wild) means painting a big "Eat me I'm vulnerable" sign on their sides. For their sake, I hope your pet isn't hurting...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Deb
It's all about perspective.
I know I've pi$$ed away more than that on stupid stuff I really didn't need. Our dog recently had breath like a dragon, and nothing we did helped. Finally conceded she needed a dental and the vet found a pocket of crap lodged behind a back molar, something I could never have found. If left alone, it probably would have ended up in a bad tooth and gum disease. Yes, it was expensive, but I'm satisfied that it was the right thing to do. We love her.
We trust our vet to point us in the right direction - if you trust yours, listen to him/her and do what's best for your companion.
|
That's what money is for isn't it!?!? LOL
I've had 3 dogs that had flat faces (and have a 4th one now). A pug, a frenchie and another heinze 57. All had teeth pulled later in their lives. My first pug (we have another pug now) had to have teeth pulled 3 times in his 10 years of life. The problem is, with smooshed in faces like they have, they are prone to teeth problems. It ended up with my first pug having the worlds worth breath and his teeth/gums caused him to develope some nasties on his cheeks (inside his mouth). Eventually cleanings wouldn't keep the "aliens" in his mouth (that's what my wife called them) at bay and he had terrible breath the last year or so of his life. It's worth noting I never brushed their teeth and now wish I had.
So when we got this new pug 2.5 yr's ago, I stated brushing her teeth from day 1..........something I didn't do with my other dogs. I've checked her teeth and considering how smooshed her face is, they're all nice and straight and look good so I'm hoping to avoid teeth issues by doing so and save some $$$.
In the small town I live in, our vet charged me $400 - $600 to clean my dogs teeth. With teeth pulled, usually around $600 - $800 depending on the number of teeth being pulled.
So yes, definitely check around. Keep in mind, clinics in the city typically have higher overhead than in a small town so check the small communities around you.
We've been living here 16 years and have had dogs all that time. We know our vet very well and she knows us. I know how much she loves animals and have absolute faith she would never lie to us about care our animals need just to line her pocket. She once delivered a dog who had to spend the night in her care (he has pancreatitis) on a Sunday to my wife while I was off hunting out west at no charge!