<p>Well, the cat went to the vet for a checkup and everything was fine.</p>
<p>However, the vet recommended a dental exam and cleaning (under anesthesia), which would cost about $450!!</p>
<p>This sounded a little bit much to us. $450!!</p>
<p>Does anyone have any knowledge about these dental exams for cats? Do people actually spend $450 to have their cats teeth cleaned and examined?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>The only time it might make financial sense is if the pet is going under anesthesia for another reason and then I would add on the teeth cleaning.</p>
<p>The bulk of the $450 is to pay for the general anesthesia. If cats (and dogs) would sit quietly and compliantly with their mouths open to allow the cleaning, as humans do, it wouldn’t cost nearly so much.</p>
<p>Two previous cats of ours lived to almost 20 years of age - and did have an occasional teeth cleaning (under anesthesia) as they aged to prevent tooth loss. Your post made me curious as our current pets turned eight in May so teeth cleaning could be a future expense. I called my vet’s office just now to check price: $189.50. If the cat needs additional bloodwork or pain medication, that cost is extra; all else is covered. Excellent vet and he tries to keep his prices within a range where recommended treatment is not prohibitive to the owner. $450 - wow - I have three cats - $450 - I don’t think so 
Still you don’t want your pet to lose his teeth or have an infection from a bad tooth. Call other vets and check the price ranges in your area.</p>
<p>Actually that price sounds about right, maybe a little high for my area, but the price does vary by locale. It might be worth getting a second price quote from a different vet clinic. In my town some procedures can vary by as much as $100, depending upon the vet/clinic you use. </p>
<p>It’s not the cleaning that’s expensive. It’s the anesthesia. (And the testing required beforehand to ensure the kitty is physically able to tolerate the anesthesia. This is especially important for older cats.)</p>
<p>I have had my older cat’s teeth cleaned twice. Both times he had a very heavy build-up of tartar. The cleaning nipped early stage gum disease in the bud and has helped to preserve all his teeth. He’s now a very healthy and active 16 year old (doesn’t look a day over 12!) and the vet thinks he’ll live to be one of those super old cats—20 plus.</p>
<p>BTW, tooth extractions are also pretty expensive since the cat needs to be anesthetized for those too. In some ways, it’s pay me now or pay me later issue.</p>
<p>Is it worth it? It depends on how much you value the cat, how old he/she is, and if the cat has gum issues/extractions that also need to be addressed.</p>
<p>(I’ve also had my younger–age 4–cat’s teeth cleaned, but he came to me as a stray who had a hard life, poor diet and lots of dental problems.)</p>
<p>I’m a big believer in healthy teeth for my animals, but I’m also reluctant to pay for cleanings. With my dogs, I feed them raw bones, carrot chunks, and apples–and our vet loves their nice clean teeth. With the cat (now 14, lives with our son), I fed him dry food for most of his life–and that kept his teeth pretty clean. Now that he’s on wet food, not so much. Still, better cleaning than removal… I had one cat who was down to one tooth at age 16, and that wasn’t that good. (She had a big round of removal at age 10 after one abscessed and it spread.)</p>
<p>(I will say that while they’re under anesthesia for cleaning, I get everything else possible done: ears, toenails, etc.)</p>
<p>It costs about $400 to have my dog’s teeth cleaned and we have to do it every year. It makes me just crazy but she doesn’t chew on things to keep them clean and I have to give her a super bland diet including white rice as she has terrible stomach problems - I think that contributes to the plaque buildup. I even try to brush her teeth as best I can (she has a Scooby Doo toothbrush) but she won’t let me get at the back teeth at all. It’s all very frustrating but I don’t feel like I have a choice as her teeth get totally gross by the end of the year. So I bit the bullet and pay the big bucks.</p>
<p>Love my dogs,love them,that said i would never pay 450 bucks to have their teeth cleaned</p>
<p>Last year I paid $350 to have my cat’s teeth cleaned, which also included pre-anesthetic lab work AND a tooth extraction. I would find a less expensive vet, if I were you. I believe the cost for a dog is higher than a cat since they usually weigh more.</p>
<p>We had to do that for our dog. I agree it’s a lot of money.</p>
<p>I can’t even use the “dogs weigh more” excuse as my dog only weighs thirteen and a half pounds. I know that it’s ridiculously expensive and I wish I didn’t have to do it. The alternative is to let her teeth rot and I can’t do that.</p>
<p>Why can’t a cat be sedated with an antihistamine/oral sedative or a shot of the same… like babies are for procedures- rather than general anesthesia? I am really good at wasting money on my pet, but this seems ridiculous!</p>
<p>I have had a lot of cats…never ever cleaned their teeth. And yes, I believe a couple of the cats lost a couple of the teeth…but all still seemed to live a LONG happy life!</p>
<p>I have also had dogs…no teeth cleaning there either…except for the current MUTT (of all things). His breath is so bad! We had his teeth cleaned 2 summers ago–and will do it again this summer, as we are looking forward to a fresh minty smell!</p>
<p>We do not have it done where we live—too expensive. We go to a vet up near our cabin. It is about $190 as I recall…way cheaper than in the Bay Area. So I suggest…shopping around!</p>
<p>I’ve got you beat, dadinator. Our vet wanted to put our 12-year-old cat under anesthesia to CLEAN HER EARS. This cat has always scratched one of her ears more than the other - during allergy season it gets worse - but they’ve never been able to determine exactly what’s wrong (no mites; no fungus; no infections: etc.)</p>
<p>the cost? Approximately $350. Any guarantee they could diagnose (much less cure) the scratching? “Uh, no, no guarantee.” Sorry, not gonna do it.</p>
<p>She is a really sweet cat except when she goes to the vet - then she becomes The Crankiest Cat Alive. She’s bitten two vets so far. Maybe it’s just their idea of payback.</p>
<p>I always joke with my barber to start cutting dog’s hair,he’d make more money…;)</p>
<p>I pay 16 bucks,20 with tip for my haircut…pay 55 for my dog…</p>
<p>We haven’t just had our cat’s teeth cleaned, but had it done on the vets’ recommendation five years ago while she was having a bladder stone removed. They had noted some tartar so wanted to take the opportunity while she was down. The charge for “clean and polish teeth” was $75.80. That was the only time she had her teeth done.</p>
<p>She had another stone removed two years ago and when I subtract out the stone part and just leave costs associated with putting her under, it comes to about $250. So I guess $450 does seem a bit high, especially since our vet service is rumored to be on the high side. But such a nice staff.</p>
<p>I’m always in shock at the bill when our Tabby gets her annual exam and senior blood screening (she is 16). Then I compare it to the bill for my husband’s Audi repairs - and the cat is older than the car!</p>
<p>It is a lot of money, but I wouldn’t do it for 10 times as much!</p>
<p>We have 2 dogs. One has great teeth and the other’s are a mess. Same breed, same diet, just genetic differences. We recently paid $420 to have our 5-lb dog’s teeth cleaned with a few extractions. I feel your pain!</p>
<p>In our area (and probably most place) vet care is all over the board. Our great vet retired and the woman who bought is practice is notorious for running up the bill. She wanted to do thousands of dollars worth of lab work on my fifteen year old dog.
My cat broke a tooth (probably in a backyard brawl) and needed it removed. I took her in only to get a call that they detected a heart murmur and wanted to do additional tests before putting her under!
I took her to another vet who detected no heart murmur. I told that vet I would not hold him responsible if she didn’t survive the anesthesia but I wanted that tooth pulled. He had no problem doing it and in fact they did clean her teeth (at their suggestion) for a very reasonable fee since she was already under. She is fine and no sign of any heart murmur in any procedures since 
Get a second quote and a second opinion.
Scout: I used to have a cat who would defecate on the vets table
Thankfully this one does not.</p>
<p>They wanted a minimum of $650 to clean our dog’s teeth, but more if they encountered anything unusual, wanted me to sign off on them running up the tab. We declined. She eats dry food exclusively, give her periodic denta-bones. After an unexpected well-dog check-up cost of $410, I am skeptical of everything. People will not be able to give their pets care if the charges are this high. </p>
<p>The good news is that DS saw the bill, and he was shocked. We had been in discussions about him getting a cat, and I had been telling him that pets can be expensive. He believes me now.</p>