Dental cleaning
 

My 4 pound yorkie, Roxy, needs to go for a dental. She is 5 years old and has a petite mouth. Her front teeth look great but her molars are a different story. I brush her teeth regularly and do everything I can do for her dental health.

Am I better going to my vet for a dental cleaning for my 4 pound yorkie or a AVDC diplomate? Is there a big difference? What is the cost estimate? It has been years since any of mine have needed them and my previous experiences were not good ones- The dog's was very sick afterwards. My vet has never done a cleaning in my furrbutts because it wasn't needed til now. She did get a quick dental were the vet took off major tartar when she was spayed.

Thanks everyone!

I think most people just have dentals done at there vets office unless they are having something other done like root canal or something. I would make sure to get blood work done before. Callie had one at a specialist but only because she was having a root canal but then a few months later she had to have an extraction and had it done at our regular vet. My moms Yorkie also had it done at our regular vet.

You could call for estimates. I use my vet...matter of fact I have four going tomorrow for dentals.

Cathy/107barney has used specialists and I know the cost for her is high but the vets in her area are also up there so I don't know...

I have personally not used one...there is one now at the specialist hospital that I use...I really need to just ask one day about cost. They are 45 minutes from me, so I am really not so anxious to do that unless it is for a special problem.

I have never had an issue with the dentals done by my vet.

Guess I am not much help eh? :D

Oh, and if it is weight you are concerned with, two of mine who are going tomorrow are 4 pounds and 5.5 pounds. They have had dentals previously without any problems.

Four at one time I would be a mess. I will keep them in my prayers for a safe dental.

hah...thanks...I am kind of used to this. I also have a foster going in for bladder stone surgery. It is yorkie day at my vet tomorrow. :D

I have three going next week...then we are done for yearly exams and dentals and I will be on a diet because the vet took all of my grocery money. :eek: :p;)

You don't get a multiples discount lol

hahah no....but on exam fees I get a small one.. :)

I think it is more me and my nerves than anything else. My mom's Bichon got pneumonia after a dental at age 8 or 9. I also have a family friend whose terrier developed seizures after a dental due to questionable hypoxia during the cleaning. Her vet denied that hypoxia was possible but they also did admit to not having pulse ox. on the dog during the procedure. They did not have their dentals done by my vet!

My vets office sees mostly 20 pound or larger dogs. Roxy did great with her spay. She had a light dental then- He took off tartar from rear molars only.

She is a fighter. She was the smallest of 3 boys and 2 girls in her litter. She ADHD to the extreme compared to the others. She will hike for hours without slowing down. She was back to her old self less than 18 hours after she was spayed. Including jumping out of a playpen with 3 foot high sides and then jumping back in when she saw me coming for her- Enough to say "It wasn't me. I was in here the whole time". I honestly did not think her jumping 3-4.5 feet high was a possibly after her spay. I put her in the playpen to keep from jumping and playing with the other dogs. She is a tenacious little terrier for sure.

I wonder How much more a specialist charges than a regular vet for a dental? If it is not that much more than a specialist might not be a bad idea for me and my well being. I know I wouldn't think twice for Buddy (90 pounds) or even Cozy but Cozy is 2-3 times the size of Roxy.

If you call, I am sure they will give you the charges.

I guess I should just call! Maybe thy can reassure me that I am just over reacting.

I like going to the dental clinic. They deal with teeth and maxillofacial surgery all day every day. For me it costs slightly more than a regular vet but worth it.

That is kind of my thought process.

Jackson went to a dental specialist for a different tooth issue (he had a vital pulpotomy on a canine tooth). And also got cleaned while under. I really loved them. SO thorough and I felt extremely confident leaving him there. All they do is dental-related things all day. It was an almost $1500 procedure when all was said and done.

When it came time to get him another dental cleaning, I called them first and got an estimate of $850!!! :eek: I felt confident enough in my regular vet to do just a cleaning for less than half the cost. It cost us $364 for the cleaning, $63 for pre-op bloodwork, and $44 for OraVet including the kit to take home. I dropped him off at 7:30 and picked him up by 12:30. He hated me for 24hrs but then he was fine and he did great. :)