How much does dog teeth & dental cleaning cost?
How much does dog teeth & dental cleaning cost?
An anesthesia-free dog teeth cleaning costs $100 to $300, while anesthesia based cleaning costs between $500 and $1,000. The cost will vary depending on the location, veterinary office, size and age of the dog, bloodwork, any necessary extractions, anesthesia cost, aftercare, and medication.
$175 – $660 average cost
An anesthesia-free dog teeth cleaning costs $100 to $300, while anesthesia based cleaning costs between $500 and $1,000. The cost will vary depending on the location, veterinary office, size and age of the dog, bloodwork, any necessary extractions, anesthesia cost, aftercare, and medication.
Dental hygiene is important for people, but it’s also equally important for dogs. If your dog's dental health isn't maintained, it can lead to bigger problems like heart and kidney disease.
Overall, expect to pay about $200 for your dog’s standard teeth cleaning. However, treatments and procedures vary quite a bit depending on several different factors. Read on for more details.
How Much Does Dog Teeth Cleaning Cost?
An anesthesia-free dog teeth cleaning costs $100 to $300, while anesthesia-based cleaning costs between $500 and $1,000. The cost will vary depending on these other factors:
Your location
The veterinary office
The size and age of your dog
Bloodwork
Aftercare or medications
Any necessary tooth extractions
Additional boarding costs if the dog isn’t able to return home the same day
The pricing can range anywhere from a few dollars to thousands, depending on which procedures are deemed necessary. Anesthesia can also be very expensive, depending on the age and size of the dog.
The Different Types of Dog Dental Cleaning Costs
There are a few different types of cleaning procedures for dogs, depending on their dental needs and current health:
Anesthesia-free Teeth Cleaning: $100 to $300
At an average cost of $200, an anesthesia-free tooth cleaning procedure works well for most dogs, unless they have behavioral issues that won’t allow them to be handled by others. This procedure doesn’t require all of the initial bloodwork and testing that go along with regular dental cleaning procedures, but it requires the dental professional to use a special tool to scrape surface plaque off the teeth.
One advantage of anesthesia-free cleaning is that there is virtually no downtime, so the dog can go home right after the procedure is finished. This should be done every six months to a year, depending on how faithful you are with regular brushing at home.
Anesthesia Teeth Cleaning: $500 to $3,000+
The most thorough procedure involves anesthesia and provides a deeper clean that goes below the gum line and beyond the surface of the teeth themselves. This procedure is more expensive at an average cost of $1,000 and also involves an additional exam and bloodwork required to make sure the dog is healthy and can be put under anesthesia.
You dog may require X-rays if the dentist or technician needs to rule out things like periodontal disease before the cleaning takes place. Tooth extractions may also increase the cost.
It can take up to five days for the anesthesia to work its way out of your dog’s body and for your dog to get back to his/her normal self. To help the recovery, soften your dog’s food to make it less painful to eat, and give him/her the painkillers prescribed regularly.
What does a dog dental cleaning include?
An excellent, reputable dental cleaning service will include the following:
Full dental/oral examination, bloodwork, pre-anesthesia physical, digital X-rays, oral radiography, anesthetic, catheter, IV fluids, oxygen monitoring, EKG monitoring, dental probing, scaling, polishing, charting of teeth, before and after photos, before and after care, and possible overnight care.
Additional Dog Dental Costs To Consider
Digital X-rays alone can cost $500 to $1,000, and oral radiography adds $150 to 200+ more. Tooth extraction prices depend on the difficulty:
Tooth extraction (simple) – $10 to $15 per tooth
Tooth extraction (elevated) – $25 to $35 per tooth
Tooth extraction (with a drill) – $100 or less per tooth
Root canal (charged by the root) – $1,000 to $3,000 per tooth
How often should I get my dog's teeth professionally cleaned?
Get your dog's teeth professionally cleaned at least once per year. If you regularly brush your dog's teeth at home, you may be able to wait longer between cleanings. Check with your local clinic for more details.
What are signs that my dog needs teeth cleaning?
Just like people, as dogs age, their teeth tend to grow weaker and decay. A smaller dog’s teeth are even more at risk because their teeth are more likely to be crowded in their mouths and retain more plaque, like those of Yorkies, dachshunds, and chihuahuas.
With proper care, a dog may be able to keep most or all of its teeth for a lifetime. This is exactly why regular maintenance is necessary to keep dental health optimal. Brushing and veterinary teeth cleaning at least once a year is essential in order to maintain a healthy mouth. Some signs that your dog may be in trouble in this area are:
Bad breath – Though many dogs may have dog breath, which is often seen as normal, an ongoing unpleasant scent coming from dogs’ mouths is usually a sign that something is going on with their dental health. Odors that give off as stale or rotten should be addressed promptly with your veterinarian.
Loose or broken teeth – Unless dogs have broken teeth due to chewing something that is too hard for them, teeth that are inexplicably loose or broken off are a sign that they need to be seen by a vet. There may be an infection or periodontal disease causing this.
Trouble eating – If your dogs act stressed or uninterested in eating, it could be a sign that they have oral pain and need medical attention.
Brown- or yellow-stained teeth – If your dogs’ teeth are very discolored, they have obvious tartar buildup and need to have this removed in order to avoid further issues.
Gum sensitivity or bleeding gums – If dogs’ gums look puffy, inflamed, or bleeding, it’s important that they are seen by a dental professional as soon as possible. This is often a sign that there is a large buildup of bacteria and plaque within the gums, which can affect their internal organs if not treated quickly.
What is the process for dog teeth cleaning?
If you choose the more expensive anesthetic procedure, it provides a deeper clean that goes below the gum line and beyond the surface of the teeth themselves. Here is the process:
Anesthetic – Once a dog gets the all-clear on his physical, he will be sedated, intubated, and administered anesthetic gas and oxygen. The vet will more than likely also insert a catheter to relieve the dog’s bladder and set up an IV to administer fluids.
Cleaning – The vet uses an ultrasonic scaler to break up and remove plaque and tartar. A hand scaler is then used to clean along the gum line and all sides of each tooth. The vet will then use dental probes to assess the depth of the pocket between each tooth and the gum above it. If it’s abnormally deep, it’s a sign of periodontal disease. Usually, the vet will also do oral radiographs to search for malignant or benign masses, bone loss, and cavities.
Extractions – If extractions are necessary, the veterinarian will remove the teeth in question and suture the empty sockets with absorbing sutures.
Rinse and polish – The dog’s mouth is rinsed out and suctioned and the teeth are polished before being rinsed again. Some vets will also apply a fluoride treatment.
Aftercare – your dog will be monitored after reversing the anesthesia. Once he/she is fully recovered, you will be called to pick your dog up. At that time you’ll be given a prescription for painkillers and antibiotics if the vet deems them necessary.
Cost-effective Dental Maintenance For Dogs In Between Cleanings
Below are a few additional ideas for keeping your dog’s teeth clean and healthy in between dental visits.
Dog Dental Bones
There are several brands of special dental bones and chews for dogs that help with teeth cleaning and also freshen breath. Most pet stores, and even some veterinary offices, carry these. Regular chewing keeps tartar from building up as easily and gives dogs something to entertain themselves with when they get bored.
Dog Teeth Brushing
This may or may not sit well with dogs, depending on their temperament and how relaxed they are when it comes to their mouths. There are special dog toothpaste on the market as well as special brushes that allow you to clear away visible food particles and other buildup. Along with this, there are some products on the market that go into the dog’s food and help soften and break up plaque on the teeth, and even sprays that go directly into the mouth to help with buildup.
Most grooming services include basic teeth brushing or offer it as an add-on. Many dog owners choose this option and have it done when the dog is groomed, even though tooth brushing should be done at least twice a week for 30 seconds a side.
Choosing Your Dog’s Teeth Cleaning Provider
Since there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to pricing out teeth cleaning procedures for your dog, it’s important to ask around before you commit to one specific dental practitioner. Referrals are a great way to go, but there are several ways to do your research online to find the best one.
Dog dental care is essential to your pet’s overall health and well-being, and should be carefully considered. The best way to find out what local veterinary offices or special animal dentists will charge is to:
Look for reviews on HomeGuide and Google.
Call and ask for price quotes for clinics around your area so you can compare and choose the service that best fits your needs.
Ask if the clinics or stores offer reduced costs or specials on teeth cleaning.
Make sure the clinic is qualified in surgical dental care for dogs if you choose the anesthesia method.