Ask Dr. Amanda: Emergency Dentistry
Christopher E. of Boston, MA asks:
Dr. Amanda replies:
Dear Christopher,
First let me say that without seeing the dog, I can't make a specific diagnosis. Second, I am sorry about your situation, and will try to help with some information.
It doesn't matter if a dog is a free-to-good-home mutt, or the most expensive pedigreed rare breed in a rare color show dog, they all cost about the same from the day you take them home. The price of food, veterinary care, supplies, and the stuff they destroy all adds up. It's a big responsibility that you must consider when getting any dog. Active breeds like GSP's seem even more likely to wind up needing emergency care.
The veterinary hospital you mentioned has a reputation as one of the best in the country, however that doesn't mean a second opinion isn't in order. Not only might you find the price lower in a different zip code, you might find another veterinarian who has a different approach to solving your problem. You wouldn't spend $2,000 on a television or computer without researching your options then shopping around.
If that price is ONLY for a tooth extraction, it seems quite high to me, but you should expect it to cost more than human medicine. The doctor doing the work has put in the same time in school (needed higher qualifications to get into vet school than medical school), has the same student loans, works the same hours, pays the same for medical supplies and the mortgage on the hospital, but is expected to work for a lot less money.
For extracting a dog's tooth, I have to use general anesthesia and intubate the dog. A dog's tooth is much harder than yours because of it's predatory evolution. It is also “tied” to the jaw much more strongly. Your cave-man ancestors used spears to kill and rocks to break bones to get to the marrow; your dog's wolf ancestors bit to kill and chewed through the bones. Depending on the tooth, it might need to be sawed or broken apart before it can be removed. I suspect your $500 budget is a little low for the procedure.
A lot of folks who find themselves staring at a large veterinary bill use Care Credit. It's a “line of credit” you can use for veterinary care, and even your own medical bills.
I know it's a little late for your situation, but there are several health insurance programs available for pets. I don't recommend any specific company, but you can easily find them on the Internet. Some plans cover everything, other (more affordable) plans would cover your expenses after you hit your spending limit (deductible).
You will have to decide what is best for you and your dog. This amount of expense, although it doesn't happen to everyone, is a pretty common occurrence in a GSP's lifetime. Over the past two years, six of our eight dogs would have racked up over $10,000 in emergency veterinary costs had I not been able to perform the procedures myself.
Good luck and God bless. Please let us know how everything turns out.
Dr. Amanda
Dear Dr. Amanda
I am an owner of a GSP which I got at a rescue. My dog mistook a rock for a goose while running around a pond. He cracked his tooth slightly which created an abscess. The infection went away and today manifested itself into a larger infection. I took the dog to the [a Boston Veterinary Hospital]. They want $2000+ to remove the tooth and various other expenses.
Do you know where I can get the tooth removed cheaper? I can not afford to remove this tooth and fear I may have to either give the dog away, send him to the rescue or find a dentist I can afford- no more than $500.00
I just got the dog in March at a rescue in CA. Never in my wildest imagination would I ever think a tooth would cost more than $2000.00, not even a human tooth cost that much.
I NEED HELP for fear for the dog safety and well being.
Christopher E.
Dr. Amanda replies:
Dear Christopher,
First let me say that without seeing the dog, I can't make a specific diagnosis. Second, I am sorry about your situation, and will try to help with some information.
It doesn't matter if a dog is a free-to-good-home mutt, or the most expensive pedigreed rare breed in a rare color show dog, they all cost about the same from the day you take them home. The price of food, veterinary care, supplies, and the stuff they destroy all adds up. It's a big responsibility that you must consider when getting any dog. Active breeds like GSP's seem even more likely to wind up needing emergency care.
The veterinary hospital you mentioned has a reputation as one of the best in the country, however that doesn't mean a second opinion isn't in order. Not only might you find the price lower in a different zip code, you might find another veterinarian who has a different approach to solving your problem. You wouldn't spend $2,000 on a television or computer without researching your options then shopping around.
If that price is ONLY for a tooth extraction, it seems quite high to me, but you should expect it to cost more than human medicine. The doctor doing the work has put in the same time in school (needed higher qualifications to get into vet school than medical school), has the same student loans, works the same hours, pays the same for medical supplies and the mortgage on the hospital, but is expected to work for a lot less money.
For extracting a dog's tooth, I have to use general anesthesia and intubate the dog. A dog's tooth is much harder than yours because of it's predatory evolution. It is also “tied” to the jaw much more strongly. Your cave-man ancestors used spears to kill and rocks to break bones to get to the marrow; your dog's wolf ancestors bit to kill and chewed through the bones. Depending on the tooth, it might need to be sawed or broken apart before it can be removed. I suspect your $500 budget is a little low for the procedure.
A lot of folks who find themselves staring at a large veterinary bill use Care Credit. It's a “line of credit” you can use for veterinary care, and even your own medical bills.
I know it's a little late for your situation, but there are several health insurance programs available for pets. I don't recommend any specific company, but you can easily find them on the Internet. Some plans cover everything, other (more affordable) plans would cover your expenses after you hit your spending limit (deductible).
You will have to decide what is best for you and your dog. This amount of expense, although it doesn't happen to everyone, is a pretty common occurrence in a GSP's lifetime. Over the past two years, six of our eight dogs would have racked up over $10,000 in emergency veterinary costs had I not been able to perform the procedures myself.
Good luck and God bless. Please let us know how everything turns out.
Dr. Amanda
One of my older girls started drooling. She had a tooth that had to come out. Got it done for a little over $400. She got the rest of her teeth cleaned as well. $2000 sounds incredibly high to me.
Good luck,
Terry
North Carolina
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Old rotted teeth are a different situation than young but fractured teeth. $2000 seems high, but we don't know if that's the extraction cost, or the extraction cost plus all the other work they have already done.
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