Dog Dental Work - Recommendations please

[Anonymous]

For future reference, we just had our dog's teeth cleaned -- no teeth removed and it was about $250. That's what I heard from several different vets too so seems to be about right. We go to Seven Locks Animal Hospital in North Bethesda/Potomac. We also used to take our dog to McLean Animal Hospital and loved it there too. It is important to get your dog's teeth cleaned every few years to avoid having to have teeth removed. Also, they have meat flavored toothpaste for brushing in between cleanings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here...
Took the dog to Hayfield Animal Hospital yesterday. Total bill came to $800 with a 'discount.' The facilities are clean and nice, though. I can't help but wonder if I got a little fleeced on the bill (they removed a lot of her teeth, and I wonder if they didn't try too hard to save them), but what's done is done. If she's happy and healthy in a week, I'll probably decide it was all worth it.

OP, I'm the poster who suggested Hayfield. THANK YOU so much for posting your experience. We haven't had our dog's teeth done yet, but based on your experience I'll be sure we're especially clear on what they will and won't be doing and how much it will cost.

[Anonymous]

Dr. Hinn, owner of Hayfield, over charges. Hayfield is expensive! Delray is less expensive and was once partnered with Hayfield.

Again, I paid $85 for my dog's dental, which included a cleaning and 6 teeth pulled. And she was in good hands. In addition, we have VPI, the superior plan, covers some dental but I refuse to pay what some of these vets charge for a dental. No wonder so many people have to euthenize their pets, pet procedures aren't affordable.

I have a good friend who works at Dr. Hinn's hospital in Fairfax Station. She told me that dogs and cats are put down often because of the high costs of vet care.

[Anonymous]

OP again...I brought my dog to Hayfield for a pre-exam and was given an estimate with a low price and a high price with a heavy emphasis on the discount they are offering for cleaning this month. The vet estimated it would be somewhere in the middle (about $450-$500). Of course, when I showed up to get the dog after dropping her for the cleaning, the bill was completely at the high end. During the pre-exam, the vet said she was very conservative and only removes teeth if absolutely necessary. I didn't feel that she behaved conservatively at all.

Lesson learned!

PP - Be very careful with the estimate they will give you. They will assure you they'll be conservative, but that was not the case with us.