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[quote=Anonymous]I take into account a few things:

1) total cost. X-rays and potentially needed extractions is probably not exorbitant. What’s the range you’re talking about? Let’s say it’s $500 (if it’s just the x-rays) or potentially $1500 if he needs extractions too. 
2) chance of successfully resolving the issue. Presumably for something this routine, it’s nearly 100%
3) prognosis if you do it. Presumably your cat is otherwise healthy, so he would live another 1-5 years. 
4) prognosis if you don’t do it. This is the big unanswered question, so definitely worth asking. Let’s guess that it means increasing pain while eating, getting worse over time, potentially needing to put the cat to sleep because he can’t eat in, let’s say, 2 years. (I’m making this up! Get actual info from the vet!)

For me, that balance would be worth even the max $1500, so I would do it.

But if the cost was $10k, that’s a no from me. If the prognosis without doing it is pretty similar to the general prognosis for a 14 year old cat (for example if the teeth aren’t extracted his life expectancy tops out at more like 4 years instead of 5) I wouldn’t do it. If this was some surgery with a less than 20% chance of success, I wouldn’t do it. You’ve really got to weigh all these factors. [/quote]

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