Need an opinion

[aligator79]

Oliver need to have his teeth cleaned and has a tooth that has to be pulled because it's about to abcess.  Poor guy.  I got an estimate of $450 from his vet.  We also have a veterinary college here where I had Oliver and Taz done 4 years or so ago it was about $600 for both of them. (Talk about shocked- I expected $300 for the pair not each.) Do I take him there to get an estimate also?  It would be $31 for the exam to give me the estimate.  Oh boy- There goes my tax refund  :)  

[Jade59]

Good luck next Wed,  Ali.  The cleaning and pulling of the abscessed tooth will make all the difference for Oliver.  When we first got Jade, her breath was so gross.  The first cleaning helped, but little did we know, her front broken fang was abscessed along with 2 other teeth that needed to be pulled.  All that was done a year and a half ago and she still has good breath.  The entire thing including anesthesia came to $415, but I don't believe that included prior bloodwork.  

No food after 8am Mon for the bloodwork?  Then no food after 10pm Tues for surgery on Wed.  That's great Olivers bloodwork came back so good!  Just take the records with you like Opus said.  

p.s.  we also get charged for all the waste like needles, catheter, etc so don't be surprised.

[aligator79]

I think the Monday is for bloodwork if I do decide to have it done Wednesday.  I thought it was odd, but who knows.  

[opus88]

why can't you feed them after 8 a.m on Monday? this is just for the exam right? they don't need to be NPO before an exam thats only before surgery................so if the surgery was Wednesday a.m. than you will take away food and water at 10p.m. Tuesday.

and no don't repeat Olivers blood work, you may want to get a copy of the tests results and bring along with you though.(great news btw)

[aligator79]

I called the college and they won't give me an estimate until they see him.  She told me they stopped giving general estimates due to each one being so different.  Last time they told me $85 but didn't tell me that it didn't include x-rays or any of the other "stuff" I honestly don't think that included the anesthesia just the actual cleaning.  

I went ahead and made an appointment for Monday for both Ollie and Lucy.  Her breath is getting a little stinky and she's never had one.  They will do the exam and do blood work if I decide to go ahead and have them do it then (Oliver just had his senior kitty blood work done and was great! Woo Hoo!!)  So I don't think they would need to do his again.  I will drop them off at 7:30 Wednesday morning and pick them up around 5.  

This should be interesting- No food after 8 am Monday and 10 pm Tuesday.  I probably won't be getting much sleep that night.  :)

[zodiacqueen]

Yes, most definitely go to the college again.  It can't hurt, and might even save you some bucks.

Why don't you call them for an estimate?  And, let us know what you find out.

[opus88]

yes those Vet bills sure do add up quickly don't they..my one boy is also in need of a cleaning..next week!!
IMO ali if I had access to a college I would go that route, there the students are under the watch of very qualified instructors sometimes even specialists in their field, not only the dental staff but anesthesiologist too.  by your math even with the exam fee you would still be ahead over $100.
If you went ahead with the booking before the exam wouldn't it all be covered under the one expense? I know it is here in my clinic, I book and our Vet gives an exam and vitals before the cleaning and its all incl in the price....just give them a call and check..
best of luck to kitty.....
BTW...if you are interested PM me, I've been doing some research on one of the common pre anesthetic drugs thats not getting good recommendations..so personally I am searching for a better choice.