How Much Does Dog Teeth Cleaning Cost? (2024 Update)
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Dental health is essential for canines, even though it may be overlooked. Gum disease and similar dental problems can lead to bacteria ending up in the bloodstream and heading to essential areas throughout the body, including the organs.
Keeping your dog’s teeth clean often means taking them to regular cleanings. These can cost a relatively substantial amount. In general, you can expect to pay about $100 for professional dog teeth cleaning. We’ll discuss exactly how much you may be paying in more detail in this article.
The Importance of Canine Dental Health
Dental health is essential. Of course, cleanings help keep your dog’s teeth in a stable condition. Without proper care, your canine may lose teeth. Keeping your dog’s teeth clean can also prevent bad breath. While this is a minor thing, it can be a big deal to many dog owners.
Infections and broken teeth can cause severe pain. By keeping your dog’s teeth clean, you can prevent them from experiencing the extreme pain that often comes with dental problems.
If bacteria enter your pet’s mouth and they have small sores or gum disease, the bacteria may find itself in your dog’s bloodstream. This can end up harming your canine’s heart, liver, and kidneys. Eventually, this can cause serious illness.
How Much Does Professional Dog Teeth Cleaning Cost?
How much it costs to get your dog’s teeth cleaned varies. Your geographical location can have a huge effect on your overall cost, as will your dog’s size and the extent of the cleaning.
A cleaning itself may only cost a few hundred dollars. If your dog needs extra work, like teeth extractions, you could be looking at thousands of dollars. Often, a significant cost is going to be anesthesia. Dogs will need to be sedated to clean their teeth effectively. This costs quite a bit of money. Larger dogs will require higher doses of anesthesia, so you will often have to pay more in these cases.
The standard estimate is about $100 for the cleaning itself. X-rays and sealing will cost extra, though they will often need to be done to ensure the dog’s teeth are cleaned properly. Anesthesia likely adds another $120 to the list. In the end, you can expect cleaning to cost about $300–$700.
Additional Costs to Anticipate in Dog Teeth Cleaning
Most of the time, a dog might not just need a cleaning. As we already stated, X-rays and sealings will often be required. These could add about $50 to the overall costs.
Extra procedures will cost more—some dogs may need extractions and root canals. A straightforward extraction can cost as little as $10. This procedure often takes very little time, which is one reason why it is so inexpensive. Teeth that need to be split with a drill to be removed will cost up to $100 per tooth.
Root canals cost even more. You can expect to pay a few thousand dollars to them per tooth, depending on the number of roots the tooth has.
How Often Should I Get My Dog’s Teeth Cleaned?
Most dogs will need an oral exam and cleaning every year. Your vet can have a look at your dog’s teeth at their yearly checkup and determine if they need cleaning or not. Smaller and brachycephalic breeds may need teeth cleanings more often, as they are often more prone to teeth problems. These dogs usually need extractions more often as well, so plan for those costs.
Dogs with extra crowding in their mouth will need more care, as the crowding can cause problems to develop faster.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Dental Fees?
Not in most cases. Cleanings are usually considered preventative care, so they aren’t usually covered by dog insurance, which usually only covers emergencies. Sometimes, they will cover teeth extractions, as these are sometimes considered “emergencies.” Broken teeth are often included as well.
Taking Care of Your Dog’s Teeth In Between Cleanings
You should brush your dog’s teeth daily. Use an enzymatic cleaner to clean their teeth more effectively with less effort. When you clean their teeth, you should check for injuries and redness. Redness can be an obvious sign of gum disease, which can cause significant problems for dogs. Sometimes, gum disease can cause serious bacterial infections. This is particularly common in older dogs and others with compromised immune systems.
Dental chews can help, but they should not be used exclusively—they do not replace teeth brushing. Furthermore, you should not rely on kibble either. It doesn’t really do much to reduce the plaque on your dog’s teeth, despite some of the misconceptions. In fact, dogs that eat canned food and dogs that eat kibble often develop teeth problems at the same rate.
Conclusion: Dog Teeth Cleaning
Teeth cleanings are essential. They can be expensive, though. Usually, you should plan to pay a few hundred dollars at least. If you get your dog’s teeth clean while they’re sedated for a different surgery, it is often much cheaper.
- Related Read: How Much Do Dog Teeth Implants Cost? 2023 Update
Featured image credit: Chang-Pooh24, Shutterstock
