Just for the record.
I've stood by the side of each dog I've had to put down.
And the drove him home and buried him, with my own sweat and labor.
They deserve that much from us.

Only 4.08 for tax? Where was this at?

I have done the same and agree with you 100% on this. It is a tough thing to do no doubt, but it is owed to our companion.

That's about what the estimate our vet gave us for cleaning our miniature schnauzer's teeth looked like.

I told them he'd just have to start eating canned food.

I don't even know where to start with this. I probably shouldn't but here goes.

First off, a lot of the rough and tough guys on here are likely the same ones that drop their companion off 15 years at my back door and leave because they "can't be with him/her" when I have the noble task of ending undue pain and suffering.

"Vets look after them selves and the critters, not you." Some truth to this, some not. Absolutely I look after myself. I have a staff of employees that look to me for a job. I need their help, that's why I employ them. I like to be able to pay these people. I have to be able to pay these people, pay my suppliers, pay my power bill, property tax, business tax, state licensing, Federal drug licensing, the list go's on and on. Unfortunately, that requires me to make a profit.

Number one my focus as a veterinarian is public health. Rabies vaccinations aren't mandatory just so I can spend sweltering Saturday mornings in various parking lots around the county charging (albeit what the state says I am required to charge) for them. I can promise you I don't enjoy euthanizing and removing the head off of a 7 month old kitten with severe neurological signs that lives in a house with young children. Forgot to mention the part where the unvaccinated kitten enjoys playing with the raccoons on the porch every night. Veterinarians are the first line of defense against zoonotic disease transmission to humans. Veterinarians are also the first line of defense in food safety in this country. So yeah we are looking after you.

An animal's best interest is always in my mind. When I am examining an animals, my thoughts are not on the bill that's sitting due in my mailbox, my employees wanting raises, the estimated cost of my supplies that raise 15% per year, all while trying to keep my prices the same or deal with the complaints of clients. Our focus is on that pets best interest, and working out a treatment plan that is effective and the client can afford. That's my focus at least. Yes, large animals have a price point where the animal is no longer worth treating. What's the fair market value on a dog or cat? If you know the answer the United States Supreme court would like your help.

Going back to the ESTIMATE at hand. I believe people have lost sight that it's an estimate for the procedure. No veterinarian (at least one that doesn't want to be sued) does an elective procedure on an animal and sticks you with the bill. That's not only ethically wrong it's illegal.

In my humble opinion, that is the best medical care available for your animal. Everything on there is gold standard of care. Keep in mind that 500 dollar dental is going to cost you 1200 in Nashville, 2000 in Austin, 2500 in LA.

If one doesn't want to pay it, then don't pay it. No one is forcing anyone to do anything. Unlike the emotional blackmail that I and most if not all of my colleagues are subjected to on a daily basis. "If you cared you'd do it for free". Hear that one all the time. Usually the offending party gets on their iPhone on the way outside to their luxury SUV.

It all comes down to this : Good medicine isn't very cheap, and cheap medicine isn't very good. Looking at that estimate, I think you're getting the best veterinary medical care available and at an incredible price.

Its evident most folks have not read this thread. He clearly stated that this was what the vet said needed to be done, not that they went ahead and did it without his permission. That is all carry on.

Is all this really necessary? I took my 8 year old lab in for rabies shot and turns out apparently she is falling apart

This is just a proposal of what needs to be done, I just got her rabies and yearly checkup.

For all of you talking about how it seems too expensive to clean a dog's teeth, how many of you have dogs that will just lay there with their mouths open and let that work be done like most of us humans will?

For all of you talking about how it seems too expensive to clean a dog's teeth, how many of you have dogs that will just lay there with their mouths open and let that work be done like most of us humans will?

A significant chunk of the proposed cost for cleaning a dog's teeth is due to the cost of the anesthesia required to keep your canine friend still so the work can be done. Typically, there are to types of anesthetic drugs used - the first is given intravenously to quickly sedate the dog and it is very short acting (like Propofol), but long enough to get the dog intubated and placed on a gas anesthesia such as Isoflurane.

If your dog is over a certain age (my vet here uses 6 years as the magic number), they will want to do bloodwork to be sure that there is nothing going on that would make using general anesthesia a huge risk in surviving the procedure.

Several of the itemized charges on that paper were related to the use of anesthesia.

Yes, the original ESTIMATE posted here is suggesting, as some have said, "the gold standard" plan of care. If it were me, I would inquire about how necessary some of those items are if I was wanting to trim the cost down.

Oh, and that horrific breath your dog has - that is quite likely due to having a "yuck mouth" and having lots of plaque and tartar built up, not so much the fact that your dog may totally love going out and eating dead things or cow patties.

If you want your dog to have breath that doesn't smell like roadkill all the time, then you should consider regular teeth cleanings and accept that they come with a higher price tag than you would like.