Price of Dog Tooth Extraction: Cost of Procedure and More

In general, the price of a dog tooth extraction is anywhere between $10 and $50, depending on the severity of the situation. For the most part, expect to pay on the lower end of the scale, assuming it’s standard tooth extraction. For severe dental problems and infections, the cost may skyrocket into the thousands.

Dogs, just like humans, have tooth problems from time to time, especially as they grow older. Some dogs tend to have some of the same problems humans do, with overcrowded teeth or new teeth growing beneath adult teeth. Root canals and emergency extractions are common and costly as well.

A typical doggy tooth extraction is the same (in terms of the overall process) as a human tooth extraction. Your veterinarian will take some dental X-rays and place the dog under general anesthesia. From there, it’s just a matter of pulling the tooth, again, assuming everything is normal and there are no underlying issues.

Reasons for a Dog Tooth Extraction

The price of a dog tooth extraction is far more flexible when other issues are going on with your pup’s dental health. Several factors are at play. While the extraction itself is generally inexpensive, you should also consider the cost of X-rays and a general examination before the prep work and extraction take place.

Overcrowded Teeth

This is as commonplace in dogs as it is in humans. Sometimes, their teeth grow in such a way that they are coming up underneath adult teeth or simply don’t have enough space to grow. This can cause pain and make it difficult for your puppy to eat.

Abscess and Gum Disease

Though both are probably less common in dogs than people, it still happens, and it complicates the price of a dog tooth extraction. Gum disease, such as gingivitis, causes long-term problems, especially when the dog is older. An abscess is far more common when your dog has gingivitis, especially over a long time.

Damaged or Fractured Teeth

Dogs are capable of damaging and cracking their teeth. That may be difficult to believe, seeing as they are capable of chewing bones and other hard materials. However, it does happen and it’s capable of causing enormous pain and discomfort.

Cancer

Cancer is the most dreaded of circumstances but it affects our four-legged friends just as much as it does our loved ones. Anytime a dog is dealing with cancer in their mouth, there’s a good chance that tooth extraction is on the table.

Expenses Associated with the Price of a Dog Tooth Extraction

As in everything in life, dental and health issues are rarely singular in terms of cost. If you go to a health clinic, you may see a total cost on your bill, but that cost includes several procedures, including any kind of tests or procedures that take place throughout your visit.

The same is true here. You’ll never go to a veterinarian, head straight back to the room with your pup, have its tooth extracted, and go home. This is especially true if you find yourself in a veterinarian’s office for the very first time.

A first-time visit to the vet always includes a general exam. The vet has to familiarize themselves with the dog’s current health and begin building a chart that will serve as the foundation for all succeeding visits to the vet. A general exam isn’t too costly but, with everything else, it tends to add up in a hurry.

Bloodwork

To extract a tooth, general anesthesia is required at most vets. However, a vet cannot administer general anesthesia without doing bloodwork tests first. The bloodwork results will determine whether or not your dog is capable of going under or if it has problems that would complicate such a procedure. A bloodwork test will cost anywhere between $100 and $200.

X-Rays

If it’s the second or third tooth extraction, odds are good your canine won’t have to go through this again unless it’s been quite a while since the last. Like a general examination, an X-ray helps the vet build a baseline foundation on your dog’s dental health and makes it easier to identify problems and solutions down the road.

Since an X-ray is generally included in the price of a dog tooth extraction, you’ll see it as part of the overall bill. The X-ray alone will cost roughly $200 to $250.

General Anesthesia and Nerve Blocks

General anesthesia is kind of an hourly bill, though it has a more standard cost if it’s a short time and the tooth is extracted without any issues. However, if the dog has to stay under for a prolonged period, the cost goes up. For the most part, expect to pay about $250 for the general anesthesia and more if there are complications and the dog has to stay under longer.

A vet will also numb the area around the tooth before extraction. This way, the dog doesn’t wake up confused, with a lot of pain in its mouth. By the time the pain returns, it will be safely home with you and more comfortable. The application of numbing agents costs about $20 to $25 per use.

Aftercare Medicine

As with a doctor or a dentist for people, dogs will get prescription medication as well, usually antibiotics or pain relievers. These will usually cost between $50 and $100, depending on what procedure was done, how long it has to heal, and things of that nature.

Not only will the dog get these medications post-procedure, but it may also get some pre-procedure, costing anywhere between $40 and $90, depending on how much is used before the dog is put under.

Other Potential Costs

As you can see, the price of a dog tooth extraction is a bit ‘all over the place.’ There are so many factors to consider that it’s difficult to nail down a precise cost. The only way to predict a low-cost procedure is if your pup only needs a small, single-tooth extraction, already has a previous X-ray chart, and there are zero complications pre or post-procedure.

Unfortunately, there are also costs outside of what a vet will do, mostly based on specific teeth, economic factors, and location factors. For instance, if you live near a city, expect to pay a premium if you take your dog to an inner-city dentist, rather than to a suburban or more rural location.

The size of your dog matters too. Don’t expect to pay the same price for tooth extraction in a great dane versus the same tooth in a Chihuahua. Carnassial teeth usually cost more as well, simply because they are often the most challenging to handle.

The incisors, deciduous canines, third molars, and premolars are “single-root” teeth and therefore easier to extract. They will cost less, in general, than the other teeth. If the tooth is fractured or there are significant, underlying issues, the cost goes up, sometimes exponentially.

Timing matters as well. An emergency trip to the vet for an immediate tooth extraction is a lot more costly than a set appointment timeframe.

Doggy Dental Insurance

As in humans, so in pets. What we mean to say is, pet dental insurance is nearly the same as human dental insurance. Also, like humans, pet medical insurance is unlikely to cover dental procedures. Pet dental insurance will cover the price of a dog tooth extraction, however, along with all of the associated procedure costs.

A major dental issue is costly enough that it should be a warning sign that pet dental insurance is a necessity. It can save you thousands of dollars, especially if there are major complications in your dog’s dental health. While the price of single tooth extraction is no big deal, it rarely works out that way in real life.

All Things Considered

Unfortunately, the price of a dog tooth extraction is not as cut and dry as it is on paper. There is usually something going on. Even when there isn’t, you still have to calculate the costs of associated procedures, such as X-rays, general anesthesia, and before or aftercare.

With pet insurance, you will save a lot of money if your dog is going through serious dental issues. However, it’s up to you whether or not it’s worth it in your particular circumstance. Either way, the odds are fair that your dog will need a dental procedure at some point, usually when it is older. It always pays to be prepared!