I'm sorry....Cleaning my dogs teeth will cost how much?!

Two weeks ago my husband took our dog who is a small 12 lb Lhasa Poo, Rosie, to the vet to have her paw looked at. She'd been messing with her paw for awhile and it needed tending to. They gave her a couple routine shots which were past due, lanced the swollen part on her paw and gave us some antibiotic pills. They looked at her teeth and said she needs a cleaning. Turns out small dogs, even if you brush their teeth, have dental problems.She's 3.5 years old.  We only feed her dry food because I heard wet food causes worse teeth.  There is debate on dry vs. wet by the way.  We feed her good food too.  She eats wheat free, meat is the 1st ingredient, Wellness Brand (or similar brand) dog food. 

I called and made a dental cleaning appointment for today. I take her in.  They ask do you want to add a heart worm test. Sure.  Do you want her bordetella vaccine. Sure. Okay, here is your low estimate.  $850.33!!!!  High Total estimate $981.33!!!! 

Are you serious??  For a dogs teeth?!  Not happening. Honey, I don't even have that much left on my credit card right now after all the dental work I'VE had done lately.  (another post to be written later). 

She apologized and I apologized, then Rosie and I walked out. 

How can it be so much money?  She's a dog!  I have the detailed estimate in front of me.  Let's look shall we? 

Dental Adult Dog Up to 8 years old:
Prep Profile (tests to make sure she's okay to be put under anesthsia).........$81.00
Hospitalization........$29.25
Anesthesia 1st 30 min ............$153.00
Anesthesia Each Add 15 min..........$118.50
Dental Prophy+Fluoride..............$99.25
Extract Tooth Minor...........$33.00
Antiobiotic injection...........$33.50
NSAID w/premed inj............$46.50 (what is this?)
Catheterization IV.................$51.50
Fluids Intravenous.................$17.00
IV Pump...............................$18.50
Oravet Dental Sealant Apply..........$20.25
Oravet Home Care Kit..................$31.31
Dental Vacc #1............................$24.50 ?(????)
Extras:
Bortadella vaccine.......................$25.50
Heartworm Test..........................$35.02

Subtotal:....................................$817.38

What sucks is that her breath is bad because she does need her teeth cleaned. How many regular (not rich) families can really afford to pay for their dogs teeth to get cleaned when it costs SO much?   On a regular basis mind you. It's not like she won't need this done again 3 years after she gets them cleaned. 
I feel bad for her.  I feel bad for us.  I want to do the right thing, really I do, but we can't afford it.  I love Rosie to death but she's a dog, not my child.  I'd scrape the money up for my child but sadly, Rosie falls into the Pet category.

Dental cleanings for dogs need to be cheaper.  Whose with me! 

Go OUTSIDE

My dog is pissing me off. Seriously. How difficult is it to walk a few more feet to the dog door to piss and poo OUTSIDE? Today she pee'd and poo'd TWICE downstairs. TWICE people! That totals 4 messes. She's on my last nerve. And it doesn't help that I go around calling her Piece of Shit Dog in front of the girls as I'm cleaning up the messes. Like I even have time in the mornings to clean up dog crap! I considered leaving it for Todd (because I'm evil) but I know better than to do that. He loves animals, and especially dogs, but he didn't want another responsibility added to his plate like cleaning up the dog crap before mowing the lawn. Well, that isn't really a problem since she takes her craps indoors! He and Rosie share a love/hate relationship. Once in awhile you'll catch Todd given her tons of love.

She knows when she's done wrong, don't think she doesn't. She looks at me and crouches down looking pathetic. If I had more time I'd scoop her up, carry her back downstairs (because she's hiding upstairs) shove her nose in it and toss her out back. But generally I don't have time for that on school days so she gets away with it. Little Shit.

Look how innocent she looks with Shawna. It's all an act I tell you.

Yes, that's my leg.

Rosie Shmosie "humps"

Rosie went to the groomer this week. She's always so small after she's been groomed. Her hair can get quite long which poofs her out. She's 10.2 lbs as of her last vet appt a few weeks ago.

Todd took the below pictures this week. I believe she was, or is about to, hump that green blanket. She likes to hump things. The girls call it "hugging". They think it's funny when Rosie tries to "hug" their arm. Yeah. Funny. We had her fixed and clearly since she's female it's just a domination thing. She really likes to hump Shawna's slippers, certain blankets, towels left on the floor, her fake sheepskin bed and a couple stuffed animals the girls might have laying around. She gets all worn out from it too, where her tongue is hanging out. She'll do it over and over again in a matter of 30 minutes or more. Maybe all day long if I didn't remove the darn thing she's in love with.

I remember a guy I went to jr. high and high school whose mom had a Llasa Apso, like Rosie, and that dog LOVED to hump my leg. Every damn chance it got it was on my leg. It was actually difficult to pull the dog off too! I was actually worried when I picked Rosie that I'd have that same problem, but since I was getting a female and 'thought' theirs must have been a male, since I couldn't really remember that far back, I hoped we'd be safe. I never saw that written up in any of the breed information that they're humpers. None of our dogs, which were Cocka-poos, did this so I really didn't think it would happen. Apparently I was wrong. Either way she's cute. She's our Rosie Shmosie.