AITA for being peeved about surprise tooth extractions during neutering?

A dog owner shared their frustration after discovering that their puppy underwent unexpected tooth extractions during a routine neutering procedure. The vet didn’t consult them beforehand, and while the cost wasn’t the issue, they felt left out of the decision-making process for their pet’s care. Was their reaction reasonable, or were they overreacting?

‘ AITA for being peeved about surprise tooth extractions during neutering?’

Today I dropped my dog off to get neutered. He’s a six-month Goldendoodle. This was part of a “puppy package” of care, which covered all necessary shots and wellness checks, and culminates with neutering and microchipping. I came back a few hours later to pick him up. While receiving the aftercare instructions, I was informed that they pulled a few of my dog’s teeth by the vet tech (VT). Our conversation went something like this:

VT: The only thing not covered by the puppy package is $20 for the two teeth we removed while he was under anesthesia, so if we can settle this up…
Me: Excuse me, you removed teeth? He was here for neutering.
VT: His two canines were starting to come in but the baby teeth were not loose so we removed them. It’s very standard and what the vet regularly recommends.
Me: Well, you did more than recommend it – you went ahead and did it.. silence. VT: I’ll be right back.

…now it’s important to note that I don’t care about the $20 charge. Had I been contacted and told that they recommended this, I would have OF COURSE went with the vet’s recommendation! But come on, at least act like I’m involved in the process rather than making me feel like I’m being suckered into a forced up-sell situation. A few minutes later, she came back…

VT: I spoke with the doctor and we are going to discount the $20 since we did not consult you first.
Me: It’s not about the $20. I’m more concerned about the fact that I came here for one procedure, and without any conversation or discussion, you expanded the scope of the visit to include tooth extraction.
VT: It was necessary. If we were to have done it at a separate visit, it would have been $250.

Me: I’m not concerned about the money if it’s necessary. I’m concerned about not knowing about it or approving it beforehand.
VT: It’s a very routine procedure. We regularly extract teeth while puppies are already under anesthesia.
Me: If it’s so routine and done so regularly, why was it not discussed at one of the many prior visits or even this morning?

VT: You know if we didn’t extract the teeth, it could have lead to issues with alignment, bacteria, and other complications.
Me: I’m not debating whether the extraction was necessary. I’m upset that I was not consulted first.. VT: I’ll be right back.

…this time she brought my puppy back with her. I thanked her and left. To be clear, I was not trying to be rude, difficult, or cheap in any way. But I got into the car with my poor sedated pup feeling like I was being rude, difficult, and cheap. I spoke with a few coworkers after I got back to my office, but I could use some other opinions as well. So, AITA for being peeved about surprise tooth extractions during neutering?. ​

Here’s the comments of Reddit users:

CheyBridgeMan −  While it IS pretty normal to extract deciduous (baby) teeth at time of spay/neuter, it should be on the consent form you signed or called in if there will be additional charges. No clinic I’ve ever worked at charged for this though. It was just like doing a nail trim during surgery—complimentary service.

You should talk to the practice manager. When I managed a hospital, these sorts of things happened from time to time due to new employees and it was an opportunity to counsel. NTA at all. But I promise, they weren’t doing unnecessary procedures either.

[Reddit User] −  YTA but just barely. You really shouldn’t have had this conversation with the VT. It wasn’t their call. You should’ve asked to speak with the vet and had the conversation with him/her. You put someone in a really uncomfortable position trying to defend something that they had no control over. Kinda like bitching at your waiter because your food is undercooked.

I agree this shouldn’t have been done without your consent, but also having experience as a surgery tech, sometimes they don’t notice this until it’s almost too late, and the anesthetic may have been close to wearing off so they were trying to save you a bunch of money by not having to reanethetize the animal. Who knows what the reason was for them to make that decision on their own, and honestly it takes 3 minutes tops so that 20 bucks isn’t going to hurt them not having it, but that is why you should’ve been speaking to the vet.

___totes_adorbs_x_ −  Whew! This makes my blood boil.. #NTA. If a veterinarian removed my dogs teeth without asking me I would never use them again and I would report them to a licensing board. Especially if they acted like I was freaking out about nothing. INFO: Did you speak to the doctor directly? How did they know their adult teeth were coming in? Did they X-ray them? What if they had accidentally pulled the adult canines?

I’ve had lots of dogs and the vet has never removed their teeth. My dogs have had cleanings and one even had a filling of sorts. That’s buuuullllllssshhhiiiitttt. Talk to the vet, the owner and their greasy granny and make damn sure they never do it again. F**k.

Carwash3000 −  ESH. I honestly think you made a big deal about nothing. what was your ideal outcome here? since they (initially) fucked up by not getting consent, did you really want them to hold off on the tooth extraction so you would be pointlessly out another 250 bucks? really?

You have this weird fixation on them trying to “pull one over” on when in reality they simply made an honest mistake by failing to get prior consent. “suckered into a forced up-sell situation.” Seriously how do you come to that conclusion? If they really wanted to bleed you dry they would NOT have extracted the teeth and then proceeded to b**lshit you with “there were complications with his teeth, you gotta come back again btw its 250 dollars xtra”.

Charilane83 −  NTA. this procedure should have been discussed with you prior to being done. Period. You have the right to approve all procedures done to your fur baby.

CSnarf −  NTA. I’m a vet. Look- the thing that they did- it was absolutely appropriate medicine, likely necessary and often done at the time of spay/neuter. However communication is key here and they fell down on the job on that. You aren’t wrong to be miffed. They should have called or pre-cleared it.

However, for perspective- if you would have approved it if they called- I might cut them some slack. Absolutely express that wasn’t cool- and they should apologize for the communication break down. But if you can, please be kind. We have a difficult job, and people yell at us all day long for things that are very much not our fault (animals being sicker than people thought, medicine costing money, etc).

Spaceshipjackaloo −  YTA— a little. I get it, you want to be consulted and you’re right, if it’s so routine, they should have mentioned it beforehand. But what I really wouldn’t want is my dog to be kept under longer while they call me and wait for my response, etc or to refrain from doing what’s best for my dog because I’m THAT patient who gave them hell last time.

maynard4pres −  YTA – A certain amount of trust has to be given between you and your vet. The procedure that they did was exceptionally minor – they removed two *baby* teeth that they deemed necessary to remove for the betterment of your dogs health. I can see how it would be upsetting not not to be notified had the additional procedure been major or had been costly – but this was neither.

By taking your dog to your vet at all you’re entrusting them and their breadth of knowledge to give the best care to your dog. In this case, you came in for a minor procedure, they saw an additional minor problem, and they rectified it. Case closed. Would you have had this reaction if they noticed your dogs nails were dangerously long and they trimmed them without consulting you?

Ultimately, you are not a vet. Getting your approval for something you know little to nothing about seems like a gross misuse of time. Again, had what they did been significant, very different story – but what was done had so little impact financially and on your dog that the fact that you had anything other to say besides “thank you” makes YTA.

PeachBlossom1234 −  YTA – this is totally normal and you’re overreacting. Baby puppy teeth can be a nightmare when they don’t loosen and fall out – then a further anaesthetic is needed and you would have had to pay. Seriously it’s nothing to worry about and they would only have noticed them when the puppy was sleeping.

ReaderofHarlaw −  YTA seriously? If you are so adamant that you don’t have a problem with the procedure or the cost and you agree that it was medically necessary (TRUST ME IT WAS) then I don’t see the issue? Do you want them to reinsert the teeth and do the procedure over? YTA for wanting them to kiss your rude, difficult, and cheap ass.