That this makes me feel sad/stressed

[Hernamewaslola22]

I can't afford to go to the dentist to get the treatment I need and take my cat to the vet in one month. I worked hard for my degree and have a decent job. I've chosen the cat so looking at another month in pain with my tooth where filling has failed. This seems mad.

Can you go to a dental hospital near you?

Are they free?

What does the tooth need in terms of treatment? You can contact 111, tell them that you’re in pain, and they’ll direct you to an NHS dentist who can extract the tooth at NHS prices - though you may have to travel.

As this is AIBU: pets are expensive and I think a lot of people get pets without really thinking through the reality of what medical care costs when it isn’t taxpayer funded and recognising that they’re probably going to have to spend money on medical care for their pet and budgeting for that. If you can’t afford private medical treatment for yourself, then you can’t afford to be a pet owner - blunt, but it is what it is.

It is mad that dental treatment is so expensive and there is precious little government support.

I need two root canals, reconstructive work probably an implant over the root canal, an extraction and a filling. Conservative estimate is over £4k.

The animal sanctuary I rescued him from didn't tell me he had a heart murmur and is therefore not able to be insured. Unexpected things like this happen and it's not always as simple as you're making out that I just didn't think.

I've got an nhs dentist I just still can't afford both.

Would your dentist or vet consider a payment plan?
Is there anything else you can cut back on?

You don't know how long the OP has had the cat, or whether her circumstances have changed since getting it.

That’s very sad. Have you got the cat insured? You should if not because vets bills are crazy.

If you’re that hard up aren’t you eligible for free dental care and aren’t there some charities that provide free vet care?

It is lovely you are looking after your pet but if that tooth gets infected make sure you call 111.

Same here...first thing nhs dentist said to me 'do you want to go private?" state of dentist availability awful atm..

Life is very tough for a lot of people @Hernamewaslola22 Not sure what you expect people to say really. If you have an NHS dentist, you will only pay a top end of around £300. Also, as a pp said, pets do cost money. Did you not know this when you got your cat?

Yes as far I know

OP some cat charities offer either free or reduced cost vet treatment for cats. You may or may not have to provide proof of your financial situation, I don't know.

See my post above regarding pet insurance please.

where is your nearest one?

I can't get him insured because he has a heart murmur. Even though it's never needed treatment or caused him any symptoms or problems.

OP the fact that you choose the vet over the dentist tells me your cat is in the best of hands.

Try PDSA

You can insure a cat with a heart murmur, just any heart issues won't be covered but everything else can be.

Eastman Dental Hospital | Eastman Dental Institute - UCL – University College London

When I needed a tooth extracted they told me emergency dentists don't do extractions, even tho mine was really infected and making me really ill

Exactly! The last NHS dentist I saw said that I needed to go private for the root canal because their machines were old and I would get a better outcome and it would be less painful than their with their equipment.

One of my cats has a heart murmur that we only discovered after we adopted him from Cats Protection and we've never had a problem insuring him.

Have you tried Petplan? Specific heart problems might be excluded, but everything else should be fine.