Post Operative Dental Care for Cats and Dogs

Your pet has had an anaesthetic today so they may be disorientated and nauseous for the first 24 hrs. Please keep cats indoors and dogs on lead exercise only initially. Small meals at first will help if they are nauseous. Painkillers (analgesics) are given at the time of the procedure and you may have been given more for the next few days. Antibiotics may also be given. Please follow the guidelines on the packaging and finish the course. It is important that your pet is kept warm and quiet. Do not be alarmed if your pet sleeps more for the first 24hours. Please call for advice if you feel your pet is still experiencing severe pain or is not eating. Your pet may go home with a light pressure bandage on their leg, this can be removed an hour after returning home.

Feeding: Your pet has had dental work today so their teeth or gums may be sensitive for a few days, especially after extractions. We recommend offering a small amount of soft bland food on the first night after the procedure and soft food for a few days after extractions. When eating well they can usually revert to their normal diet. Dry foods tend to be better for keeping teeth clean and there are special diets for reducing dental plaque in dogs and cats, which may be beneficial for some patients. Water should be available on arrival home.

Exercise: Exercise should be kept to a minimum for the first 48 hours. After this exercise can resume as normal unless otherwise instructed by the vet. Cats should be kept restricted if possible for at least 48 hours.

Post Op Checks: A check up 7-10 days after the procedure is required to ensure the gums etc are healed. Please make an appointment with reception.

Going Forward: Every pet will have dental plaque on his or her teeth. This is due to deposits of food etc on the teeth forming tartar. Tartar can cause gum disease (gingivitis), which can in turn cause loosening of the teeth, abscesses and resorptive lesions in cats. Your pet will have had a full ultrasonic scale and polish today but it is up to you to try to slow down the build up in the future. Daily brushing is the gold standard but is not easy. Various other things can help, dry food and dental chews. It is good to look at your pet’s mouth regularly if possible, to check for recurrence of dental problems. Pets don’t always show signs of pain when their mouth is sore and many teeth can be saved if we catch the signs early. We also recommend annual dental checks.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your pet's health please do not hesitate to contact the surgery.

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