Dental Cleaning Postoperative Care
In order to continue with your pets at-home care, the video provided above may assist you as your pet recovers from their dental procedure. It is possible during your pet’s evaluation that they had significant dental disease that may have necessitated the removal a tooth/teeth. In order to continue your pet’s recovery at home, it is important that you follow these instructions. If you have any questions or concerns, please call us.
- Food and Water – Allow nothing by mouth during the first couple of hours after returning home. After a few hours water may be given, and later in the evening you may offer your pet a small meal. Your pet may not want to eat. A decreased appetite is common after anesthesia, but it should return to normal within the first 24-36 hours.
If we placed sutures in your pet’s mouth, you will need to feed your pet a soft food for the next 14 days. This can be a canned food or a dry pet food that is soaked in water to remove any “crunch”. Resume giving a normal amount of food and water on the first full day home following surgery.
- Weakness – Your pet may be weak or disoriented for a period lasting up to 24 hours as an after-effect of the anesthetic. As a precaution keep your pet away from areas that he/she could fall or be injured.
- Cautions – Call us if you notice any of the following:
-
- Prolonged decrease in appetite
- Repeated vomiting
- Significant Bleeding
- Bandage – We placed an IV catheter in your pet’s front leg to administer fluids during anesthesia. After surgery we remove the catheter and place a bandage on the area. If your pet still has this bandage around their leg when you get home, please remove it.
- Medications – We may send you home with medications to help control pain and/or inflammation. An antibiotic may be sent home for your pet as well. Instructions will be noted on the bottle.
