Post-Anesthetic Care: Dental
Food and Water
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Resume feeding tonight with dinner. Pets who receive dental extractions should eat soft food (anything soft enough to be mashed with a fork) for 2 weeks. If your pet normally eats dry kibble, add water or low-sodium chicken broth to it and let it soak until soft before offering it.
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No hard treats, playing with toys or anything else placed into the mouth for 2 weeks.
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It's normal for pets to drink less for 24 hours after surgery as they receive fluid therapy. Pets that switch to a soft or wet food diet are also likely to drink less.
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Contact us if your pet skips two meals in a row.
Eliminations
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Your pet may not have a bowel movement for 36 hours after surgery; this is normal.
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Contact us if you notice diarrhea or vomiting.
Other Alerts
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It is normal for pets to be groggy or disoriented for 24 hours after anesthesia. Allow your pet to rest quietly for the next 24-36 hours. Do not allow them near stairs, swimming pools or other pets during this time. Short potty walks are fine; gradually return to regular activity over the next 3 days.
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The breathing tube used for anesthesia can irritate the trachea, causing a mild cough or hoarse voice for a few days. If this persists or develops into a moist, deep chest cough, contact us.
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Contact us if you notice lethargy that lasts several days, unexpected bleeding, or you are unable to give any medications prescribed.
Thank you for allowing us to partner with you in taking excellent care of your pet.
