Discharge Instructions for Dental & Oral Procedures 

Dental Cleaning

Your pet's teeth have been cleaned with an ultrasonic scaler and polished.  The area under the gum line has been cleaned as well which may cause soreness in some pets.  Mouth soreness may last up to 48 hours.  In order to do a thorough and safe cleaning, your pet's dental cleaning was performed under general anesthesia.

Extraction(s) 

Extractions (removal of a tooth/teeth) are needed when there is significant periodontal disease, tooth fractures, cavities, exposure of the tooth pulp, or when other dental pathology is found.  Very frequently tooth pathology is not evident until the pet is under anesthesia, dental calculus removed, and a closer examination of each tooth is performed.  Retained deciduous teeth (baby teeth) should be removed once the pet is over 6 months old.  Some pets are predisposed genetically to retain deciduous teeth when they should normally fall out.  Once the adult teeth erupt, if the deciduous teeth do not fall out, there will be overcrowding of the teeth.  Overcrowding of the teeth will lead to excessive plaque and calculus build-up, which will then lead to rapid progression of periodontal disease.  Retained deciduous teeth should be removed at the time of spaying and neutering if deciduous teeth are still present.

Absorbable sutures may or may not have been needed after tooth extraction

If sutures were placed, they should dissolve in several days to one week

Excess saliva with some blood after extractions is normal for some patients

You may need to feed your pet wet food or moisten dry food with warm water (allow it to sit for about 15minutes in order to soften kibble) for the next 3-5 days

Since your pet has undergone general anesthesia:

• You may offer ½ of regular feeding the evening of surgery.  Anesthesia may cause nausea and vomiting.  Your pet may not be interested in food the evening of surgery or the following day.

• You may offer water to your pet as normal.  Please note if large volumes of water are consumed, this could cause vomiting.  If you notice vomiting after drinking, small amounts of water or ice cubes given in frequent intervals is recommended.

• Do NOT give any over-the-counter medications for pain (Tylenol, ibuprofen,or aspirin, etc.) These medications can be extremely harmful, sometimes fatal, if given to pets. Your pet was given an injection for pain at the time of surgery (if needed) that should last for 24 hours.  We will also dispense additional oral pain medications for the days following their procedure if requested.  If your pet seems painful, please contact our office for appropriate pain medication.

•  It may be normal for your pet to be groggy today and possibly tomorrow.  Keep your pet in a protected environment so they stay warm and do not get hurt.

• If medications were sent home, please give medication prescribed as directed on the label. 

• Many pets will not have bowel movements for 1 ‑ 3 days after anesthesia.  This is normal, provided they are acting normal otherwise.  

• Follow-up exams are not normally necessary following dental procedures.  Our doctor or staff will let you know if a follow-up exam is recommended for any reason.

Notify us if any of the following occur: 

·       Vomiting or Diarrhea after 24 hours

·       Refusal to eat after 48 hours

·       Severe pain

·       Abnormal/difficulty breathing

·       Excessive lethargy

Additional Information:

The number one health problem diagnosed in 70-80% of pets over 3 years of age is periodontal disease.  Routine, proper dental care can add 2-4 years to the life of a pet.  The single most common reason severe dental disease effects 70-80% of pets is the cost prohibitive nature of the procedure.  Owners then postpone dental cleanings until the disease has progressed into significant health issues such as abscessed teeth, loss of teeth, or the pet refuses to eat due to the pain of the severe dental disease.  Once a pet develops advanced periodontal disease, cleaning and treatment will be more costly than preventive care, and has significant effects on the pet’s overall health.  We have made a commitment to reduce the cost of dental care as significantly as possible.  We do this to help owners provide more timely dental prophylaxis in order to reduce the severity of dental disease in the pets we care for.  

Now that your pet’s teeth are clean you can help them stay that way. Some dogs will allow you to brush their teeth while others will not. There are a variety of pet toothbrushes and pet approved toothpastes available in a variety of flavors.  Please do NOT use human toothpaste, as those contain fluoride which is toxic when swallowed in larger amounts. We also recommend oral gels and wipes, as some people find these easier to use than brushes. We recommend that you clean your dog’s teeth as often as possible. Tartar control food and treats are also helpful.

Even with daily care, tartar may still form which would necessitate periodic professional cleaning.  Some of the signs of unhealthy teeth and gums are: bad breath, difficulty eating and chewing, red, inflamed gums, or not wanting to eat at all. If any of these signs occur please let us know. Dental disease allows bacteria to spread from the mouth through the blood stream to all the organs in the body. The heart, kidneys, or the liver can be seriously affected by this bacterial spread, and disease in any of these organs can be detrimental to your pet. Our goal is to help your dog maintain good health, which includes good oral health for its entire life.

Our primary concern is the comfort and healing of your pet.  Please call the clinic at 936-295-8106 any time you have a question or concern.   

If you feel your pet needs emergency medical attention after-hours, please call or proceed to one of the nearest veterinary emergency clinics:

Willis Emergency Animal Clinic

Animal Emergency Center of Conroe

Texas A&M University Medical Teaching Hospital