What to expect when you bring your dog home
Dogs usually go home the same day as a dental cleaning or extraction. Your clinic will give you written discharge instructions, and those instructions come first. Your dog’s care depends on what was done: a routine cleaning is different from several extractions. This article describes what is commonly seen so you know what to expect and what to ask.
During a dental procedure a dog is under general anesthesia, with monitoring. Vets typically also take dental X-rays, clean above and below the gumline, and may remove damaged teeth, often with local numbing and pain medication. Dissolving stitches are commonly used to close gums after extractions.
The first 24 hours
- Expect sleepiness. Many dogs are groggy, a little wobbly, or unusually quiet for a day. Some whine or seem disoriented as the anesthetic and pain medicine wear off.
- Keep your dog warm and in a quiet, safe place. Keep them away from stairs and furniture they might try to jump on.
- Supervise bathroom trips. Take your dog out on a leash. They may need to urinate more often because of IV fluids, and bowel movements can be delayed for a while.
- Offer water in small amounts at first, unless your vet says otherwise.
- Check the IV site. If your dog has a bandage on a leg from the IV catheter, follow the clinic’s instructions on when and how to remove it.
Feeding after dental surgery
Your vet’s instructions override general advice. In general:
- Start with a small meal later in the day, if your dog is awake and not nauseated. Some dogs do not want to eat the first evening, which can be normal, but call your clinic if the appetite does not return in a day or so or if your dog will not drink.
- Offer soft food while the mouth heals. Canned food, or the dog’s usual kibble softened with warm water, are common choices. Avoid abrupt diet changes, since these can upset the stomach.
- Avoid hard kibble, bones, rawhide, antlers, and hard chews until your vet says it is okay. After extractions this can last from several days to a couple of weeks depending on the procedure.
- Some clinics advise against raw diets for a short time after anesthesia. Ask what your vet recommends.
Pain relief and medications
Give pain medicine and any antibiotics exactly as prescribed, and finish the course if your vet asks you to. Do not give human pain relievers such as ibuprofen or aspirin, and do not guess at doses or give leftover medications from other pets. Some prescribed pain medicines can make dogs sleepy or wobbly. If you have questions about a specific drug, whether it can be combined with another, or how much to give, call your clinic, because only your vet knows what your dog received at the hospital and what is safe for them.
If your dog seems to be in pain despite medication, is vomiting, or is extremely lethargic, call the clinic.
Activity, chewing, and brushing
- Keep activity calm for the first day or two, then follow your vet’s guidance on returning to normal. Many dogs are back to usual routines within a few days, but this varies.
- Supervise leash walks and avoid rough play, such as tug-of-war, until cleared.
- Do not brush near surgery sites until your vet says the gums have healed. They may suggest a different approach for the first days. After that, ongoing brushing is one of the best ways to protect your dog’s mouth long term (see taking care of your dog’s teeth).
- If your dog has a recovery cone or other instructions, follow them.
What is normal and what is not
Coughing after a dental cleaning
A mild cough for a day or two is common because the breathing tube used during anesthesia can irritate the windpipe. Call your vet if the cough is severe, produces anything, is getting worse, is accompanied by labored breathing, or does not settle within a few days.
Bloody saliva
A small amount of blood-tinged saliva is common after extractions for the first couple of days. Mild bloody sneezing or a bit of nasal bleeding can occur after some upper-tooth procedures. Bleeding that is heavy, constant, or increasing should be treated as urgent. Applying gentle pressure with a clean, soft cloth while you contact the clinic is often advised.
Grogginess and behavior changes
Sleepiness, a wobbly walk, and some whining can be side effects of anesthesia and medication in the first day. These should improve. If your dog is not improving, is hard to wake, or seems more unwell as time passes, call.
When to call your vet
Contact your veterinarian or an emergency clinic if you see:
- Heavy or persistent bleeding
- Difficulty breathing, or a cough that is severe or persistent
- Repeated vomiting or diarrhea
- Refusing food or water well past the first day
- Swelling of the face or jaw, pus, or a foul smell from the mouth
- Signs of severe pain, such as crying, hiding, or pawing at the face
- A surgical site that opens or looks different than expected
- Extreme weakness, collapse, or pale gums
When in doubt, call. Clinics expect these calls, and they know what your dog went through.
Do dogs feel better after teeth are removed?
Often yes. Many dogs seem more comfortable, eat better, and become more playful once painful or infected teeth are gone, even though they may be sore for the first several days. Dogs can eat well without the removed teeth, though your vet may suggest softer foods or avoiding certain chews, especially if many teeth were removed. How your dog does depends on the dog and the procedure.
If a tooth falls out with the root
A tooth that comes out whole, root included, is usually from advanced periodontal disease, where the supporting tissue has already been lost. Even so, the gum socket can be sore or infected, and other teeth may be affected. Call your vet to have the mouth checked, especially if there is bleeding, swelling, or your dog is not eating comfortably. If it happens after a recent procedure, tell the clinic. Our articles on dog gingivitis symptoms and treatment and dog cavity treatment explain other causes of tooth problems.
Follow-up visits and long-term care
Some clinics schedule a recheck, and you may be told to watch the mouth at home. Ask your vet when to start brushing again, which chews are safe, and how soon your dog should return for another dental exam. Staying on top of home care and checkups can reduce how often tartar builds up (see dog tartar removal methods).
This article is general information. Always follow the discharge instructions from your own veterinary team.