Maintaining your pet’s dental health is important for their comfort and quality of life, and for the health of their vital organs. Understandably, however, some pet parents worry about the impact a dental procedure could have on their beloved pet, either due to the general anaesthetic required or concerns about a painful recovery.
We’re here to give you the good news: there’s plenty that you and our team can do to help your dog or cat recover smoothly from dental work (and feel fantastic afterwards!). Here’s how.
Anaesthetic risks
While we perform a lot of general anaesthetics on dogs and cats, we don’t take these procedures lightly and have a lot of safety protocols in place to help protect and support our patients. Pets are monitored closely to help prevent common anaesthesia-related issues, including the use of:
- Blood pressure monitoring equipment to detect any unhealthy decreases in blood pressure.
- Regular temperature checks and special warming devices to help prevent your pet from getting cold under anaesthetic or during recovery.
- Blood oxygenation monitors to monitor your pet’s heart rate and ensure that they are getting sufficient oxygen.
A veterinary nurse is also always on hand to monitor your pet under anaesthetic, regularly checking parameters such as their anaesthetic depth, gum colour, heart rate and pulse strength. This close monitoring helps us prevent most significant anaesthesia-related complications before they happen.
Additionally, for pets who are more likely to have underlying health issues (such as those eight years of age and above), we recommend pre-anaesthetic blood tests to screen for any significant organ issues that would affect their ability to tolerate an anaesthetic. If a pet is known to have a pre-existing health issue, such as heart disease or kidney disease, our knowledgeable vets can adjust that pet’s particular anaesthetic protocol to help mitigate any increased risks. This includes alterations in intravenous fluid rates (to support healthy blood pressure and flow), and the choice of sedative or anaesthetic drugs that they are more likely to be able to cope with.
Post-operative issues
The number one post-operative issue that owners tend to be concerned about is their pet being in pain after any tooth extractions. Rest assured that for extractions, your pet will receive numbing injections to temporarily block pain sensations, and then will be sent home with several days of pain relief medication. You can support your pet’s recovery by closely following our team’s instructions regarding any medication dosages, feeding them an appropriate soft food diet, and if they have been fitted with a bucket collar, leaving this on for the recommended time to prevent them pawing at any gum stitches.
Infections after the extraction of teeth are uncommon, but if you notice any smell from your pet’s mouth during their recovery period, it’s best to bring them back for a prompt recheck in case a course of antibiotics is required.
Rest assured that the average pet recovers surprisingly quickly after the extraction of diseased teeth and then feels better than they did before the dental!
For more personalised advice on dental procedures for your pet, consult our knowledgeable team. We’re here to support the safety and comfort of our patients and give you peace of mind.