5 Aftercare Tips to Follow After Your Dog Has Teeth Extracted

It might not be pleasant to think about, but tooth extraction is one of the most common canine surgeries. It's something that often causes owners to fret; as well as having their pet put under anaesthetic, it can be hard to imagine a dog getting on without their full set of pearly whites.

However, dogs are a pretty resilient bunch, and they should adapt quickly, especially if their teeth were previously causing them pain. Of course, you do need to make sure you follow these handy aftercare tips.

1. Limit Activity

When humans have a tooth extracted, they are generally told not to do any exercise for a few days, and it's the same with dogs. Heavy exercise increases blood flow and could prevent clotting, so it's best to keep your dog on the leash when you have to go out for a walk. Walking should be fine, but running should be restricted for a few days.

2. Limit Chewing

Most dogs love to chew. In fact, your dog almost certainly counts some chew toys among their favourite possessions. As you might well imagine, chewing isn't a great idea right after surgery, especially if the toys in question are quite hard. Try removing your dog's chew toys. If they seem bored, try distracting them with some cuddles or playtime.

3. Provide Plenty of Water

Before giving your dog food, you should give them plenty of water. This will help ensure that they are properly hydrated; dehydration makes it harder for gums to heal. Additionally, you should make sure your dog drinks before they eat until the recovery process has completed. This will make sure their gums are nice and moist before they take food. If you only feed them dry food, consider either switching to wet for a few days or softening with water.

4. Watch for Complications

Since tooth extraction is such a common canine surgery, it's very rare for any complications to occur, but you should still keep an eye out to make sure you catch any problems sooner rather than later. If your dog continues to bleed after the first day or two, especially if the bleeding seems to get worse, you should contact your vet. Other warning signs include excessive swelling of the gums, bad breath, and a lack of willingness to eat.

5. Expect a Little Blood

During the first day or two, you should expect a little blood. Don't overreact – this is a normal part of the recovery process. However, this is one aftercare tip that is less about your dog's wellbeing and more about protecting your belongings. Your dog is likely to drool a little blood, so you might want to keep them away from carpeted areas or soft furnishings until that stops.

Contact an animal surgeon for more information.

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