WHAT WE HAVE DONE FOR YOUR PET TODAY

Today your pet has just received a professional dental treatment by one of our trained staff members and doctors.  

Anesthesia - Required because even the best-behaved pets will not sit still and “open wide”. 

Crown Scaling and/or Root Planning- A thorough cleaning of the portion of each tooth that is above & shallow pockets below the gum line.

Polishing - The application of dental polish was performed in order to create a smooth and lustrous tooth surface

Extractions - Your pet may have needed dental extractions preformed.  Performed only when needed to remove infected or damaged teeth that are beyond reasonable repair. 

Nerve Blocks - If your pet had extractions we have provided Nerve Blocks that provide additional pain control.  Our standard blocks will last through the evening.  If you elected to provide the extended nerve blocks they will provide additional pain control for up to 72 hours after the procedure.

Pain Control Medication - Oral Pain medications may have been recommended and dispensed.  Please follow the label instructions to be sure your pet is comfortable.

POST-DENTAL INSTRUCTIONS

• No Food until the next morning after the dental treatments  Anesthesia may cause nausea and vomiting if the pet is fed directly after anesthesia.
• Give SMALL amounts of WATER ONLY when you get home and at frequent intervals before bedtime tonight.  Do NOT let your pet drink a large quantity at one time—or vomiting will occur.  If no vomiting occurs by bedtime, leave water available to the pet during the night.
• Do NOT give Aspirin or Tylenol.  These can cause excessive bleeding or be toxic to your pet.  An additional safe and effective pain injection can be given at the time of discharge if the pet appears to be uncomfortable.
• Be sure to keep the pet WARM & DRY when they get home.

Recheck Exam

Return your pet for its free post operative recheck in 14 days, or sooner if instructed by our team.  At that time we will check the healing of any extraction sites if need be, and make sure no complications have occurred. 

Contact Us With Any Concerns

Please call us with any questions or concerns you may have.  Though dental treatments are routine procedures and rarely have complications every pet is unique and any complications are better treated early, so the sooner you contact us with concerns the sooner we can intervene if needed. 

Diet

• Give only small amounts water at frequent intervals tonight.   You can offer a few laps every 15‑30 minutes for the first 6 hours after you get home.
• In general do not feed your pet any food until the morning after surgery. 
• Regular diet morning after surgery.

You may feed you pet a small meal after 8pm if the following apply:

• Your pet has returned to a normal activity level. 
• If they have had no vomiting since coming home.
• They are acting starved and just will not wait till morning.

Activity

• Please restrain your pet when leaving the clinic by using either a leash or a pet carrier, to prevent them from getting hurt or escaping.
• Drowsiness may be noted today and tomorrow.
• Medications administered following surgery may cause them to be sleepy.  Keep your pet  in a protected environment so that she stays warm and does not get hurt.
• Your pet can go back to her regular activity, within reason, tomorrow, if she is acting normal.

Incision Care 

Typically no sutures are placed when we do minor extractions, but in some major extractions sutures may have been used.  If your pet had any other procedures with their dental there are incisions that need your attention. 

• As best you can, watch any orally incisions for swelling, redness, or drainage.  Apply nothing to the incision(s) without our knowledge. 
• Keep on eye on any skin incisions for swelling, redness, or drainage.  Apply nothing to the incision without our knowledge. 
• Mild amount of bleeding from extractions or skin incisions can be expected for a few days and is normal,  but if it seems excessive please contact us.
• Return in 14 DAYS for suture recheck.  There is no charge unless sedation is required. 

Medications

• Give any pain medication prescribed as directed on the label.
• Give any antibiotics prescribed as directed on the label.
• Apply topical medication as directed.
• Use other medications prescribed as directed on the label.

Other General Instructions

• Call for an Elizabethan collar if extractions have been performed and your pet rubs at his muzzle or lips excessively.  If after hours, they can be found at the pet stores as well.
• Many pets will not have bowel movements for 1 ‑ 3 days after anesthesia.  This is normal, provided she is acting normal otherwise.  
•  In the event your pet must be bathed, apply Vaseline or antibiotic ointment to any skin incisions and shower them.  Do not submerge in a bath.
• Our major concern is the comfort and healing of your pet.  Please call the clinic at any time you have a question or concern.

Notify the clinic if any of the following occur: 

• Vomiting or Diarrhea after 24 hours.
• Refusal to eat after 48 hours.
• Severe pain.
• Any evidence of significant bleeding from the mouth.
• Continuous rubbing of the muzzle, jaw, or face.  (Restraint Collar May Be Needed)
• Any excessive swellings of the muzzle, jaw, or face. 

What's Next!

Now that we’ve cleaned your pet's mouth and completed any necessary extractions, maintaining their oral health is up to YOU! We’ are happy to provide a home care kit to help you get started. Consistent home care is essential, which includes brushing your pet’s teeth as often as you can, daily if at possible. Without this daily care, plaque, inflammation, and infections can return as soon as 2-4 weeks from now. Within just a few months, it may seem as if no dental care was done, and we could quickly find ourselves back where we started with your pet's dental health.

If your pet had extractions, even if it was all their teeth, they can usually continue eating their regular food. There’s no need to switch to soft food; most pets can still eat kibble even after a full-mouth extraction.

More information at the links below. 

Click above image for more information on dental disease and home care.

Click above image for more information on product proven to reduce tartar and plaque.

Click above image for more the products our doctors recommend.

Please feel free to contact us with any concerns or questions at:

615-459-0802

Is your pet a Premier Pet? If not you could be saving even more on your future pet care needs.

NOTE:  We make every effort to avoid complications, BUT unexpected problems can always occur.  Complications might include infection, wound dehiscence, or chewing out sutures.  THE OWNER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY AND ALL CHARGES RESULTING FROM ANY COMPLICATION OF THE SURGICAL PROCEDURE BEYOND OUR CONTROL.