Cats often develop tooth problems as they get older. Since vets can only see a small part of a cat’s teeth during regular checkups, cats need full dental exams under anesthesia.
Cats may need teeth removed during a dental checkup. This checkup includes:
- Probing the teeth and gumline to measure the depth of the pockets
- Taking x-rays of the teeth, soft tissue, and bone to help visualize tooth roots and dental ligaments
- Extracting (removing) any diseased teeth
- Scaling and polishing (cleaning) the teeth
- Assessing oral tumors and abnormalities
How to help your cat heal after getting teeth removed
What to Watch for After Your Cat’s Dental Surgery
Your cat’s surgery may include stitches to close the gum where teeth were taken out. These stitches usually melt away by themselves, so your cat won’t need to be put to sleep again to remove them. Sometimes, the gum is left open to drain and heal naturally.
If your cat’s mouth tissue is infected, you may notice the following:
- A foul odor coming from your cat’s mouth
- A slight swelling on the lower or upper jawline, or under the eye area; the eye may also seem to bulge or protrude from your cat’s head
- Refusal of food
- Drainage from the nose or mouth
- General sluggishness
- Drooling
- Pawing at the mouth or rubbing their face on the ground
- Dropping food while eating
What To Feed Your Cat After Teeth Extraction Surgery
Feed your cat soft foods for a few days after tooth removal. You can give wet, semi-wet or dry food softened with water.
Ask your vet how to feed your cat after surgery to help with pain and healing.
Your vet might suggest switching your cat’s food to a special dental care diet. These foods are made to help prevent and reduce tooth problems.
Dental food won’t replace checkups at the dentist, but it can lower your chances of getting tooth problems.
Managing Your Cat’s Pain After Tooth Extraction
Your cat received pain-blocking medicine in their mouth during the tooth removal. This numbing effect can last between 6 to 24 hours, depending on the medicine used.
Once the pain relief wears off, you’ll need to give your cat pain medicine by mouth at home.
Watch your cat carefully after treatment and look for signs of pain:
- Vocalizing (meowing and howling)
- Drooling
- Pawing at their mouth
- Refusal of food
- Hiding from people and other pets
- Lethargy (sluggishness)
If you see these signs while giving your cat medicine correctly, they might be caused by anesthesia or pain medicine. Call your vet for advice if you notice any of them.
Keep giving all medications unless your vet tells you to stop.
How Long Does It Take for Cats To Recover From Tooth Extraction?
Most vets want to check your cat’s mouth 1-2 weeks after tooth removal to make sure it’s healing well. The checkup is usually quick and easy, though some cats may need light sedation.
How To Prevent Future Cat Tooth Extractions
To help avoid removing your cat’s teeth in the future, your vet might recommend ways to keep teeth clean. These could include:
- Dental treats
- Therapeutic dental diets
- Water additives
- Toothbrushing
- Mouth rinsing
Talk to your vet about what dental products to use and when to start using them after your pet’s dental work.
