How long after a dental cleaning can a dog eat? Here’s the Answer

Food and water

If no teeth were extracted, your dog or cat can be fed their typical amount of food and water though they may experience a lack of appetite until the anaesthetic wears off.

For pets that underwent a tooth extraction, please only feed them chunky meat or soft food for the next 10-12 days. Do not feed them any dry food, bones, rawhide or give them any chew toys as these will damage or even tear the sutures your vet has placed in your pet’s mouth.

If your pet is not eating, is rubbing at their mouth or showing other signs of pain in the first few days after the surgery, please get in touch with your Greencross Vet.

Most of us go to the dentist twice a year to get our teeth cleaned and make sure our teeth and gums are healthy. More and more pet owners are recognizing the need for to take proper care of their dog or cat’s teeth as well.

The best time to get serious about home dental care is after a thorough dental cleaning, but wait a week to begin so there’s no discomfort. The last thing you want is to start on an oral hygiene regimen and have your pet associate your attempts with pain.

Doggie ice cream is also a good idea and feels good on the gums. That goes for a little cream cheese, peanut butter and cooked meats, but don’t overdo it — your refrigerator might be stocked full of “soft” foods, but they may not all agree with your pet.

Some pets need extra special care after an involved dental procedure. A complicated extraction of a single tooth requiring a gingival flap, a full-mouth extraction (most often a feline procedure) or extensive gingivectomies can mean delayed healing or prolonged discomfort. Follow your veterinarian’s instructions carefully and for the prescribed amount of time. Occasionally, a very watered-down or liquid diet is necessary both for healing purposes and for comfort. Some of the prescription diets are the consistency of a pate and can be made into a liquid diet if necessary. Syringe feeding is required rarely.

Avoid the typical hard treats for a week, or longer, if recommended by your vet. Feline treats come in a soft version, and your dog will be thrilled by tiny pieces of soft human food or soft dog food given as a “treat.”

Dental procedure

Your dog or cat has had a professional dental treatment under a general anaesthetic where their teeth were examined in detail, scaled and polished.

If your pet has had any teeth extracted in addition to the teeth cleaning, then you must take extra care to ensure the wound heals correctly. Do not look in your pet’s mouth until after you have taken them for a follow up visit at your local Greencross Vets and they have confirmed that the wounds have healed. Whether or not your dog or cat has had an extraction, please book in a complimentary post-dental checkup 10-12 days after the dental procedure has occurred.

Surgery Aftercare: Canine Dental