For pets, teeth are essential for eating, grooming, and playing. When a cat or dog doesn’t receive adequate dental care, it can suffer pain caused by dental problems and tooth decay. Fort Lauderdale animal hospital Family Pet Medical Center performs pet dental extractions for pets throughout the area. If your pet is experiencing dental pain and problems, our experienced veterinary team can help. Here’s some information about pet dental extractions and what to expect.
Why Might Pets Need Dental Extractions?
Your pet might need extractions for several reasons, including advanced periodontal disease, fractured teeth, or the resorption of a tooth. While we try to save teeth when possible, some teeth can’t be saved and need to be removed to eliminate pain. After the removal of painful teeth, pets tend to do better.
If your pet has serious periodontal disease, both your pet’s teeth and gums can be involved. The only way to avoid infection from advanced periodontal disease is to remove the involved teeth. Broken and fractured teeth can also make your pet susceptible to infections. Removing infected teeth can help to prevent your pet from developing serious complications such as cardiovascular or liver disease. Pets that have painful teeth also can have problems with eating or self-grooming.
Signs Your Pet Requires Dental Care
If your pet shows the following symptoms, you should get a professional dental evaluation:
- Aggressive or moody behavior
- Changes in behavior
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Problems with grooming
- Pawing at the face or mouth
If your pet appears to be experiencing mouth pain, you should contact your veterinarian for a dental evaluation immediately.
Can My Regular Vet Perform an Extraction?
Unlike people, dental extractions for pets involve more than simply pulling a bad tooth. Your cat’s or dog’s teeth are designed to withstand extreme pressure and force and are much more difficult to extract compared to human teeth. Extracting a pet’s tooth often requires major surgery using specialized equipment. Many regular veterinarian offices do not have the necessary equipment. Having the work performed at Family Pet Medical Center also helps to prevent complications, including excess bleeding, jaw fractures, or the accidental creation of a hole between the mouth and nose. Because of the potential complications that can occur and the lack of equipment, veterinarians typically refer pets to Fort Lauderdale animal hospital Family Pet Medical Center for pet dental extractions.
What to Expect During a Pet’s Dental Extractions
Dental extractions typically require a full day. The procedure involved will vary based on the disease process and the affected tooth. Before a tooth is extracted, your pet will be given a nerve block that will last from six to eight hours to minimize discomfort and pain. The entire procedure might last eight hours, including preparation, surgery, and recovery.
The procedure will involve a series of steps. The veterinarian will need to cut the gum surrounding the tooth to access the root and the surrounding bones. In many cases, the bone that covers the root will need to be removed. If more than one tooth needs removal, each root will need to be separately extracted. Once the tooth is extracted, the veterinarian will clean out and flush the socket and surgically close the gums with absorbable sutures. The site will be monitored to prevent infection. The procedure is complex and designed to restore your cat’s or dog’s dental health.
The risks involved with pet dental extractions vary based on the particular teeth involved. Fortunately, cats and dogs don’t experience dry socket issues and recover quickly. Most procedures are completed without complications other than minor bleeding and temporary discomfort.
Recovery Following Pet Dental Extractions
If your pet only needs to have a single tooth extracted, it won’t be a major issue. In most cases, single-tooth extractions involve teeth located near the front of the mouth. Cats and dogs primarily chew with their molars, which will not be affected by the removal of a front tooth. Your pet should feel fine after one to two days and act as if it never had a bad tooth.
Contact Our Fort Lauderdale Animal Hospital
If your pet is experiencing dental issues and needs an extraction, you should contact the experienced veterinary team at Family Pet Medical Center. Our veterinarians and veterinary techs are competent, caring professionals who will work to treat your pet and return them to normal as soon as possible. Call us today to schedule an appointment at 954-737-5031.
