Tooth Extraction Recovery

My Annie is having her teeth cleaned next week and one of them (or more) will be extracted. It is an overnighter. Apparently I will have to administer meds (liquid? pills?), but wouldn't it be painful to pry open her mouth when it is sore? I'm a bit apprehensive re things not working out well, so is there anything I should watch out for? Also, I doubt I will be able to examine her mouth to check on progress. Your experiences would be most helpful. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Ruthie70

My Annie is having her teeth cleaned next week and one of them (or more) will be extracted. It is an overnighter. Apparently I will have to administer meds (liquid? pills?), but wouldn't it be painful to pry open her mouth when it is sore? I'm a bit apprehensive re things not working out well, so is there anything I should watch out for? Also, I doubt I will be able to examine her mouth to check on progress. Your experiences would be most helpful. Thanks.

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It could be painful to pry her mouth open, you have a good point. For pills, I apply a little pressure at the rear corners of the cat's mouth, with my thumb on one side and my middle finger on the other. Then I just slightly bend my wrist back to guide the cat's heat backwards...at that point the jaw should pop open. If you have your thumb and finger in that special spot, the rest happens almost automatically. The vet showed me that.

A "piller" (pill shooter) helps. I like the type with a soft rubber tip that the vets usually sell...the pet store ones I've seen look a little clumsy.

For liquids, you don't have to get the mouth open. You can slip the dropper or syringe in at the gap behind the canine tooth...either side...then squirt the medicine in. A lot of people prefer liquids...I don't for some odd reason.

For either pills or liquids, I prefer to have the cat on the floor, between my knees, facing the same direction as me. For most cats you need to cross your ankles underneath/behind you to prevent backwards escape.

If you decide you have a preference for one or the other (pills or liquid), just ask...a lot of meds are available either way.

To examine her mouth, you might need a helper to hold the cat in the way I described for pills. It's basically the same as the pill maneuvers, except you will need to put your other forefinger on the front bottom teeth, between the canines (don't slip and get bit!), to help hold the mouth open to get a good look. There may be other methods...but that's what I picked up from my vet.

I would just keep a close eye on her behavior and eating/drinking habits and call the vet if you see anything that worries you. Good luck.

Great answer Beandip!

My mom had two of her kittys done about 6 months ago. OH MY the vet took photos of their poor little mouths. They looked so nasty and little Mutie even had to have stitches he had 5 teeth removed. Needless to say we were a little freaked out, because the photos really did look like their mouths had been mutilated

The cats on the other hand did not mind at all. They wanted hard dry food right away and showed no signs of pain what so ever. I was astounded. They healed up perfectly and very quickly. Mutie even filled out more, so I think his mouth was so sore from bad teeth that he wasn't eating enough.

If you have given meds before and know your cats have a preference, ie pills or liquids make sure to ask the vet for that type of antibiotic specifically. I know clavamox come in liquid and small 62.5mg pill for cats. It is going to be easier to give the meds if is is a type they will tolerate being given in the first place. I have one that I have to give shots too. There is no way on earth anyone is sticking anything in her mouth at any time. Vet didn't believe me and ended up getting bit along with both the techs. I felt bad. She is a dream to give an injection too though.....go figure.

Ok I am blabbering. Ask the vet lots of questions and don't worry too much if it looks really nasty and horrible. The cats really do seem to do very well with the procedure.

Thanks for your input - will be glad when it is over! I hope, Kittymonsters, that I never have to administer shots - my hands always tremble like crazy when I just clip Annie's claws!!

Fang had two teeth removed. When he came home I could tell his mouth hurt. He tried to eat, but couldn't eat much. He didn't want much till the next day, he did not stay overnight. His eyes seemed dilated until the next day. He slept a lot. I gave him antibiotics for a week. I pried his mouth open from the fron teeth, because he had back uppers removed, and I did not want to touch or press on that area. After a day or two, he was doing fine. I got a good look after a week and he was healing nicely. It was still red and looked like a pocket closing up.
His breath is fresh as a daisy now/

We had a lot of trouble with Scully taking his pills after having a tooth extracted, we explained that to the vet who gave us a liquid suspension of the meds - we put a little catmilk in a bowl and added the meds and he licked it up without a problem, with the second one he was less sore and we used a syringe and administered it as beandip explained

My mother's cat Cinders had five teeth out last month, and recovered really fast, so that she was demanding food the same night. The vet said to keep her on soft food for a day or two, but apart from being a bit sleepy for 24 hours, she bounded right back to herself really quickly. Good vibes for the procedure!