Tooth extraction question

Hello all! It's my first time posting as I usually just read the forums. Well, we have a 1 year old domestic shorthair who had a deep cleaning done yesterday due to gingivitis and they extracted one tooth. She is still pretty out of it and still has no interest in eating. She seems to not be feeling well as is picky about what side she drinks water from. Vet didn't send home pain meds. My question is does she really need them or how much longer until she starts feeling better? I'm just a concerned mom. Also here is our baby. View media item 285575

to TCS!

She's a real sweetie! Mogli had a tooth extracted last year (at age two) and was given pain meds for the next three days. When one of the shelter cats has an extraction, it's usual for the vet to prescribe a painkiller for 3 - 5 days, depending on the number of teeth extracted. If she's showing discomfort, you could call the vet to ask for one.

Thanks for the advice. I called her vet and they are asking us to bring her in for an injection of pain meds. They said the injection will last 3 days or we can pick up syringes with enough meds for 3 days. The injection is only $30 while the take home stuff is $90. Is an injection a safe way to go? She's not a fan of us giving her meds here at home.

Quote:

boosmomma said:

...they are asking us to bring her in for an injection of pain meds

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Hi boosmomma !

It depends on which 'pain med' is used...............

IF it's buprenorphine SR......yes, that's a safe way to go.

IF it's meloxicam (e.g. Metacam)....NO.....not worth the safety risk. (this drug is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory product....cats lack the liver enzyme required to metabolize NSAIDs and it's therefore the kidneys that must excrete it....NSAIDs are nephrotoxic [destroy kidney tissue]....therefore the 'unsafe' designation).

Buprenorphine is an opiate drug....very safe for cats...the "SR" version (short for sustained release) is effective for about 3 days, which, generally covers the period of relief required for dental extractions.

But......2 points beyond all that....

1. IF my Vet sent my cat home after dental surgery WITHOUT pain control....I would be looking for a competent feline Veterinarian (is there a cat-only clinic nearby ?)
2. Dental surgery (like what your cat's had) really REQUIRES a follow-up recheck of the mouth about a week afterwards....it's important to know that 'things' have healed up properly, that there's no infection etc.  This recheck is generally included as part of the 'package'.....if this wasn't explained/offered to you, I suggest you let them know you're coming back for that (takes less than 5 minutes).......and, if it wasn't originally mentioned, you have a second good reason to find a competent cat-Vet !

Keep us updated !

(btw....we never refuse pictures here !)

Well we ended up taking her to get an injection. They didn't give her much because it was only one extraction and I asked that they only give her about a third of the dosage just in case. She is feeling much better. We brought her back home yesterday and she was so happy that she was eating again. She ate so much and I'm just glad her tummy is happy. She was back to playing on my bed to wake me up this morning. She's not 100% yet but we think she's at about an 85-90%. we are hoping by tomorrow she's fully recovered. We did make a big stride tonight though. She doesn't like Meaty wet food and today she ate a spoonful of it. Yay!

Glad the medication is working. I have given my cats pain meds for different conditions, and they do work wonders. Mine were injections followed by tablets at home.