Chuffing, lip-licking after extraction

[Cate1124]

My 14-year-old had four teeth, including both upper canines and her third premolars on either side of her lower jaw (all crown excisions) nearly a week ago. FORLs. She's doing generally well, I think: decent activity, great appetite (raw-fed), pooping appropriately and wanting out (not allowed for another week). But she is lip-licking more than she was, which I'm hoping is just due to normal post-operative discomfort (she is now off buprenorphine) and a mouth that feels strange. And, chuffing a little through her nose, an established behavior I'd hoped was related to the painful teeth and would disappear after surgery. I'm trying to be patient, remembering this was a substantial procedure from which she is in early recovery. Are these behaviors likely to abate when she's fully healed? She has a post-op check in another week. Her brother had 12 teeth extracted five years ago, and -- though people say cats often just bounce back -- it took him a long time to fully seem himself again.

 

[Kieka]

My boy, 8 years old, recently had his left upper canine and the matching lower premolar pulled. Sudden traumatic injury caused it and we had to wait a week for the swelling to go down before they pulled the teeth. It's been nearly three weeks since the pulling and I still catch him licking his lips on the side that was pulled. It has decreased in frequency as time passes with most of it being right after eating now.

The chuffing is a form of purring so that's likely just a her thing unrelated to the teeth.

 

[Cate1124]

My boy, 8 years old, recently had his left upper canine and the matching lower premolar pulled. Sudden traumatic injury caused it and we had to wait a week for the swelling to go down before they pulled the teeth. It's been nearly three weeks since the pulling and I still catch him licking his lips on the side that was pulled. It has decreased in frequency as time passes with most of it being right after eating now.

The chuffing is a form of purring so that's likely just a her thing unrelated to the teeth.

Thanks for sharing your story. I'm glad your guy is getting better! I used the wrong word with "chuffing." You're right; that IS a kind of purr. What I'm hearing/seeing with her is more like a soft snorting through her nostrils, a forceful exhalation of air; close your mouth and puff through your nostrils, and you'll have it. Perhaps that will resolve in time, too, as well as head-shaking that began a few weeks ago and that I hoped was associated with her teeth. As part of her extractions with the dental specialist, she had a head CT, and her nasal cavities are normal. Seasonal allergies are, I suppose, a possibility, and maybe also a food sensitivity, as I am introducing her to different proteins and completers in these first months of feeding raw.

 

[Margret]

You're braver than I am, starting her on raw food in conjunction with tooth extractions.

Do you remember the last time you had a tooth removed (or, if you've never had that procedure, the last time you lost a baby tooth)? I'm betting that you found your tongue "exploring" the new gap whenever you weren't actively paying attention to your mouth. This is perfectly normal behavior, apparently in all species, including humans. As for the breathing changes, those may be the result of pain from the incisions - if that doesn't gradually decrease you may want to ask your vet about it.

Margret

 

[Cate1124]

You're braver than I am, starting her on raw food in conjunction with tooth extractions.

Do you remember the last time you had a tooth removed (or, if you've never had that procedure, the last time you lost a baby tooth)? I'm betting that you found your tongue "exploring" the new gap whenever you weren't actively paying attention to your mouth. This is perfectly normal behavior, apparently in all species, including humans. As for the breathing changes, those may be the result of pain from the incisions - if that doesn't gradually decrease you may want to ask your vet about it.

Margret

Thanks for trying to help, Margret. As noted, the occasional light huffing predated the extractions; I had hoped they would resolve it. As for moving a cat to raw at the same time as dental work, that would be more foolish than brave! I've transitioned her over three months; she has accepted it well and I'm in the ongoing process of offering different proteins with different completers, as a rotation of at least three proteins is recommended. I'm SO glad to have her off kibble -- the single best choice I've made on behalf of her health -- and was glad to have her well accustomed to boneless raw food before the extractions. Eating raw has made a visible difference in her energy, stool and appearance, and put her in better condition for the stress of dental work than she would have been.

 

[suppiechan369]

My 14-year-old had four teeth, including both upper canines and her third premolars on either side of her lower jaw (all crown excisions) nearly a week ago. FORLs. She's doing generally well, I think: decent activity, great appetite (raw-fed), pooping appropriately and wanting out (not allowed for another week). But she is lip-licking more than she was, which I'm hoping is just due to normal post-operative discomfort (she is now off buprenorphine) and a mouth that feels strange. And, chuffing a little through her nose, an established behavior I'd hoped was related to the painful teeth and would disappear after surgery. I'm trying to be patient, remembering this was a substantial procedure from which she is in early recovery. Are these behaviors likely to abate when she's fully healed? She has a post-op check in another week. Her brother had 12 teeth extracted five years ago, and -- though people say cats often just bounce back -- it took him a long time to fully seem himself again.

Hi there! Just wondering if you have any updates on how your cat is doing?

My 7 year old cat had 2 tooth extractions (lower premolars on left and right side) for the first time 3 weeks ago and his recovery has had a lot of unexpected ups & downs. (It was unexpected because my other cat who is 2 years older has had tooth extractions twice now and her recovery was very smooth both times.) About a week after his extractions, he started to exhibit excess lip licking/smacking, headshaking, and sometimes "chuffing" that your cat experienced. It took 3 more vet visits and another round of pain/nausea meds before they finally decided to sedate him again and remove the remaining suture, as it was likely the source of his discomfort. The vet said the extraction sites healed very well and even said we can put him back on some kibble again. This was just a couple of days ago, and while his appetite did improve a lot since then, I'm still noticing more lip-licking than usual after he eats, though thankfully the head-shaking occurs infrequently now. I suspect, as another commenter has mentioned, that he may not be used to no longer having those 2 teeth? I am curious how long it took for your cat to get back to her usual self after the extractions. Thanks!