Recently, my dog has undergone teeth cleaning process from a well-known veterinarian in the United States Of America (USA). He provided great service and good oral hygiene to my furious friend. General anesthesia was used to sedate (unconscious) my pet, during the cleaning period.

In general anesthesia, various I.V. (intravenous) fluids, drips, and injections are used. Every living individual is unique, and their bodies respond differently to a foreign substance (i.e. medicine).

So, in few cases, anesthesia may show severe side effects and adverse reactions in dogs. These side effects include dizziness, upset stomach, headache, pain, inflammation (to the specific part of the body), etc. Overdose (of anesthetic substances) is fatal (to a living body) and may cause brain damage, hemorrhage, and even sudden death.

Now I’m going back to our primary question that I’m going to discuss here i.e. Do dogs need pain relief medicines after teeth cleaning?. I would also try to give you quick (to the point) answers to your other questions regarding dogs’ teeth cleaning procedure, its benefits, and the side effects of using anesthesia in small dog breeds and others described below.

Painkillers For Dogs After Dental Cleaning

In common, veterinarians do not prescribe pain-killer medication to a dog, cat, or any other pet that has been undergone a general tartar cleansing process that helps to get rid of the accumulation of bacteria, yellowish teeth, poor oral hygiene, and bad debris, etc.

But in some (rare) cases, a dog may get a prescription (pain-killer) veterinary medicine if a tooth or gum is injured during the procedure.

Why Vets Prescribe Pain Relief Medications After Teeth Cleaning?

As said before, generally vets do not prescribe pain meds after dogs’ dental cleaning. But veterinarians become bound to give your furry friend medicines, If a dog’s gums, teeth, or any other part of the oral cavity accidentally injured during the deep dental cleaning process in dogs.

Veterinarians use sharp tools (i.e. a scaler) for deep teeth cleaning that helps to remove tartar and other sticky materials from teeth. This process increases the sensitivity of teeth and makes them more sensitive.

It’s suggested to give soft foods for (at least) three days to your pet following a dental procedure. It helps them to recover fast and avoid complications.

Symptoms: Your Dog Is Feeling Pain Following Deep Dental Cleaning

It’s so important to determine if you’re dog is feeling aches or not?. Your adorable friend cannot tell you whether it’s hurting or not. Dogs show the following signs if they’re in pain;

• Loss of appetite (Anorexia: lack of appetite)
• Change in normal behavior
• Crying and making noises
• Low energy (look tired and lazy)
• If Not showing interest in playing (with toys)
• Avoiding to eat favorite perks
• Aggression
• Too much drooling
• Swollen or inflamed gums
• Look tired and lazy
• Nervousness
• Barking (unusually)