Spike just had several extractions today (not sure how many yet, but I think all of his premolars). My roommate went to pick him up because I had to work, which is why I'm a little unsure of the details.
The reason he had so many extractions is he's got a genetic form of stomatitis. His brother Pat got several teeth pulled about 2.5 years ago, and so far hasn't had another flare-up yet. (Fortunately, Captain Hook is not related...his teeth are beautiful!)
I talked to the vet tech on the phone to go over the discharge instructions, and she said that they were recommending a switch to canned food for him because of the number of extractions.
I'm wondering if canned food is really necessary. He's still got his molars, as far as I can tell from what the vet said when she called during the surgery. I'm wary of the canned food because of the possibility of tartar buildup, and I'd like to take care of his remaining teeth. I've seen cats without any teeth at all besides the canines eating dry food just fine. They just swallowed it down. And Spike doesn't chew his food anyway because he eats so fast.
Any thoughts?
Food after extractions
Re: Food after extractions
What the tech may have meant to imply is for temporary use, that is, that canned, and preferrably Hill's Rx A/D is ideal for dental patients who have had extractions. The mouth is extremely painful after extractions (not any different that if you had them, you don't want solid food right away!), and you don't want to risk getting food trapped in the holes left by the extractions, this is excruciatingly painful!
The A/D can be mixed with water to form a soft or soupy consistency, easy to lap up as opposed to painful chewing. It is only intended for short-term use (a few days or so) and provides good nutrition, calorie intake, protein, etc.
It should be a choice you and your vet make together (and kitty's preference) when considering long term feeding of canned. However, it's the VET you should be talking to about Spike's nutritional needs, his stomatitis, and canned vs dry, not the tech. She knows his history of stomatitis, and may have a reason for recommending canned, especially if he is prone to painful inflammation. But if she is simply biased for canned food, that would be another matter....
The A/D can be mixed with water to form a soft or soupy consistency, easy to lap up as opposed to painful chewing. It is only intended for short-term use (a few days or so) and provides good nutrition, calorie intake, protein, etc.
It should be a choice you and your vet make together (and kitty's preference) when considering long term feeding of canned. However, it's the VET you should be talking to about Spike's nutritional needs, his stomatitis, and canned vs dry, not the tech. She knows his history of stomatitis, and may have a reason for recommending canned, especially if he is prone to painful inflammation. But if she is simply biased for canned food, that would be another matter....
..........Traci
Re: Food after extractions
Well, Spike has just about no teeth left. He's got his 4 canines, and about 2/3 of his incisors... and then one premolar. Other than that one premolar, he's got nothing left behind the canines.
I gave him some canned food last night, and he ate it all up. Then he decided that he was still hungry and kept wandering over and eating the dry food.
I gave him the canned food again this morning, and I definitely can't keep that up. The other two cats and the dog were all just standing around thinking that they should be eating the canned food too. There's no way that I can keep feeding the canned food to one cat long term.
Fortunately, if he's going after the dry food the day of his dental and eating it just fine, I think he'll be okay switching back to dry in a few days.
I gave him some canned food last night, and he ate it all up. Then he decided that he was still hungry and kept wandering over and eating the dry food.
I gave him the canned food again this morning, and I definitely can't keep that up. The other two cats and the dog were all just standing around thinking that they should be eating the canned food too. There's no way that I can keep feeding the canned food to one cat long term.
Fortunately, if he's going after the dry food the day of his dental and eating it just fine, I think he'll be okay switching back to dry in a few days.
Re: Food after extractions
He's going to eat what he's offered, if you don't give him canned, he only has the choice of dry. My point is, canned is best directly after extractions, due to the pain involved, and food trapped in the sockets. As mentioned, you can mix Hill's Rx A/D canned with water so he can lap at it rather than make painful jaw motions during chewing. You can feed canned for about a week post extractions.....after that, if he does NOT have any obvious trouble with dry food, then feed dry, but watch him closely for signs of trouble like regurgitation, vomiting, delayed transit or ingestion problems, constipation, etc.
Please remember what you would feel like if you had several extractions in one day. Tissues are agrivated, inflammed, sore and painful.
Please remember what you would feel like if you had several extractions in one day. Tissues are agrivated, inflammed, sore and painful.
..........Traci
Re: Food after extractions
My Gypsy, Gump and Roo have all had multiple extractions (but not more than 3 or 4)....
they all ate specifically canned for a few days, but I ALWAYS have dry kibble down for everyone....after a few days, they would venture out and start nibbling the kibble, so I backed off on the canned food....
Now Gypsy, my old lady at 15, is the only one who still eats 2 (small) cans a day, plus she does munch on the dry kibble a bit....
they all ate specifically canned for a few days, but I ALWAYS have dry kibble down for everyone....after a few days, they would venture out and start nibbling the kibble, so I backed off on the canned food....
Now Gypsy, my old lady at 15, is the only one who still eats 2 (small) cans a day, plus she does munch on the dry kibble a bit....