Why Do Dog Acting Strange After Teeth Cleaning Process?
After the teeth cleaning procedure, dogs may act strange and show abnormal behavior. They get exhausted in the whole process and start showing signs of stress, anxiety, pain and lethargy. Getting proper sleep and warm food can help them gain consciousness again.
Seeing your dog acting strange and weird can be a worrying sign for any dog owner. But what if they started behaving abnormally after their teeth cleaning process? Is that a sign of illness and requires medical assistance?
Dental infections are common in dogs and can be easily prevented by regular dogs’ dental grooming. However, most pet parents miss out on cleaning their dog’s teeth which later becomes a massive problem. The good thing is that dogs’ dental infections are treatable.
The bad thing, some dogs start behaving strangely after their dental cleaning checkups. They might feel pain, tiredness or even lethargy. This article will help you understand the common strange behavior of dogs after their dental inspection and how to deal with their actions.
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Behavioral Changes In Dogs After Teeth Cleaning
Dogs may show many signs and behavioral changes after their dental checkups. This is due to the post medications and mental stimulus. The most common patterns observed are:
- Signs of tiredness and pain
- Signs of lethargy
- Not eating any food
- Barking excessively
- Howling and Growling
- Panting and heavy breathing
- Signs of aggression
- Shivering and shaking
- Getting Diarrhea
5 Reasons Your Dog Acting Strange After Teeth Cleaning
Dental issues are frequent in dogs, and almost 90% of the dogs exhibit some dental infection as soon as they turn three years of age. To prevent them from severe dental diseases, it’s a good idea to take care of their teeth and gums regularly.
However, it has been observed in most cases that dogs start behaving abnormally or strange after their dental cleaning process. This can be due to several reasons like pain, lethargy etc. Below are 5 reasons that will help you understand why your dog is acting strangely after their teeth cleaning procedure:
1. Your Dog Is Tired
Dental cleaning is an exhausting process for dogs as it takes a few hours for all the checks. And, dogs quickly get tired after they get discharged from the clinic. Sometimes the tiredness lasts for 10-12 hours, and as a result, their behavior seems a bit strange. In this case, it’s better to keep them calm and let them relax for the whole day.
2. Your Dog Is In Pain
Pain is one of the common reasons behind the dog’s irregular behavior. After the teeth cleaning process, they might feel pain in their teeth, gums and mouth. Even if your veterinarian has provided them with pain-relief medicine after the procedures, they still feel pain at some point in time. If you see them crying in pain, contact your veterinarian without further delay.
3. Your Dog Is Feeling Lethargy
If your dog has been provided sedatives before their dental cleaning procedure, they are likely to feel lethargic at the end of the day. Many pets don’t feel sluggish at the start, but their behaviour starts changing as the day passes. It’s pretty normal for them to act like this and is not a sign of worry.
4. Your Dog Is Feeling Uncomfortable
Many times after the dental cleaning process, dogs start feeling uncomfortable and stressed out. This is mainly because of two reasons: A long busy day and a painful process. They stop eating their food, bark excessively and sometimes also shows aggression. Their discomfort may last from 12 to 16 hours, depending on their age.
5. Your Dog Is Anxious And Stressed Out
Anxiety and stress are directly related to a dog’s behavioral actions. If your dog is acting strangely as soon as they return home from the dental clinic, there are chances that they’re suffering from anxiety and stress. To calm them down, treat them with their favorite food, massage them gently on their back, and let them have some rest.
How To Help Your Dog After Teeth Cleaning Procedure?
After the successful teeth cleaning procedure, you should help your doggie deal with their strange behaviors. Your veterinarian will provide him with proper medication, but you have to take some measures to keep your dog relaxed and calm. Here are 3 ways to help out your dog to ease their pain:
1. Monitor and Observe Your Dog Actions
If you observe changes in your dog’s behavior post-dental checkup, you should carefully monitor your dog’s actions. Look out for what they’re doing, if they’re eating or not, their walking pattern, chasing tail, etc. and wait for a few hours to see their condition. Usually, dogs get normal after a period of 20-24 hours.
If you find anything unusual like vomiting, pooping blood, etc., you should consult with your veterinarian.
2. Serve Them Some Warm Food
Dogs lose heat in the entire teeth cleaning process and physically get tired. As a result, you might see them panting and breathing heavily. Therefore, it’s essential to provide your dog with hot and warm food. You can give them some boiled soup or hot liquids to give some heat to their body.
3. Help Them Getting A Comfortable Sleep
Sleep is the most important thing your dog will need to cope with the stress and pain of dental cleaning. As soon as you return from the checkup process, serve some warm food to your pet, and help them fall asleep.
Close the room lights, reduce noises and make their bed comfortable to let them sleep peacefully. Proper relaxation will help your dog deal with the mental stimulus, and they’ll start behaving normally soon.
Final Words
Many dogs show strange behaviors after their dental cleaning process, and it’s completely normal. If your dog is also acting abnormally, they’ll become normal after a few hours of sleep. The thing is, you should not panic and act calmly. Call your veterinarian if your dog’s situation becomes worse.
