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Dog clearing throat & not herself after dental surgery. Normal?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Shih Tzu | Female | spayed | 10 lbs

Good morning our little girl maltida had eight teeth pulled 2 days ago and she is drinking water and eating a little bit,but sometimes she sounds like she is clearing her throat or when a cat has a hair ball she is trying to clear,is that normal,and the wife said the vet had to put a tube in her nose to knock her out instead of her throat,right now she is not herself will she get better as time goes by,will she be able to be a normal dog and bark again? In the back of my mind did we do the right

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Laura Johnson VMD

Answered By Laura Johnson VMD

Veterinarian

Published on August 17th, 2017

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Matilda!

I am not familiar with using a tube in the nose to deliver oxygen and anesthetic gas for dentals or surgery. We use endotracheal tubes down their throats for this. It sounds like Matilda has irritation from the tube most likely or she has an infection. Just make sure she is breathing normally to be sure her heart and lungs are ok. If she has a history of a heart murmur a recheck with your Vet may be the best thing. Irritation from the tracheal tube should resolve on it's own in a week, getting better each day. If she has kennel cough she may need an antibiotic or something to help with the cough.

I recommend calling your Vet today to discuss her symptoms and see if they can prescribe something to give her some relief that you can pick it up. They may want to see her first though.

I hope this helps! Good luck!
Vote Icon1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on August 17th, 2017

    It sounds like Matilda may just have some tracheal irritation from the placement of the endotracheal tube during her dental procedure. If that is the case, she should get better within about a week. She should be back to her normal self, barking, etc. The coughing should not be related to the actual pulling of the teeth.

    You certainly did the right thing having the dental procedure done. If she needed those teeth extracted you definitely did her a favor :) Dental pain is horrible. Dogs are just more stoic than we are when it comes to that so they don't often show us how painful their mouth really is.

    I think the vet exam is a good idea just to put your mind at ease.

    I hope this helps! If you have any more questions feel free to ask. Best wishes!

    Dr. Amber

    Vote Icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

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My dog's sigh sounds like a cry after dental anesthesia. Is it normal?
The tube may have irritated his throat. This is actually common, just like when people have anesthesia. Typically it resolves rather quickly. I would recommend video taping what you are seeing to show your veterinarian. I would just confirm that this is what is going on and they can easily either wait it out or give medication. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach
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My dog is coughing after dental work. Is this normal? Should I worry?
Hi. Yes it is normal to havevsime coughing or irritation there after an endotraceal tube is used. If it continues beyond 3-5 days, or if there are also other signs, I would call your veterinarian first thing in the morning.
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My dog snorts, gags, and coughs after dental cleaning. What's wrong?
Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. After being intubated, sometimes the tube placed in the airway can cause irritation leading to a cough or other abnormal breathing sounds. What you are describing sounds almost as if Token has an excessive soft palate causing the snoring sound. I would recommend taking him back to the veterinarian that performed the dental cleaning and having him / her examine Token so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I would consider having x-rays taken of the airway to ensure that everything is normal. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.
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Older dachshund coughing after surgery: Is it from the breathing tube?
A mild post intubation cough can sometimes be present for a day or 2 from irritation but it should resolve quickly. If the cough is persistent and especially if the cough is productive, moist, or accompanied by nasal discharge, decreased appetite, or lethargy than this would be more concerning. With recent anesthesia we would then consider aspiration pneumonia and heart failure as possibilites. The easiest thing to do is to have a recheck for chest xrays to rule out something more serious. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!
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My dog had teeth pulled. How long until she feels better and barks?
Poor Matilda! It's not unusual for dogs to be a bit depressed and sore for a few days after major dental work like this - just like people! She should feel a bit better each day, and should be back to normal by 7-10 days after the procedure. Make sure to feed her soft food in the meantime so that she can eat without hurting her mouth. If you have any concerns about how she's healing, you can always check with the vet who did her dental to make sure that everything is going as expected :)
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Why is my dog honking, gagging, and bringing up mucus after spay?
Hi, and thanks for your question. This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or possibly to a tracheitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). The tube could be related to acute signs after the surgery but they usually resolve in maximum a week. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!
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