Postoperative Flap Dehiscence in Dogs and Cats Undergoing Oral Surgery: A Case Series

Objective: To describe the signalment, comorbidities, surgical characteristics, and outcome of dogs and cats with postoperative oral flap dehiscence after oral surgery at a veterinary referral center. Animals: Medical records of dogs and cats undergoing oral surgery over a 37-month period (January 2022 to January 2025) were reviewed. Of 630 animals (350 dogs, 280 cats) undergoing oral surgery, 13 (8 dogs, 5 cats) with confirmed postoperative flap dehiscence were included. Clinical Presentation: Affected dogs had a median age of 3.5 years (range, 0.6–10) and weighed a median of 12.5 kg (range, 6.5–41.9); affected cats had a median age of 11 years (range, 4.9–14.3) and weighed a median of 4.9 kg (range, 3.6–7.3). Most procedures were extractions, and 8 of 13 dehiscence involved a canine tooth site. Dehiscence was identified at a postoperative recheck at a median of 7 days (range, 5–20) and most often involved a flap margin or corner. Results: The cause of dehiscence was not identified in 11 of 13 animals; comorbidities, including chronic kidney disease, entropion, and allergic dermatitis, were present in 8 of 13. Revision surgery was required in 3 of 8 dogs (37.5%) but none of the cats. Twelve of 13 animals healed; 1 dog with prior radiotherapy and osteosarcoma did not heal. Clinical Relevance: Postoperative oral flap dehiscence was uncommon in this population but occurred without an identifiable cause in most cases. These descriptive findings can help general practitioners recognize dehiscence, anticipate that most cases heal without further surgery, and understand when revision surgery may be needed, particularly in dogs.