If your vet allows, you may also offer them something extra special like canned food, or pure pumpkin to stimulate their appetite. Just be warned, your dog may become accustomed to fine dining and give you attitude when it is taken away after recovering!
Panting or opened mouth breathing while at rest following surgery can mean a couple of things. It can be caused by anxiety. Your dog had a long, hard day, and it may take some time for them to relax and settle. After some time, this should ease.
Regarding bowel movements, it is likely that your dog fasted the night prior to surgery. After fasting, it can take some time for their gastrointestinal tract to catch up and produce a bowel movement. However, they should be urinating normally, especially if they have been receiving intravenous fluid therapy throughout the day. They may even urinate more!
*Check with your veterinarian that your dog is okay to receive peanut butter as a treat in case they have any allergies or dietary restrictions.
Panting can also be your dogs way of showing you that they are in pain. It is a good idea to assess your dog for pain if they are persistently panting after surgery. Other signs of pain include hunched posture, vocalization, hiding, reluctance to be held or picked up, uncharacteristic aggression, and restlessness. If you suspect that your dog is feeling painful after surgery, it is a good idea to report this to your veterinarian. They may prescribe extra pain control, or they may want to asses your dog for complications. Re-checks like this do not typically cost extra so it is worth reaching out to your vet. Better safe than sorry, I always say!
My dog seems very sleepy. Is this normal?
Your dog was given a general anesthetic or a sedative. These drugs can take a number of hours to wear off and may cause some patients to appear drowsy for a day or so. Over the next 24-48 hours, your dogs behavior should gradually return to normal. However, if you are at all concerned, do not hesitate to contact the hospital.
What should I do when my dog arrives home after surgery?
After arriving at home, you should keep your dog warm and comfortable by providing a soft clean bed, ideally in a quiet and draft-free room at a comfortable room temperature (68-75°F or 20-24°C).
Your dog should remain indoors overnight, going outside only for short leash walks as needed to urinate and defecate. For most procedures, your dog’s activity should be restricted for one full week after surgery. It is essential to avoid running, jumping, and other strenuous activity that could cause excessive strain on the wound.
What to Expect After General Anesthesia
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Dr. Phil Zeltzman is a traveling veterinary surgeon in Pennsylvania & New Jersey. An award-winning author, he loves to share his adventures in practice along with information about vet medicine and surgery that can really help your pets. Dr. Zeltzman specializes in orthopedic, neurologic, cancer, and soft tissue surgeries for dogs, cats, and small exotics. By working with local family vets, he offers the best surgical care, safest anesthesia, and utmost pain management to all his patients. Sign up to get an email when he updates his blog, and follow him on Facebook, too!
Enter your email address to be notified when a new blog is published. Your Email will ONLY be used to send our monthly Blog, nothing else!