Dog won't eat or drink after surgery

OrganichuOrganichu poopspeesRegistered User, Moderator mod
edited May 2010 in Help / Advice Forum
My dog (who is 11) had surgery yesterday. She was spayed and she had 14 teeth pulled. The vet advised us that she might not eat or drink for the first day or two. So, I am not in full on panic mode or anything- but she is a big dog with a big dog's appetite, so I want to be prepared if she doesn't resume her normal ways tomorrow.

She can no longer have hard foods (and I was told that at least in the short term not to give her bones or biscuits, either). The doctor suggested canned food exclusively for a while. I also have some antibiotics for her. I didn't care too much that she wouldn't take anything yesterday, because she had an antibiotic injection while at the vet. However, now without her eating I see no way (short of forcing it in her mouth) to give her the antibiotic. Hopefully this will rectify itself.

Is there anything I should keep in mind?

So far she hasn't eaten her normal brand of wet food, another brand I had on hand, cheese, ham, salami, or peanut butter. She sniffs at it for a second and walks away. She won't drink, either.

Also.

At what point should I be concerned enough to phone the vet?

Organichu on

Posts

  • HK5HK5 Registered User regular
    edited May 2010
    The not drinking is concerning, if you're sure she's had nothing to drink for 24 hours you should call the vet. Try heating up the soft food in the microwave to make it more aromatic. Eating wet food will give her a small amount of water so it would be doubly helpful to get her eating it.

    HK5 on
  • Mom2KatMom2Kat Registered User regular
    edited May 2010
    If you absolutley must get the antibiotic down her throat one way is to cuddle her or get her into your lap kind of, even if you are on the floor. Open her mouth and put the pill on the very back of her tongue. Hold her mouth closed while stroking her throat in a down ward motion. Do the stroking untill you feel her swallow. This has worked awesome on 2 cats and 3 dogs I have had to do this with. One cat was a fiend and would find the pill in his food every damn time.

    Mom2Kat on
  • Fuzzy Cumulonimbus CloudFuzzy Cumulonimbus Cloud Registered User regular
    edited May 2010
    You may have to go back and get her rehydrated. They inject a solution, giving her a temporary camel hump of liquids. :P

    Fuzzy Cumulonimbus Cloud on
  • TrillianTrillian Registered User regular
    edited May 2010
    Mix the tinned food with a bit of warm water before giving it to her, and try feeding her lean hamburger and rice tomorrow. It goes down easy and tastes pretty good. She should eat if she's on antibiotics because they can upset the stomach.

    Trillian on

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  • rockmonkeyrockmonkey Little RockRegistered User regular
    edited May 2010
    Mom2Kat wrote: »
    If you absolutley must get the antibiotic down her throat one way is to cuddle her or get her into your lap kind of, even if you are on the floor. Open her mouth and put the pill on the very back of her tongue. Hold her mouth closed while stroking her throat in a down ward motion. Do the stroking untill you feel her swallow. This has worked awesome on 2 cats and 3 dogs I have had to do this with. One cat was a fiend and would find the pill in his food every damn time.

    This works really well. Also someone told me to blow at their nose, don't have to get too close or anything but since you're cuddling her and holding her mouth shut with one hand and massaging her throat with the other it's easy to blow at their nose and it's supposed to force them to swallow. I don't know if it really helps because I'm doing all three at the same time and my dog gives up pretty easy anyway.

    rockmonkey on
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  • SkyCaptainSkyCaptain IndianaRegistered User regular
    edited May 2010
    I'm lucky heh. I just had to toss any pills at my parents dog when I was living with them and he would snap and catch it out of the air and swallow before he realized it wasn't a treat. I'm also going to second the meat and rice attempt. It's a good way to help their digestion as well.

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  • mtsmts Dr. Robot King Registered User regular
    edited May 2010
    yea the drinking is more an issue. are her gums really tacky? more than likely she feels like shit and the thought of eating is not fun. might have to entice her for the time being.

    if not drinking you definitely need to get her fluids if she is dehydrated. i do it myself for our animals but you need to have the right things for it obviously. it should not be that expensive and it migh tbe be comped since its a result of the surgery.

    couple ways to check for dehyrdation. best is the gums. you want them moist and pink. tacky is bad. though since she just had teeth pulled it might be best to look at her head

    gently squeeze the skin on her forehead. it should pop/smooth out immediately. the longer it stays up the more dehydrated . you can also use the scruff but the head is better

    mts on
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  • NailbunnyPDNailbunnyPD Registered User regular
    edited May 2010
    Just out of curiosity, why would they spay an 11 y.o. dog?

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  • OrganichuOrganichu poops peesRegistered User, Moderator mod
    edited May 2010
    thanks for the help/ideas, everyone

    i got her to eat a little bit today with her antibiotic, though she chewed tentatively

    i think the problem's solved- it's pretty much just going to be slow going with her mouth wounds
    Just out of curiosity, why would they spay an 11 y.o. dog?

    last time i asked about it (she hasn't been mine forever) i was told 'she's getting up there in age, we don't want to risk putting her under if it's not necessary'

    then she started getting some uterine infections so the doctor said 'ok now she needs a hysterectomy like, now, we can't put it off' so they took the risk of putting her under

    Organichu on
  • DhalphirDhalphir don't you open that trapdoor you're a fool if you dareRegistered User regular
    edited May 2010
    Mom2Kat wrote: »
    If you absolutley must get the antibiotic down her throat one way is to cuddle her or get her into your lap kind of, even if you are on the floor. Open her mouth and put the pill on the very back of her tongue. Hold her mouth closed while stroking her throat in a down ward motion. Do the stroking untill you feel her swallow. This has worked awesome on 2 cats and 3 dogs I have had to do this with. One cat was a fiend and would find the pill in his food every damn time.

    We used to chocolate-coat our cat's pills. She was a fiend too.

    Yes, I know chocolate is supposedly very dangerous for cats. She skipped that part of the pet manual. Had chocolate every night for ten years. Lived until 17 with no major health problems.

    Dhalphir on
  • Gabriel_PittGabriel_Pitt (effective against Russian warships) Registered User regular
    edited May 2010
    You're thinking about dogs.

    Gabriel_Pitt on
  • MalyonsusMalyonsus Registered User regular
    edited May 2010
    It's both, actually. Though cats don't 'taste' sweet, so they're less likely to randomly chow down on chocolate.

    Theobromine Poisoning

    Malyonsus on
  • Regina FongRegina Fong Allons-y, Alonso Registered User regular
    edited May 2010
    Cats probably just don't even digest chocolate, I think they're pure carnivore.

    Regina Fong on
  • OrganichuOrganichu poops peesRegistered User, Moderator mod
    edited May 2010
    she ate a full meal

    and tried to steal the cat's food, too

    she is back to her slovenly, entitled ways

    thanks everyone

    Organichu on
  • TrillianTrillian Registered User regular
    edited May 2010
    jeepguy wrote: »
    Cats probably just don't even digest chocolate, I think they're pure carnivore.

    You bet they can.

    Trillian on

    They cast a shadow like a sundial in the morning light. It was half past 10.
  • MetalbourneMetalbourne Inside a cluster b personalityRegistered User regular
    edited May 2010
    Organichu wrote: »
    she ate a full meal

    and tried to steal the cat's food, too

    she is back to her slovenly, entitled ways

    thanks everyone

    glad to hear it; I've been holding my breath

    Metalbourne on
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