Why is my cat wobbly, head dropping, and hurting after surgery?

Poor kitty! It takes a good 24 hours for anesthesia to completely wear off, and if he's on heavy pain meds that can also affect his ability to get around and know when he needs to go potty. I would keep him in a sort of recovery area nearby his litter box that is easy to clean as he is likely not intentionally having the accidents. If after 24 hours he is still seeming to be very disoriented, can't hold his urine properly at all, or new symptoms are appearing, I'd let your vet know ASAP to make sure he isn't having an adverse reaction to the pain meds or anesthesia.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sometimes it can take some time for cats to recover from anesthesia and administration of these medications together so that could be a reason why it has been taking him longer than expected to recover. If he is eating and otherwise doing well, it may be ok to monitor him for a bit longer. However, if he worsens or by tomorrow he has not improved, he should be evaluated by his veterinarian for reevaluation. Good luck and have a great day!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! While sedation or anesthesia can result in gastrointestinal upset and inappetence, it usually does not last 5 days so I am worried that there may be something else going on. Loss of appetite can be observed with many conditions such as gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, kidney disease, pancreatitis, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have Button evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and others depending on the findings on exam. Treatment would be based on findings. Good luck and have a great day! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! While I am unclear what you are specifically referring to in terms of his behavior, it is fairly common for cats and dogs to feel differently and show signs such as lethargy and sedation for 24-36 hours following anesthesia. The fact that he ate is a good sign. Best of luck!

She may be in pain and potentially feel nauseous after the surgery. I would call the veterinarian that performed the surgery (if they are still open) to have them re-evaluate her. If they are closed and she is not doing well you can take her to another veterinarian that is open. She may not be drinking much if she is eating wet food. I am just concerned when you say she is wobbly when she walks and if having issues pooping and peeing. Than you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It sounds as if Chloe may be having trouble with vision as well? Often times when we see patients hugging close to walls and having trouble negotiating surroundings it's either their vision is impaired or they have severe spatial perception defects (think vertigo). It is possible that anesthesia can affect balance but it is normally seen pretty soon after a surgical process and not so far out. If she is having actual weakness as a problem with ambulation (walking) this will require a more in depth exam than we can provide online. Likely she will need a neurological work up with labs and x rays to find the source or her problem. For now I think you are doing everything correctly-keep her calm and in a small contained space (like a bathroom) to make her feel more secure for the time being. It is great that she is eating and drinking and having normal bathroom habits-these are positive signs. It sounds as if you are very good kitty parents. Just let her stay close to you if it helps and hopefully you will have some more in depth answers soon. My best to all of you.

I am so sorry for the delay in answering your question. I hope that HIro is feeling better now. It can take a few days for them to be back to normal following anesthesia. Since he is eating now, I suspect he may be coming around back to normal in the next few days. If you are still concerned about him, take him back to your vet to discuss your concerns. Regarding your specific question "Can anesthesia though muscle cause problems or death days after?" Whether anesthesia is given in the muscle, in the vein, or via inhalant (gas), it can cause cardiovascular changes that may manifest in illness days after; for instance if they had some pre-existing kidney insufficiency, its possible that deceased blood pressure while under anesthesia may further damage the kidneys to cause kidney failure. While I suppose it is possible that there could be decreased blood flow to the brain that could cause a change in their personality, this certainly isn't something we recognize occurring, I think in terms of frequency of that happening I would say its very rare. If Hiro is still not acting normally, please take him back to your vet for a recheck. I hope he is back to himself. Thank you for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!