My dog's spay: Can she chew bones before surgery or is it eating?

I recommend to wait 6-8 hours after the time of the procedure. Also only feed half the amount. If she eats it all and acts like she's still hungry, wait an hour to feed the rest. Also, don't worry if Lexi doesn't eat tonight. Many times they are too tired and out of it. Hope you have a good evening.

Occasionally after spaying, dogs will have no appetite for the first 12-24 hours. This may be due to the lingering effects of [anesthesia](https://www.petcoach.co/article/pets-and-anesthesia-everything-you-need-to-know) and/or some post operative discomfort. If she still has no appetite two days after spaying, I would be concerned that she may be in [pain](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-measure-your-dogs-pain) or there may be another underlying concern affecting her[ recovery](https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-ways-to-rest-your-pet-after-surgery-or-injury). Call your veterinarian to discuss your concerns. He or she may recommend a recheck, and some more [pain medication](https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-pain-relief-solutions-for-dogs). In the meantime, take a look at her incision site. If it is red, swollen and hot to the touch, she needs to see your veterinarian right away as these symptoms may indicate infection. You can also try offering her a bland diet of boiled chicken and white rice or some treats to stimulate her appetite.

The onesies may be uncomfortable or stressful for her. Try taking them off at feeding time. Watch her closely though so she doesn't get to her incision. You can also warm her food slightly or mix in a teaspoon of plain baby food to stimulate the appetite.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Luna. I do recommend that she sees a veterinarian today. Her incision appears to be healing well. I do not see redness, swelling or discharge draining out. However, pictures can be deceiving. I am more worried that she is not eating. The diarrhea needs to be addressed as well. The veterinarian will examine her and take her temperature. A fever, for example, can indicate an infection. If you stopped her medications, which is reasonable given the diarrhea, she may be very painful now though. This too can affect appetite. The veterinarian will guide you on any testing or treatment options. In the meantime, keep her quiet, encourage her to drink so she doesn't become dehydrated and do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

Chew toys and food kongs are ideal at this stage as she would be likely to lie down and rest the wound in order to 'play' with them. Regular, limited lead walking will also help to deal with some of her excessive energy. She should not be playing and running, jumping or stretching games as these may cause the stitches to rupture

Great question! In general, there should be no reason that you would need to change her diet after her spay. She may not be as hungry as usual this evening since she may be sore and still a bit sleepy from the anesthesia, so I would suggest feeding her about half of her normal dinner tonight. Starting the following day, it should be fine for her to go back to her normal amount of food :)

You can give the pills in a small amount of peanut butter, canned dog food, or wrapped in a piece of cheese or lunch meat if needed - this should not hurt anything for his surgery :) The main concern is that we don't want a dog to have a full stomach going into surgery, since if he vomits while he's waking up there is a chance of aspirating the vomit into the lungs. But a small bite of food to give a pill should be just fine.