Why is my dog coughing and snoring after surgery and anesthesia?

If there are no other signs (like coughing retching or sneezing and others) this is not usually a very clinically significant symptom. In case other signs are present as well, an upper respiratory tract infection/inflammation could be present.

A mild post intubation cough can sometimes be present for a day or 2 from irritation but it should resolve quickly. If the cough is persistent and especially if the cough is productive, moist, or accompanied by nasal discharge, decreased appetite, or lethargy than this would be more concerning. With recent anesthesia we would then consider aspiration pneumonia and heart failure as possibilites. The easiest thing to do is to have a recheck for chest xrays to rule out something more serious. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Sometimes after dental extractions they can develop a connection between the nasal and oral cavities called a fistula. This can allow oral cavity food, bacteria, saliva, etc. to enter the nose which can sometimes lead to these signs. Often times there may be nasal discharge as well. As well there are other post anesthesia problems that can occur less frequently. Since this sounds like a notable change post dental i would have it evaluated by your family vet. They can look at the extraction sites and do a thorough oral exam (sedation likely required) as well as check for normal airflow via the nose and normal airway function. If you think the sleeping a lot is new as well then this could be related or some other issue. Rechecking some bloodwork will likely be recommended as he is an older pet that underwent anesthesia. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

If Cooper had general anesthesia for a dental cleaning it could take 24 hours or more to recover from anesthesia. He may have been given different medications than in the past. The trachea and back of the throat can be irritated by the endotracheal tube and cause coughing or reverse sneezing. I would recommend calling the veterinarian who performed the procedure and expressing your concerns. If they are not open and you feel Cooper is in distress, having difficulty breathing, or in pain I'd recommend seeing an emergency veterinarian.

The upper teeth have roots that extend very closely to the nasal passages and if Custard had any teeth removed, then it's possible that there could be some irritation, or bleeding in the nasal passages. This often heals soon after the surgery, but may take a week or two. If he didn't have any teeth removed, or his problem worsens over the next week, then it would be worthwhile to have your vet examine him. Signs of a worsening problem are an increase in sneezing, coughing and discharge from the nose. This can be a sign of infection, so it's possible that he will need additional treatment. Otherwise, it's best to monitor this condition for now and see if it improves in the next week. I hope that helps and all is well with Custard.

Congratulations on your new addition! When a dog is spayed, we put a tube down their throat to help them breathe under anesthesia which can sometimes cause irritation. That might be responsible for the mild snoring. But usually a cough that is associated with that tube will start right away (not 5 days later). You didn't mention where Juniper came from, but if she was recently adopted from a shelter, she certainly could have developed an upper respiratory infection from the shelter. Often these upper respiratory infections are viral, but they can develop secondary bacterial infections as well. If Juniper seems lethargic (more tired than normal), is developing discharge from her nose, does not want to eat, or her cough is getting worse, then I would definitely recommend having your veterinarian examine her. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach

I'm glad you decided to have the operation done, and I hope that it went well! It could be that he now has a respiratory infection causing the cough. Tonight you can try using a humidifier (steam only) or bringing him into the bathroom with the door closed while you take a hot shower - the steam and humidity help to break up congestion and temporarily relieve symptoms associated with respiratory infections. If he is still having problems with coughing in the morning, I would have him seen by the vet again, as he may need medications to help with his cough which the vet can prescribe.