Why is my dog fearful and reclusive after being spayed yesterday?

Hello. It can take up to 24 hours for all the sedation to work through her system, so she is very likely still a bit under the influence. I would like for you to look at her gums, the tissue just above her canine teeth, to see if she looks nice & pink. If her color is pale, greyish or bluish, get her back to your vet immediately. You can certainly lay with her, & if she is just on a cold floor, I would try to get her on something warmer. The pain medication is just indicated for once a day, so you can not give her any more just yet, nor can you give any aspirin, Tylenol or Alleve. Your veterinarian may have something else on hand if it looks like she needs more, but most patients are feeling much, much better by the next day. Keep her warm & in a quiet place, & she should do just fine. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there. Different individuals can respond to anesthesia differently, just like humans. In my experience, it's not uncommon for some pets to be wobbly, confused, or otherwise "out of it" for up to 24 hours or so after an anesthetic event. As long as she's responsive and doesn't seem to be getting worse, this is likely normal. If she's still shaky and crying by tomorrow morning, I would recommend giving your vet a call as she may be painful and need some additional medication to help with this. For tonight, you can sit and snuggle with her if she seems to want this, or leave her alone if she doesn't want to be touched. Make sure she has food and water available if she wants it. Monitor for any bleeding from the incision site, pale gums, or increased weakness or acting less responsive, as these could indicate a more serious problem that needs an ER visit.

A bitch spay is a big operation and it takes a dog a good while to settle from it due to the pain and anaesthesia. This could certainly have put her out of sorts. I would give her another week or so to settle and if she is no better then, it may be personality clash and would be best to speak to s behaviourist.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Typically a combination of drugs is administered prior to the procedure. I typically like giving the pre-medication 15-20 minutes prior to the procedure. This should not set her back and once she is out of the unfamiliar vet clinic, she should be fine. You can ask the veterinarian to pre-medicate her prior to the procedure so that she is not so stressed out. It is not necessary to keep dogs that have been spayed overnight. All of my spay procedures go home that exact same day. If you feel she will be too stressed out while there, I would be more apt to have you keep Sie at home for the post-op recovery period. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

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 incision looks normal. Her behavior is not. I recommend a recheck exam. She could be painful or could have a urinary infection. If the doxycycline is causing a stomach upset they may be able to switch antibiotics. They can put her on pain medication also to make her more comfortable. I recommend feeding wet food with added water in it so she doesn't get dehydrated. Again most dogs are back to normal in a day or two after the surgery so please bring her in for a recheck to make sure there is no complication. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Luna.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You absolutely did the right thing. Spaying dogs is the best option to help prevent certain conditions such as pyometra and reduce the possibility of mammary tumors. Usually dogs recover very quickly after surgery and she is expected to be fine after surgery. It may take her a few days to be back to normal but that would be the expectation. Rest comfortably that you did the right thing. Good luck and have a good night!