My dog eats more after spay. Is increased appetite normal or should I feed more?

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.

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 :)

It’s not normal for a pet to lose weight after being spayed. In fact most cats have a weight gaining problem after they get altered. I would recommend having her examined by your vet and also to have her stool checked for parasites. Most weight loss is due to an intestinal worm in pets this young. I hope everything works out well for your pet Savannah. Best wishes and take care.

It can be normal to vomit once or twice in the 24 hours following anesthesia but I wouldn't expect Sadie to be experiencing side effects from anesthesia at this point. I would recommend having your veterinarian examine her if the vomiting and decreased appetite continue: it may or may not be related to her recent surgery. If she is on a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain medication like carprofen or meloxicam it would be best to discontinue the medication since these can sometimes cause stomach upset - your vet can prescribe a different pain medication if necessary.

She could have a different type of intestinal parasite that the particular dewormer you gave did not cover. If she is really active she could just be going through a little growth spurt and expending a lot of energy/calories. You could start offering her canned food twice a day as well as the dry food. Be sure she is still on a kitten food as it has more calories per serving. If she is still losing weight, I would have your vet take a look at her. Your vet will be able to do a fecal and even bloodwork to look for other causes of weight loss. I hope this helps!

There are some disease processes in dogs that can cause an increased appetite. Most notably is an endocrine disorder called Cushing's Disease and the appetite is the result of excessive steroid production in the body. A pet taking steroid medication could also have increased appetite. There are other possible diagnoses as well so if the change is significant a good place to start would be an exam and bloodwork with your family vet. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!