My dog is lethargic after neuter or hernia surgery. Is it normal?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Buster, it can be exhausting on surgery day. It can be considered a "normal" occurrence for pets to be tired the day of surgery due to the anesthesia and analgesics (pain control medications) administered for the surgery itself. On occasion they may also experience some mild vomiting (i.e. once following a car ride, after eating supper/drinking water). Buster should want to sleep tonight and we do not want him running around/playing until the surgery site is healed (minimum 2 weeks). If he is too mobile/active this could result in hemorrhaging at the surgery site or failure of the incision. If he continues to vomit, seems painful/agitated, or excessively tired/lethargic then he should be evaluated by his veterinarian or an emergency veterinarian. I instruct my clients to always monitor there mucous membrane (oral gum) color at home the night following surgery to make sure it stays pink (normal color).

Hello, and thank you for your question. I'm sorry to hear that Fender is not doing well after his surgery. From the photo, it looks like the incision is healing well but he has been licking the scrotum raw, and I am worried that part may be infected. I also worry that he is in pain from the surgery. Was he sent home with any pain medications? Even if he was, I would recommend having him re-evaluated by the vet today as he may need additional, or different pain medications. He may also need antibiotics. Please also put an e-collar (cone) on his head to prevent him from further licking the area. This should be worn continuously for at least 10 days after surgery to help the healing process. I hope this helps, and that Fender improves soon!

It can definitely be normal for dogs to be quieter than usual for a few days after a surgical procedure. Moki is probably somewhat sore, and may still be getting some of the anesthesia drugs out of his system. As long as he's eating and drinking normally and still gets excited about the things he normally would, I wouldn't be overly concerned. Most dogs are back to normal by 7-10 days after surgery.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! He may still be having some of the possible post-anesthesia side effects such as tiredness. This can sometimes last 24-36 hours. If no improvement is observed in the next day or so then have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment to make sure that nothing more serious is going on. Good luck and have a good night!

It is not unusual for dogs to not have interest in food and water that first night after anesthesia and surgery. However, if you have concerns that something isn’t right then it is always safest to have her examined by a veterinarian. Your veterinarian may have an emergency number or they may refer to a local emergency center. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon.

Great question! I would take him into the Humane Society to have his incision examined. Call first to make sure the vet is available. While some irritation can be normal, it's not normal for him to feel warm and be more lethargic than usual. Drooling excessively isn't normal either, than could be due to nausea. I wouldn't expect to see these signs a week after being neutered, so a check with the vet is best. I hope this help!

This really depends on what he is doing, and how long ago he was neutered. If the surgery was today, then he will likely be feeling strange and not himself for the whole evening. Depending on what kind of anesthetic drugs and pain medications he was given, he could be really whiny, needy, or just laying around. If he is really agitated, or trying to lick constantly, or seems really painful, then he may not have been given adequate pain medication and I would call your after-hours vet right away for further help. He may not be interested in food or water, and this can be normal, just for tonight. Tomorrow he should be eating and acting normally. If he is laying around and won't get up even when you stimulate him, this may be an emergency and I would call a vet right away, as this is certainly not normal. With my neuters, I always send them home the same day, fully awake, and with extra pain medication to go home with. Hope that helps!