My dog is lethargic and not peeing after spay surgery. Is this normal?

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The incision, based on this one photo, looks normal to me for one day post-op. It is not uncommon for dogs to be lethargic a day after surgery. If she is wearing a cone collar, many dogs will not walk or move around much due to the cone. That being said, I do not recommend you take the cone off. Eventually they will figure out how to move around with the cone. If she is not wearing a cone, she should be. Ultimately, you know her best. If she does not seem right to you then call your vet or take her to an urgent care vet. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If she was bright and happy, and is now lethargic again, one concern is an infection within the abdomen. This is rare after a spay but can happen as a potential complication of any abdominal surgery. I recommend you have Molly back to your vet ASAP, or to an emergency clinic if your vet is closed. They will check her abdomen with an ultrasound to see if any free fluid is present, and will test this fluid if present. They might also do a blood test to look at her white and red blood cell levels. It might just be that Molly needs more pain medications, however we must rule out a 'peritonitis' (infection in the abdominal cavity) first. Best of luck with Molly, I hope she feels better soon!

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!

If she has been like this for more than 24 hours, then it would be best to take her to the vet. She may be reacting negatively to her medication and need treatment to get better. If she is currently on medication, then it's best to stop it at this time until you are able to speak with your veterinarian, or have her seen by a veterinarian. If you have further questions or need further clarification, then you may consider having an online consult with one of our vets on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This way, you can send unlimited pictures and have a text conversation with a vet. I hope that helps and Molly gets better soon.

Congrats on your new puppy! Yes, this can be normal. Jolie will have been fasted before the surgery, so I would expert her to poop in the next 24 hours. Thank you for providing a picture of her incision, it looks good to me! I hope this helps.

I am concerned that Zoey is still lethargic and unsteady. Because she is eating and drinking, and her urine and stool look ok, I would monitor her tonight. Should she still be lethargic and unsteady tomorrow, I would have her seen by the vet.

Hello, sorry to hear about Kaia. They could indeed have some discharge from the vulva for a few days after spaying. However, any frank blood would not be considered normal and should be addressed immediately. Lethargy can persist for a few days as well, especially if on pain medications. The watery discharge from the incision could indicate that she is having a small incision infection or that she is developing a seroma (liquid produced by the body) due to excessive movement. You can cold compress the area 3 times daily for the next 3 days, then switch to warm compress 3 times daily and see if this improves the discharge from the incision. You must keep her rested to allow for full recovery. If you note any persistent discharge from her vulva then she should be evaluated by her veterinarian. Hope this helps and best of luck.