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My dog was neutered today. Should I worry he's not eating or drinking?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Miniature Pinscher | Female | spayed | 16 lbs

My dog was neutered today and won't eat or drink anything is this normal

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Dayna, DVM, CVA

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on October 25th, 2017

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.

4Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Published on May 20th, 2017
That could be the result of pain or discomfort after the surgery and could be quite normal. I would not be worried about it unless the signs persist for more than 24hours and inappetence is seen. In that case a check up at your local veterinarian is needed as more pain relief medications can be added.
Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Published on December 1st, 2018
That could be completely normal and could be due to mild discomfort or the anesthesia he had. I would recommend to wait and monitor him and have hime checked only if signs are persisting more than 24hours in total.
Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Jeffrey Milner
Veterinarian
Published on July 26th, 2019
Just like in humans, sometimes animals will have days that are more difficult than others immediately after a surgery. Sometimes the pain associated with procedure can become worse even after a couple of days. While I do not want to minimize your concerns, it definitely sounds like your pup is stable at the moment. Try and offer something more tempting than the typical dog food. Spice of the water a little bit with some chicken or beef broth to see if that interests Luka. If he is still continuing to get worse by tomorrow afternoon, bring him back into the vet at which the procedure was performed. They will assess whether this is a surgical complication or if it is coincidental. Hope this makes sense.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Food & Nutrition

My dog won't eat his food after being neutered. What should I do?

He may still be a bit groggy or nauseous from anesthesia yesterday or he may be a bit painful still. If he doesn't have pain medication, contact your vet and ask the something be dispensed. Mix in some warm water or a teaspoon of baby food with his food to stimulate his appetite. You can also offer a bland diet of plain white rice mixed in equal parts with boiled boneless/skinless chicken breasts. Once he begins eating, transition him slowly to his regular diet. Make sure he has water or some unflavored PediaLyte to drink to prevent dehydration. This should pass in the next 24 hours. Monitor for lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain. If Odin doesn't begin eating in the next 24-36 hours, have him examined by your veterinarian.

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New puppy not eating, drinking, or peeing after neuter. Is he okay?

Moving into a new home is stressful especially after a surgery. Keep an eye on him tonight and if he's still not eating and drinking the morning, then I would be concerned and have him seen by a vet.

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Training & Behavior

My dog just got neutered. What normal behaviors should I expect?

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!

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My dog won't urinate or eat after surgery. When is it an emergency?

He should be rechecked by your vet or at the local veterinary ER today. He may be painful or still feeling the aftereffects of general anesthesia. This can last as long as 72 hours. If his bladder is full, the doctors can insert a urinary catheter if necessary to empty it. Medications can be administered or dispensed to alleviate pain which may make him comfortable. Supportive care can also be administered. SQ fluids may rehydrate him and perk him up.

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Health & Wellness

Dog sleepy after anesthesia: Is not eating or drinking normal after surgery?

Anesthesia can make a dog quite sleepy. She should be back to normal in the morning. And yes, it is normal to see a decrease in appetite and a decrease in drinking water. Again, this should be normal in the morning. If it's not, you will need to take her back into the vet.

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Health & Wellness

My dog is vomiting and won't eat after neuter surgery, what's wrong?

Poor pup! If he's vomiting, not eating, and isn't able to keep anything down, this is very concerning - so I would recommend taking him back in to your veterinarian today to be seen. It's possible that this could be some type of complication related to his neuter surgery, or could be a totally separate problem. Your veterinarian can examine him and may recommend blood work, x-rays, or other testing if needed to help diagnose the problem and see what kind of treatment is needed.

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Rescue dog not eating after neuter. Can it spread to my other dog?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! He is adorable! It is not necessarily uncommon for a dog to not want to eat for 1-2 days when adjusting to a new environment. However, that should improve quickly. If he is otherwise fine with a normal activity level, you can continue to monitor for the next 24 hours. If no improvement, have him evaluated by your veterinarian. It could be that he is painful following his surgery. Theoretically, yes, there are things that can be transmitted to your other dogs. Good luck and have a good day!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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