Why isn't my dog eating/drinking after surgery? Are her meds making her sick?

Hi there. It's certainly possible for dogs to have a mild upset stomach for 12-24 hours after an anesthetic episode, but it would be unusual to see this three days later - especially with such severe symptoms. I would recommend having her rechecked by your veterinarian tomorrow morning, or going to the ER tonight if she seems overly distressed or lethargic. It's possible that she could have a stomach ulcer as a result of the Rimadyl (uncommon, but can happen occasionally even with appropriate dosing), or may have some other problem that may or may not be related to her surgery. It sounds like she needs an exam and likely some lab work +/- x-rays to help determine what's going on and see what kind of treatment is needed.

It depends what type of pain killers she is taking, as it is every 8 hours i assume it is an opioid which is fine to give even on an empty stomach. antibiotics can also be given on an empty stomach, although not ideal as this can cause nausea. try giving her some boiled chicken, treats or a canned food called a/d from Hills.

Poor girl. I would definitely recommend taking her in for a recheck appt since she has gone more than 48 hrs without eating at least 1/2 of her food. They need to check her incision area thoroughly for any signs of infection and potentially get her on an appetite stimulant during her recovery process. Until you can get her seen, you can try mixing her food with some beef or chicken broth to try and entice her to eat. I hope that your fur baby Lupita feels better soon! Take care.

Unfortunately, there are no safe OTC pain relievers for dogs. Many are toxic for dogs and can be fatal if given. I'm not sure what kind of surgery your dog has, perhaps a spay, but she should likely not still be in pain three days before taking out her staples. It's also concerning that she won't eat, which could also be due to pain. This pain and anorexia could be an indication of a post surgical complication. Her symptoms are serious enough that she needs medical treatment now. There will be a vet on call for emergencies in your area. The information to find that vet is found on the clinic's answering machine or website. You can also see if there is an ER veterinary clinic in your area. Please take her into a vet asap.

I am not sure which pain killers were prescribed and why your dog was taking them for 3 weeks but it is good that all her blood-work is normal. Her blood- work should be repeated in a couple weeks to make sure nothing has changed. I am also not sure the medication she is on now but your could ask your vet about trying an anti-nausea medication called Cerenia to see if that would help get her eating again. Hope she is back to normal soon!

Yes, this can be due to this medication. This medication can rarely cause damage to the lining of the stomach and intestines, which can cause a lack of appetite, vomiting and/or diarrhea. We normally advise clients to give this drug with food and to stop the medication if vomiting, diarrhea or a lack of appetite occurs. Considering this, I recommend discontinuing the medication until you are able to have Fifi evaluated by your vet. For now, it's OK to give Fifi's stomach a rest. You can offer a bland food (boneless chicken and rice is good) and see if she will eat that. Feed small portions (1/2 cup or less) three times a day. Ensure fresh, clean water is always available. I hope this helps and Fifi gets better soon.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Skye. I recommend that she sees a veterinarian today. It doesn't sound like she is doing well after her surgery. I worry that she will become dehydrated from not eating properly. She may requires some fluids under her skin to help rehydrate her. Additional pain medication may also need to be prescribed. If she is nauseous and this is affecting her appetite, anti-nausea medication can be given. The initial doses of her antibiotics can be given by injection to get those medications started. Once she is feeling better, then it should be easier to give her these medications. In the meantime, do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hoep this information helps!