My dog won't eat or drink after neuter. Is licking shaved area normal?

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.

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!

Hi. Yes this can be normal after surgery. It would be abnormal though if he literally can't walk. I am assuming he just doesn't want to. Lol. I would monitor a bit longer tonight. Make sure he is nice and pink in his gums, and that the incisions look ok. Call your local ER if anything else seems off.

He may still be experiencing some pain and probably does not like the E-collar. You could call your vet and see if he/she could add an additional pain medication or change medications to see if it helps at all. Hopefully, he will be back to normal within a few days.

I would give the vet a call before stopping the pain medication, and let them know that he has stopped eating or drinking. This isn't normal behavior a day after surgery, and the vet should know about this.

Good morning! It is concerning that Bongo is able to reach his stitches to lick them. I recommend purchasing an Elizabethan collar (soft or hard cone shaped collar) or inflatable donut shaped collar immediately to prevent him from being able to lick his incision site. It is recommended to bring him back to your veterinarian to have his incision checked to make sure he has not removed any of his sutures and that his incision has not become inflamed/infected from him licking. Another potential complication includes Bongo developing a scrotal hematoma if he is too active during recovery. It sounds as though your veterinarian can revisit the need for pain medication/additional pain medication +/- a mild sedative during recovery +/- antibiotics during recovery pending the appearance of his incision. The only acceptable table food for dogs (that won't inadvertently cause pancreatitis) is plain unseasoned boiled rice and chicken which can be given during recovery from surgery (or firings recovery from episodes of vomiting/diarrhea). I would recommend placing an e-collar on Bongo, offering plain boiled rice and chicken and calling your veterinarian to schedule a consult to be sure that the incision looks clean/dry and does not need repair. Definitely be cautious and exert necessary precautions to avoid anyone getting bit! Best of luck!

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.