My dog is panting and restless after anesthesia. How to help?

This could be a side effect of the morphine administered for sedation. Keep her in a quiet, warm, dimly lit room. Restrict activity as much as possible, especially avoiding stairs or climbing onto furniture. Effects can last 4 to 6 hours, not all dogs metabolize the drug at the same rate so this period could be longer or shorter. If she is the same or worse after the 4-6 hour period has passed, consider having her rechecked by your vet. Contact your veterinarian anyway and discuss options for pain management once the morphine wears off.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Vinnie! Each dog and cat reacts differently to sedation and anesthesia. They feel goofy or strange and can react by pacing and panting. Since Vinnie is a large breed dog be sure that his belly isn't bloated. If he is trying to vomit then I would immediately take him to an emergency Vet. He could also be uncomfortable, if he is due for pain medications then I would give it to him. Try taking him for a quick walk outside then see if you can help him settle down in his bed. See if laying with or next to him helps his settle and sleep. His incision looks fine. If this continues then call your Vet when they open to discuss. I hope this helps and I wish Vinnie a speedy recovery!

These are vague signs that could indicate several things like anxiety or pain. If there is something they could be making him anxious (rain, thunder, fireworks, new people, etc), then he will calm down afterwards. Just give him some extra attention. If there is nothing you can think that is making him anxious he could be in discomfort. I would have your vet do an exam to make sure he doesn't need any pain medication. I would not give net human pain meds as most of these are toxic to dogs. I hope this helps!

If Cooper had general anesthesia for a dental cleaning it could take 24 hours or more to recover from anesthesia. He may have been given different medications than in the past. The trachea and back of the throat can be irritated by the endotracheal tube and cause coughing or reverse sneezing. I would recommend calling the veterinarian who performed the procedure and expressing your concerns. If they are not open and you feel Cooper is in distress, having difficulty breathing, or in pain I'd recommend seeing an emergency veterinarian.

Dogs are often not themselves 100% after recovering from anesthesia, this can last up to 24 hours at a certain degree, i wouldn't be worried as long as he isn't too lethargic, appetite can also be affected. if you are concerned please contact the vet responsible for the anesthesia for further instructions.

Abdominal surgery is a serious surgery, especially when infection is involved. So sleeping a lot would be normal and one way of healing. The shivering and panting is likely caused by pain, so make sure she takes her pain medicine on time. Best let her rest. She may not be hungry today, which is okay. Make sure she has fresh water available. She should be a lot better tomorrow.

It depends quite a bit on what drugs and doses were used for anesthesia, so unfortunately it's difficult to give a good answer to this question without being able to look at his medical record. But in general, for most anesthetic procedures, it's not uncommon for many dogs to remain somewhat groggy or drowsy for up to 12 hours or so afterwards - my rule of thumb for owners at our clinic is that their pet should be acting normal again by the following morning, but not to worry overly much if they are a bit sleepy or "off" for the rest of the afternoon or evening after going home. However, the pet should be able to get up and walk around, eat and drink without problems, etc. - if they are groggy to the point of being unresponsive or unable to stand, this is not normal. If you are concerned about Falkor, the safest course of action would be to call your vet's office and describe how he is currently acting - they should be able to tell you if this is reasonable, based on their anesthesia protocol. If he is unresponsive, having difficulty swallowing, or seems to be getting worse over time, I would take him back to your vet or your nearest emergency clinic to be checked.