Some pets will also vocalize or whine as the last remaining sedative or anesthetic medications are removed from their systems, or in response to the prescribed pain medication. If crying or whining is mild and intermittent, you may simply monitor the situation. If vocalization persists, please call us for advice.
If you're still not sure what's going on with your dog, please call your vet clinic and brainstorm with a nurse to try to figure out why it's happening. The good news is that if you follow the rules, the whining should stop overnight or within a few days.
How do I keep my dog comfortable after surgery? It's best to have your dog rest in familiar territory, allowing them to lie comfortably in their bed, keep their body temperature regulated (especially if it's summer, ensure they can rest in a cool room) while having access to fresh water.
Your dog may have had a tube placed in the trachea (windpipe) during anesthesia, in order to administer oxygen and anesthetic gas. This can occasionally cause mild irritation and a slight cough. A mild post-surgical cough will typically diminish over the next few days.
With today's anesthetics, many of which are reversible, your dog should be almost completely normal by the time of discharge. Many dogs are sleepy or tired for twelve to twenty-four hours after anesthesia.
Pain. Pain is another reason your dog may pant or breathe heavily after surgery. If the drugs used to manage pain during anesthesia are wearing off, you may start to see changes in your dog's behavior. Discussing your dog's pain-management plan at the surgical discharge appointment can help you avoid this.
The most common side effect of anesthesia in dogs is a swollen injection site. Usually, this swelling disappears a few hours after the procedure is over. Another potential side effect is a repressed cardiovascular system.
Mild dog anesthetic side effects include injection site swelling or a faint decrease in a dog's cardiac output. Catastrophic effects include anaphylactic shock or death. Other adverse reaction risks to dog anesthesia include not making sure your pup has been fasting prior to being anesthetized.
When using this system, healthy dogs had their risk drop to 0.05% or one in two thousand. For healthy cats, the risk went to 0.11% or one in nine hundred. Let's compare that with sick patients; in dogs and cats the risk of death with anesthesia is about 1.4%, which is one out of every seventy cases!
Some veterinary procedures need to be performed with your pet under anesthesia (for example: dentistry, surgery, and some diagnostic imaging). Simply put, anesthesia is a controlled unconsciousness, where your pet's level of consciousness is controlled so they don't feel pain and don't move.
Dogs will often be in a bit of pain or discomfort following a surgery. This alone is enough to trigger mild depression in some pups. Be sure to talk to your vet if you think your dog is in pain – your vet may be able to prescribe medications to keep your dog more comfortable while he heals.
Post-Surgery Home Care for Pets
To prevent any injuries, it is best to keep your pet in a quiet, contained area. Rest is very important in this stage of recovery. It might be necessary to keep your pet contained to a small area for a few days to make sure that they aren't moving around too much.
An animal may exhibit behavioral changes for a few days and act as if it does not recognize familiar surroundings, people, or other animals. Behavioral changes after general anesthesia are extremely common and usually resolve within a few days.
Rudolph, estimated to be about 8 months old, was chosen to be put down because of overcrowding at an animal shelter in Oklahoma. When the veterinarian returned after injecting the euthanasia drugs, the puppy was still awake.
It may take a minute or two for the heart to stop. The doctor will listen carefully to your pet's heart to ensure it has stopped before pronouncing him or her gone. After that, there is no danger of your pet waking up. This is a very common fear for pet owners.
Age is not a disease, and your dog is never “too old” to receive the quality care he or she needs, even if it requires anesthesia and surgery.
The pain medication used while your dog was in hospital, as well as pain medication sent home, can often cause signs of depression. Your dog is likely to be lethargic and less active during the recovery period.
Spend Extra Time with Your Dog
Your dog will feel confused and uncomfortable after her surgery. Set aside extra time to snuggle with her, pet her, and just dote on your pup. The more reassurance she has from you, the better she'll feel.
Cuddles, cuddles and more cuddles
Your dog loves to be by your side, so post-op recovery is a perfect time to cozy up with your pet and relax together.
Some dogs may be high-strung or experience anxiety post-surgery. If this is the case for your pooch, your vet may also prescribe anti-anxiety medication or sedatives to help your pet remain calm while they heal. A word of caution: Never give your dog human medications without consulting your veterinarian first.
Reduced interaction with other pets and owners, inappropriate eliminations (urinating in the house), aggression, abnormal posture, restlessness, and hiding can also be a sign of pain. If these signs occur try giving the recommended dose of the pain medication that was prescribed by your veterinarian.
And there have been cases of animals spreading resistant strains of staph infections and other diseases by licking cuts and wounds after surgery, so it's not recommended that pets be allowed in bed then.
After your dog has had surgery it is important to provide them with a comfortable and quiet place to rest, away from children and other pets. If your dog typically curls up on a small bed to sleep you may want to invest in a larger bed so that the incision site isn't pulled.
Many humans have dramatic reactions to anesthetics. Once a person starts to wake back up, they are often confused and perhaps even a bit delirious. Your dog, cat, or other animal may also wake up confused and disoriented. Animals can suffer other effects too.