Hi all,

Meika went in to get spayed this morning. When we brought her home this afternoon she was really out of it. She seems so sad.

She hasn't eaten anything since her dinner last night at 7. We gave her dinner tonight but she hasn't touched it. She is wearing the e-collar and been sleeping most of the evening. I'm mostly worried about her lack of appetite.

Is this normal?
Oh, and she's been doing so well with potty training but she peed in the kitchen twice--on the way to be taken outside--so I'm assuming it is just due to the pain meds? She was given a pain shot earlier today. Thoughts?

That's how Siku was. She was really out of it the first day and somewhat out of it for the next two days. She didn't get pain meds though. I have heard pain meds can upset some dog's stomachs. Thankfully I didn't have to use the cone on Siku much. She left the stitches alone for the most part.

We were sent home with pain meds as well as a mild tranquilizer since she's so wild and crazy most of the time. The pain meds are only for the next 2 days but we didn't have to give her any today since she got the shot earlier.
She has staples that have to be removed in 14 days so the tranq is only for if she's too active and we're worried about her pulling a staple.

I wonder if the pain shot is what is causing her to not want to eat? It's not normal for her to not want to eat. I swear that's her favorite time of day!

This is why I like Vet hospitals that keep patients overnight. COMPLETELY normal. We actually don't feed them until the next morning anyway to prevent vomiting. She is actually still under the influence of her pre-medications, usually a narcotic and a pain-reliever/sedative, so the way she is acting is normal. Depending on her induction drug/drugs that were used will also have an effect on her "drowsiness". As long as her appetite gradually gets better within the next few days, you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

Thanks, Brooke. That definitely makes me feel better.

My husband kept saying, "We shouldn't have done this. Why did we do this to our poor puppy?"

I tried to tell him that it is probably normal since she DID just have surgery. I told him he didn't say that either time I came back from having a c-section. haha

Ares just got neutered yesterday and it was the first time I brought one of my dogs home the same day. He was so out of, crying and in a lot of pain. The vet told us not even to try feeding him until later in the night. She's acting completely normal..It gets better lol

My lab was kept overnight, but even the next day she was pretty sad and out of it. She didn't need an ecollar she never touched her incision (Balon had to wear it though). I don't remember her having a problem eating at all well she is a lab after all

Delilah was not kept over night, per my request. Unlike Brooke, i don't like leaving my dog at the vets. I firmly believe that I am the best care for my dog. Sometimes that's not the case - but for me it is. I am there 24 hours a day. I took 3 days off after Delilah's spay to take care of her.

She experience the same thing; she didn't want to eat and she had an accident for the first time since we had her. I contribute most of it to the anesthesia since Delilah was out of it. Not to mention, I'm sure the last time she went pee was before surgery. She wouldn't eat anything until the next day and I didn't push it. She drank plenty of water and just laid there all miserable.

I think we ALL feel bad when we see the girls in pain, but it does get better and she will forgive you My suggestion, is a snuggly toy for her and I got Delilah and Cato both giant cookies from the dog bakery - that way when they did eat, it was delicious.

I only used pain meds for 3 days with Delilah. If she was on them, she pushed through the pain and was being a nutcase. When she could feel it she didn't try to jump all over the place. This was my choice, because I didn't want to tranquilize her.

When Maggie was spayed, they told me (I only have owned boy dogs in the past) that she probley won't eat the first 2 days. Maggie would drink a little water.

It is totally normal. I used the meds for 3 days also. To keep her quiet was the hardest. Though 2-3weeks later she was normal hiking!