How Long After Being Spayed Can My Dog Eat?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Remember to provide fresh food and water and a clean litter box. After surgery, your pet’s appetite should return gradually

within 24 hours

. Give your pet a half-size meal when you bring them home, and then feed them their normal evening meal. Puppies and kittens may have an additional meal through the day.

Is it normal for a dog not to eat after getting spayed?


A common side-effect after surgery is not wanting to eat

. Most dogs can typically go a day or two without food without any adverse effects, so if your dog skips a meal or two, it generally doesn’t cause for great concern. After surgery especially, it’s to be expected that your dog may not want to eat his regular food.

How long after spaying can my dog drink water?


Twenty four hours

after surgery you may offer water and food in normal amounts. It is normal for your dog’s appetite not to be the same as usual during the first day. However, if everything is not back to normal within the first 48h after surgery, you should call your vet.

What do you do if your dog won’t eat after surgery?

  1. Warm Up Their Food. …
  2. Add Some Tasty Protein. …
  3. Prepare a Home Cooked Meal. …
  4. Try Baby Food. …
  5. Hand-Feed Your Pup.

Can I take the cone off my dog after 7 days?

A cone should stay on for about a week while your dog is healing. “

Usually about seven to 10 days is all you need

,” Ochoa says. The cone needs to stay on the entire time the dog is healing, especially if you won’t be around to watch her.

Does it hurt a dog to poop after being spayed?


It is possible that it can hurt a dog to poop after being spayed because that area of their body is susceptible as it has just recently been cut into

. Although, it should not be overly painful for them to try to poop. If anything, it should just be a bit tender, not unbearable.

Can my dog sleep in my bed after spay?

Generally speaking,

you should keep them rested for a few days after surgery

, making sure they don’t make any extended movements like jumping onto a sofa, up the stairs, into the car, or onto the bed (if they’re allowed!). Off lead exercise usually needs to be avoided until the dog’s wounds have fully healed.

How long does it take a dog to poop after surgery?

After a procedure, a bowel movement can take anywhere from

3-5 days

! Although that may seem like a long time for a furbaby that normally poops daily- this is actually a normal reaction to a surgical procedure. When a pet undergoes surgery, bowel motility is slowed down by the anesthetics and opioids that are used.

How long does it take for a dog to get their appetite back after surgery?

Second Day: Your dog can resume having his regular amount of food and water.

0-2 months

: If your dog had bone surgery, and to promote bone healing, exercise for your dog will be extremely limited. With limited exercise weight gain is expected, therefore the feeding amount will need to be reduced.

Can I put a shirt on my dog instead of a cone?

If your pet struggles with the cone, there is actually a pretty easy DIY alternative to keep your furry friend comfortable while they recover at home.

You can make your pet a “jacket” out of an old T-shirt, and it can cover wounds or scars just like the cone.

Can my dog sleep in a cone?


Yes – dogs can sleep, eat, drink, pee, and poop with a cone on

. In fact, the stricter you are with the cone (officially called an Elizabethan collar or E-collar for short), the quicker your dog will get used to it.

What can I use instead of a dog cone?

  • The BiteNot Collar. This device does not represent the shape of a cat or dog cone at all; it most resembles a neck brace. …
  • The ProCollar Premium Protective Collar. …
  • Kong EZ Soft Collar. …
  • Comfy Collar. …
  • The Boobooloon. …
  • Optivisor or Novaguard. …
  • TCOA Soft E-Fabric Collar.

Can my dog jump on the couch after being spayed?

After your dog has had her spay surgery,

you’ll need to keep her from jumping for approximately 10-14 days

. This is the time that the incision needs to heal properly. Jumping can cause the stitches to rip open early, and they will need to be re-done at the vet, not to mention causing more healing problems.

Do dogs pee more after being spayed?

Because after a spay surgery a dog is recovering and at times is in pain,

chances are she may hold the urine for a longer period of time then usual

. This causes the urine to concentrate and create the ideal environment for bacteria to thrive.

Can dog go for walk after spay?

We would usually advise that you keep your dog rested for 24-48 hours post surgery with just gentle exercise in the garden. After this we would then advise

short lead walks until they are seen for their post op check

.

Where should my dog sleep after spay?

Your pet needs to be kept in an

indoor crate/ kennel

for most of the day and night for the next 10 days. The time of highest risk for the sutures breaking down is 3-5 days after surgery.

How long should my dog wear the cone after spay?

You should keep a dog’s cone on for

at least 10 days

after surgery. While by day five it can be taken off for short periods (while you are directly supervising your dog), it’s best to leave it on around the clock. As the wound heals, your dog will become itchier in the wound’s region.

How do you put a Tshirt on a dog after spaying?

Hindquarters wounds:

Short-sleeved T-shirts put on backwards (tail through neck hole, legs through arm holes) and knotted to secure can help protect hindquarters sutures

. (Note, this needs to be removed when your pet is taken out to urinate or defacate).

Can my dog sleep with me after surgery?

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.

Is it normal for dogs not to drink water after surgery?


It’s not uncommon for dogs to stop drinking after surgery

. The weakness and lethargy associated with sedation affects their bodies in numerous ways, including thirst and appetite. Being that dogs need water to survive, however, seeing your dog refrain from drinking can be frightening.

Why does my dog smell after anesthesia?

Female dogs tend to give off a worse odor than male dogs as they, on average, release more discharge around the vulva during recovery time.

Male dogs can still have an odor that develops due to not being able to bathe your dogs as their testes heal

. If there is a powerful odor, it may be a good idea to call your vet.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.