Post-Op Warning Signs in Dogs: What Is Normal and What Needs a Vet Tonight

In their lifetime, your pet may go through a few surgical procedures. This can include a neutering surgery, lump removal, dental or perhaps an orthopaedic procedure. When it comes to caring for your dog after an operation, it is useful to know what you can expect.

After any procedure, the veterinary staff should discuss with you what your dog’s recovery is likely to look like. If you have concerns during their recovery period, don’t hesitate to contact the veterinary team for advice.

Key takeaways

• Grogginess, whining, a reduced appetite, mild bruising and no stool for a day or two are all normal in the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery, as your dog heals and the anaesthetic leaves their body
• Most of these settle within 24 to 48 hours; an elderly or unwell dog may take a little longer
• Red flags that need a vet the same night include bleeding that soaks through a dressing, a wound that has opened or is gaping, hot swelling or pus, pale gums, collapse, difficulty breathing, a tight abdomen, straining to urinate, pain that medication is not controlling, and bloody vomit
• If you are concerned and the practice that operated is closed, call an out-of-hours emergency vet rather than waiting until morning; they can assess your dog at home or advise you to come into a clinic

What Normal Recovery Looks Like in the First 24 to 48 Hours

Immediately after your pet’s procedure, there are some normal symptoms that they may experience for a short while.

Grogginess, Whining and Odd Behaviour

If your dog has had an anaesthetic, you can expect them to be sleepy and they may also whine, pant or act restless. This sort of behaviour should settle after about a day or so, though may take longer in elderly or unwell patients.

Reduced Appetite and Thirst

Most pets drink and eat less in the first couple of days after a procedure, due to the effect of the drugs and as they may be experiencing some nausea or discomfort.

You can support your pet by offering tempting but light options, such as chicken and rice or a veterinary recovery food. Most dogs do best being fed little and often.

Mild Swelling, Bruising and Slight Seepage

If your pet has had an incision, it may or may not be covered with a dressing. It is common for there to be some mild redness, swelling and bruising. You may also notice a small amount of clear or pink-tinged fluid.

Not Passing Stool for a Day or Two

Many dogs won’t pass stool in the first day or so after their surgery. This is due to the recent reduced food intake, the decreased activity, and the effect of the medicine or anaesthetic slowing down their gut movement.

Post-Op Warning Signs That Need a Vet Straight Away

As an owner, it is important to be aware of the ‘red flag’ symptoms that can occur during your pet’s recovery period.

Bleeding That Does Not Stop or Soaks Through

If your dog is experiencing a large amount of bleeding, this is something to make your local vet clinic aware of urgently. There is a greater risk of internal bleeding after certain procedures, such as a spay surgery or splenectomy.

The Wound Opening, Gaping or Showing Tissue

If the surgical wound has opened up significantly and is visibly gaping, this is a concern. This can occur if the dog has rubbed or chewed their sutures, or if there has been wound breakdown due to an infection.

Swelling That Is Hot, Growing Fast or Discharging Pus

If a new and obvious swelling occurs, particularly if it feels hot or is discharging pus, this is a concern. A swelling under or around a surgical site can be a number of things, including a hernia, seroma or infection.

Repeated Vomiting or Refusing Food Beyond 24 Hours

Many dogs experience mild nausea immediately after a surgery, and this can lead to a vomit or two. However, continued vomiting or food refusal is a worry and it can lead to dehydration and abnormal salt levels.

Pale Gums, Collapse or Extreme Weakness

Monitor for the more serious signs, such as pale or white gums, weakness or collapse. These ‘red flag’ symptoms can be indicative of complications including low blood pressure, internal bleeding or hypoglycaemia.

Difficulty Breathing

If your dog has had an endotracheal tube (breathing tube) during their anaesthetic, it is normal for them to be a little hoarse or to have a mild cough for a few days. However, if they are having any trouble breathing or their breathing seems laboured, this is not an expected sign and warrants urgent attention.

Not Urinating or Straining to Urinate

While your dog may urinate less after a procedure, they should still pass some urine and should not have any difficulty doing so. Trouble urinating after surgery can be linked to the medicine used or may indicate that the dog has cystitis (bladder inflammation) or a urinary tract infection.

A Swollen, Tight Abdomen

Your dog’s abdomen should generally not be obviously bloated and should feel soft when touched. However, be aware that if your dog has had a procedure such as an exploratory laparotomy, there may be excess air within the abdomen and this can lead to some bloating.

Discuss with your vet whether or not any bloating is expected, and if you are concerned by what you are seeing, don’t hesitate to seek your vet’s opinion.

Pain That Medication Is Not Controlling

While some pain is expected after most surgical procedures, we hope to be able to control it well using pain relief. For very painful procedures (such as some orthopaedic surgeries), patients may stay in the hospital for a short time post-op, receiving constant rate infusions of intravenous pain medicine.

Signs of uncontrolled pain include:

• Being unable to settle and rest
• Whining or screaming
• Panting
• Food refusal
• Unwillingness to move about
• Sudden aggression

Warning Signs After Specific Operations

Certain complications are more common following specific procedures. When your dog is discharged, the veterinary team should explain which signs and symptoms to look out for at home.

After Spaying

One of the main risks after a spay surgery is internal bleeding, which can occur at any point, but is most likely to happen within the first 24 hours. Your dog may be leaking blood from their wound, may have abdominal swelling, and might experience signs such as pale gums, rapid breathing and lethargy.

After Orthopaedic Surgery

After an orthopaedic surgery, you’ll be monitoring the incision site closely for signs such as a pus discharge, bad smell, or excessive swelling. As infections can have serious consequences with regard to healing and prognosis, it is important we identify and treat them as soon as possible.

After Dental Extractions

Although your dog is likely to have some oral discomfort after having teeth removed, they should be comfortable enough to eat and drink. Monitor for symptoms such as total food refusal, excessive drooling or a bad smell coming from the mouth.

How to Care for Your Dog After Surgery

Your pet will need lots of TLC while they get back on their paws, and there are several things you can do to speed things along.

Protecting the Wound

Wounds must be kept clean and dry. This may mean using bandages or dressings, and often the dog is given an Elizabethan collar to prevent them licking the wound.

Rest, Food and Medication

Your dog will need a calm and quiet area of the home, away from any other pets or children, where they can sleep and relax.

It is usually best to keep food bland and digestible. Some dogs may appreciate you warming the food, to make it more appealing.

Medicine must be given as prescribed and on time. Take note of whether the medicine should be given with food or not, and what your dog’s specific dose is.

What to Do If Your Vet Is Closed

If you feel your pet needs urgent assessment but their regular vet is closed, contact an out-of-hours clinic. Your vet is likely to have a relationship with an emergency clinic, which should be advertised on their website and voicemail.

Get Emergency Veterinary Advice for Your Dog

Contact us if you have concerns about your pet while they are recovering from their medical procedure or surgery. Our experienced staff will help you determine if your pet needs to see a vet urgently.

Post-Op Warning Signs in Dogs: FAQs

Is it normal for my dog to bleed after surgery?

A small amount of bleeding may be normal, depending on the type of surgery. For example, after a spay surgery or lump removal, we expect to see some dried blood on the medical dressing when we remove it.

What should I do if my dog's stitches have opened?

If the stitches have opened up, ensure your dog is not able to lick or chew at the wound. Keep the area clean and dry. Contact the vet to discuss the best plan, which may mean coming to the surgery promptly to close the wound.

How long should a dog be lethargic after surgery?

Most dogs are sleepy for the first 24 hours after a surgery, but a young dog may be wide awake within a few hours while an elderly dog may take a couple of days to fully recover.

Can an emergency vet come to my home after surgery?

Sometimes, it would be appropriate for a vet to come to your home. This depends on what symptoms your dog is showing and what the next steps in their treatment plan will be.