[Tank040415]

Hi all. I got my 6-1/2 year old German Shepherd boy fixed today. We brought him home over two hours ago. He was definitely wobbly when we got home but that seems to be getting better. He will not stop whining. He will not lay down. He is breathing heavy-ish and panting. He will not drink. He will not eat - not even his treats which are his favorite. He is keeping his tail between his legs. He took a large solid poop as soon as we got home. He hasn't peed yet. Is all of this normal? I do realize that it takes time for anesthesia to wear off but I never expected this.

I have pain meds to give him that I need to start tonight (1 pill every 12 hours) and he needs to take them with food. How am I supposed to give them to him if he won't eat? Assuming he is better in the morning, can I wait until then?

All he wants to do is be outside. We took him out on the front porch and finally coaxed him to sit and then lay down. He is fighting sleeping very hard - you can tell he is closing his eyes and he's nodding off but then he'll get alert again.

I called the vet and they said this is all normal. I didn't expect him to be himself but I at least expected him to lay down and sleep. I'm afraid he won't sleep at all tonight.

Ironically enough, my boyfriend just gently "commanded" him to lay down like we're giving him treats and he did haha He must just be so darn uncomfortable. I feel awful and I'm panicking. Please tell me it gets better. I wish there was something I could do for him.

 

[Lillith]

Have you tried crating him? Usually, when our dogs returned from the vet after being under anesthesia we would crate them or keep them in a dark, quiet room. I suspect once you settle down for the night he will, too. If you're still worried in the morning, call your vet again.

Try stuffing the pain meds in something really yummy like cheese or deli meat.

 

[storyist]

I've sure experienced the whining before. My current puppy whined for 12 hours straight after anesthetic to remove a grass seed from his ear. It was as if it was involuntary and he couldn't help it. When he finally fell asleep it stopped, and he was pretty much over it when he woke, but there wouldn't be pain from that like neuter surgery, just reaction to anesthetic.

I agree with Lillith. If you can get just a couple tablespoons of something down him, that would qualify as food to go with his med. However, if he absolutely won't eat anything, I'd let it be till morning. If he's nauseated, anything he eats will just come up.

 

[DaySleepers]

Yeah, it sucks to watch but I'd guess this is mostly side effects of the anesthesia wearing off rather than actual severe pain, especially as the vet says it's normal. Good call checking with them, and don't hesitate to call back if it seems to be worse or not resolving. But it can be disorienting enough post-op as a human, and at least we know what happened and why we feel so strange! Wishing your pup a speedy recovery, and I hope he's much more himself by the next day.

 

[Tank040415]

Thank you all for your responses. First time dog owner so have never experienced this before and when sent home from the vet, they never mentioned whining, pacing, etc. They said he would be groggy and would probably sleep - absolute opposite with this guy! They told me to feed him a small amount that night and if he threw up, don't feed again until morning. I never thought about asking what if he didn't eat - what do I do about the pain pill? They were closed by the time that question popped in my head. He did wind up eating a small amount of ground venison that I threw a pill in with so he got that down. An hour later he ate more venison and rice. He did wind up peeing a ton and did drink this morning. Last night was a bit rough - he wanted to be in his crate so badly as that's where he usually sleeps but he couldn't fit with the cone. I put a queen sized mattress on the floor and slept with him there and as Lillith said, once the lights were off and everything was calm, he calmed down a bit too. He still whined for a little bit and you could tell he was still trying to fight sleep as he would whine, but not audibly - you could hear the air from it lol we got a few hours of sleep on and off total between him getting used to the cone, trying to get it off a few times with his front feet and trying to get at his incision a few times (I'm VERY glad I didn't cave with the cone). He must definitely feel a bit better as he keeps trying to bring me his balls this morning to play! Hopefully my panic post will help someone else in the future!

 

[DaySleepers]

We've all been there! So glad he's doing better. Cones are definitely a pain, but worth it to avoid infections or complications. With any luck he'll heal quickly and he'll not be as interested in bothering the incision site in a few days.

 

[storyist]

Glad to hear he's better. It's not just first-time owners. There's always something new to worry about.

 

[Tank040415]

He did have what looked like some razor burn last night so I'm sure that's bothering him too. All of those crazy anesthesia side affects have thankfully gone and he's been good today. Only new one is stomach gurgling and gas At least I know things are moving and something should be coming out eventually haha

 

[3GSD4IPO]

Thankfully he is feeling better today.

I must ask, though, why did you neuter him? At 6 and a half I must assume there was a medical necessity? I see no need to neuter a male dog unless it is a medical issue or you have bitches in season around you (in the same household) and the dog is not going to be used for breeding in which case neutering can make life easier.

I had male dogs for years. Only had one neutered and then only because the shelter I got the dog from required it.

 

[Tank040415]

Thankfully he is feeling better today.

I must ask, though, why did you neuter him? At 6 and a half I must assume there was a medical necessity? I see no need to neuter a male dog unless it is a medical issue or you have bitches in season around you (in the same household) and the dog is not going to be used for breeding in which case neutering can make life easier.

I had male dogs for years. Only had one neutered and then only because the shelter I got the dog from required it.

Yes, he had an enlarged prostate and was leaking bloody fluid (urine?) out of his penis once in a great while. We wouldn't have done it if we didn't think we needed to. The vet and we agreed it should be done.

 

[3GSD4IPO]

Agree with your decision 100%.

 

[Tank040415]

Anddddddd he just tested positive for a UTI. Now and antibiotics too!! Poor guy!!