Why won’t dogs eat after spaying?

This dog article will answer the major question, “Why won’t dogs eat after spaying?” we will also talk about the reasons why dogs won’t eat after spaying, the precautions you should take after spaying, and what signs you should look for in case of other health issues.

Why won’t dogs eat after spaying?

Your dog won’t eat after spaying because of the anesthesia and the pain due to the surgery. The surgery itself is a kind of stress for your dog so if your dog is sensitive then he will not eat after surgery. It is normal for dogs not to eat after spaying for 1 to 2 days but most of the dogs return to normal after 2 to 3 days.

What are the reasons for dogs not eating after spaying?

Following are the major reasons for dogs not eat after spaying:

Sleeping

Due to the effects of anesthesia your dog will feel sleepy all day long. The anesthesia inhibits the appetite center and sedates your dog so that your dog feels less pain and is unconscious during the surgery.

Your dog will be interested in relaxing and sleeping rather than eating. It is better to cheer up your dog with love and attention after spaying as it will help your dog to get back to normal quickly.

Pain 

The next reason is the pain due to which your dog will not eat after spaying. The pain in the spayed female is more than a neutered male because it takes more time to perform spaying and is rather complicated than neutering.

Female dogs lose more blood in spaying than males in the neutering so if you have a male and a female dog and you have spayed and neutered them, you shouldn’t be worried about your female friend as it would take more time to bring back to normal.

Post-surgery stress

The last reason is post-surgery stress. This is not very common in active and strong dogs. It is common in sensitive and rather weak dogs. The sensitive dogs do not have the ability to bear the stress on their own so you should provide as much care as you can to your sensitive four-legged friend so he doesn’t feel alone and is not sacred.

The post-surgery recovery largely depends upon the type of dog you have. Most large breed dogs recover from the effects of anesthesia more quickly than small breed dogs or sensitive dogs.

What are the precautions you should keep in mind while dealing with a spayed dog?

Following are the precautions you should keep in mind while dealing with spayed dogs:

  • If your dog does not eat for 1 to 2 days, you shouldn’t be worried, you should provide a comfortable environment for your dog.
  • The area where you keep your spayed dog should be clean and there shouldn’t be any noise in that area.
  • The bedding you provide your dog should be soft so that your dog can rest properly.
  • You should provide attention and love to your dog as these two things can heal your dog more quickly.
  • Keep your dog active after the surgery as it will help your dog to recover from the effects of anesthesia more quickly.
  • After 2 to 3 days give tasty dog treats to your dog and see if your dog is interested in eating them. If your dog eats it, you can provide dog food afterward.
  • After providing dog food to your dog, you should also keep an eye on the abnormal behavior if your dog shows any.

What are the other conditions your dog can face after surgery?

Following are the other conditions your dog can face after surgery:

  • The first condition is the infection in which your dog will not eat. You should look for the signs of fever in your dog if you suspect an infection.
  • The second condition is stomach upset in your dog. If your dog has an upset stomach he will not eat.
  • The next condition is constipation which is also a painful condition. You should also rule out this condition.
  • Stomach ulcers and intestinal obstruction is also a cause of loss of appetite.

You should call your vet if your dog is not eating after 2 to 3 days and he will try to rule out the above conditions in your dog.

Conclusion

In this brief discussion, we answered our major question, “Why dogs won’t eat after spaying?” we also discussed the reasons why dogs won’t eat after spaying, the precautions you should take after spaying, and what signs you should look for in case of other health issues.

References

https://www.wcrah.com/site/blog-flat-rock-vet/2020/10/30/hepatitis-dogs-symptoms-prognosis-treatment#:~:text=Infectious%20canine%20hepatitis%20is%20an,thirst%20or%20apathy%20to%20death.

https://assisianimalhealth.com/blog/why-wont-my-dog-eat-after-surgery/

https://pethelpful.com/dogs/how-to-care-for-dogs-after-spaying-surgery