Dogs undergoing general anesthesia for a surgical, dental, or diagnostic procedure are often given a combination of medications during their hospital stay, including sedatives, anxiolytics (anti-anxiety medications), and analgesics (pain medications). They also receive an injectable anesthetic agent to induce anesthesia and a gaseous anesthetic agent to maintain anesthesia once they are anesthetized.
Injectable and gaseous anesthetic agents are rapidly metabolized by your dog’s body and are usually out of your dog’s system by the time he returns home. But sedatives and anti-anxiety medications can stay in your dog’s body, and the side effects they cause can last 12 to 24 hours. Pain relievers are designed to remain active in your dog’s body for 8 to 12 hours after administration to relieve pain. Pain relievers can also have some side effects.
If your dog complains after anesthesia
Whining after coming home from a surgical or dental procedure may be because your dog is feeling a little disoriented or dysphoric. But excessive crying or whining that doesn’t resolve within 30 to 60 minutes of returning home could be an indication that your dog is in pain. Follow your vet’s instructions regarding when and how much to give your dog prescription pain relievers. If your dog continues to whine or begins to feel uncomfortable or restless, contact your vet for further instructions.
What to expect after anesthesia
Being under anesthesia can slow the progress of your dog’s gastrointestinal system, also known as peristalsis. Your dog probably also fasted for at least 12 hours before his procedure. An empty stomach, combined with slow peristalsis, means that your dog may not have a bowel movement for 48 to 72 hours after coming home. This is normal and expected.
Sedatives and anti-anxiety medications can make dogs drowsy, have an unsteady gait, startle easily, or lose interest in eating. These effects usually last 12 to 24 hours after you return home.
Dogs experiencing loss of appetite should not be forced to eat or drink. Your dog will eat and drink when he is ready and feels like it. He probably received intravenous fluids while under anesthesia, and therefore he may not want to drink water right away.
Keep your dog away from stairs or places where it could fall. This includes climbing on furniture. Once you have recovered from anesthesia, follow your veterinarian’s instructions regarding return to physical activity after a surgical or dental procedure.
Some dogs will be easily startled and act unexpectedly and unusually upon returning home. This can include criticizing loved ones for even the most minor transgressions. You may want to keep your dog separate from small children and other pets in the home while it recovers.
Your dog may have a mild cough for a day or two after an anesthetic procedure. Most anesthetized dogs are intubated to deliver oxygen and anesthetic gas directly to their lungs. Intubation is the placement of an endotracheal tube down the throat into the windpipe. Endotracheal tubes can sometimes cause tracheal irritation, resulting in a mild cough that resolves on its own after a couple of days.
Pain relievers are designed to relieve pain for 8 to 12 hours after administration. Some pain relievers can numb or dilate your dog’s pupils. These side effects are usually mild. The pain relief benefits usually outweigh the mild side effects.
Side effects after anesthesia
Overweight dogs may experience the side effects of sedatives and anxiolytics for longer periods of time than lean dogs. This is because many of the sedatives and anxiolytics used in veterinary medicine are fat-soluble. A fraction of the administered drugs is stored in a dog’s body fat and then slowly released back into his bloodstream over time. This can lengthen a dog’s full recovery from anesthesia.
While most of these side effects are expected, there are some that are not. Contact your vet if you notice any of the following signs:
- vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Do not eat or drink after 12 hours.
- Still sleepy after 24 hours
- Still unsteady on his feet after 24 hours
- No bowel movements after 72 hours
- Cough that does not resolve after three days or worsens in one to three days
Recovery from anesthesia continues and ends at home. You are the eyes and ears of your dog’s health care team as he recovers under your care. Please contact your veterinarian with any questions or concerns you may have about what you observe during your dog’s recovery period.
