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Food and Water After Anesthesia:
Please remember that anesthesia for your pet incurs the same side effects as it does with us.
Your pet will be slightly lethargic, have an upset stomach, can be nauseous, and may have delayed digestion for the next 24-48 hours until the body totally expels the anesthesia.
If your pet takes in any food/water too quickly, or in too large of an amount, vomiting is likely to occur.
To help reduce the risk of vomiting, please refer to the following guidelines:
When you get your pet home today, they may have water.
We recommend emptying their dish, placing a small line of water just to cover the bottom of their dish and add lots of ice cubes for pet(s) to lick on.
This allows them to hydrate but forces them take it in slowly, thus reducing the risk of vomiting.
Do not feed your pet anything before 7:00 PM tonight.
Feed your pet only ¼ - ½ the amount of their regular feeding for tonight. They may resume regular feeding/ watering tomorrow.
If your pet does not seem interested in food or water today, do not be alarmed as this is normal and they should become more interested the day after surgery.
PAIN MEDS (IF APPLICABLE)
If your pet shows any signs of nausea (very sleepy, drooling, constant licking of the face/nose) or is not interested in food or water tonight do not start pain meds until tomorrow morning - try to make sure meds are given with food. Follow directions as prescribed on drug label.
NEVER GIVE OTC MEDICATIONS UNLESS DIRECTED! Aspirin and ibuprofen are toxic to animals!
