When and what should I feed my dog after anesthesia?

Again, depending on the type of procedure, I generally tell owners not to feed them immediately when they go home. They might be hungry, as, in many procedures, they're fasted, or we've withheld their food. But when they do that, sometimes they go home, and they gorge and then vomit, and then you get concerned and call us. Generally, after you get them home for a few hours, feed them about 50% of what you would normally feed them. If they don't eat, that's okay. I'm not too concerned about that. If they eat and act hungry, don't feed them anymore for three or four hours later. Let that food settle because they're kind of like kids; they don't always know what's best for them, and they might overeat.

I don't generally tend to change food, because again, you don't want to add in one more factor that can cause an upset stomach, but let's say they had a dental procedure and had several extractions; we might talk about softening their food during that time.

Unless there are specific dietary restrictions based on the procedure, it's best to keep your dog on the same food they are accustomed to. If you have any other questions regarding your dog's recovery after anesthesia, please contact your veterinarian.

We recommend not giving a full dinner immediately after surgery to avoid nausea or vomiting. Start with a small meal, and if they hold it down, you can feed them a bit more. If they've had oral surgery, soften their kibble with water or broth, or feed them canned food for several days up to a week after surgery.