Thanks for the Advice. My Dog Is Doing Very Good Now.

We adopted a dog who had been hit by a car and left for dead. She now has a piece of metal in her hip and walks with a bit of a swagger. She was very quiet at first, but once the pain went away and she was healing, she was parky and can even run up the stairs and jump! Patience and love is all it takes, she will be fine.

You do not mention what day the surgery was. If it was today then the anesthesia will take a full 24 hour to completely wear off. IF the surgery was not today and your dog is still not acting normally, I would call your vet for advice. Pain meds are essential in a case like this. A crushed paw along with the potential bruising of internal organs is indeed painful. You did not mention if the vet took xrays (I assume they did) to determine that all internal organs are intact and functioning properly. You also have not mentioned whether your dog is eating and drinking. This are important pieces of information. I would definitely call your vet. They know your dog's history and they are there to answer any questions you may have during this recovery time (anytime for that matter). Most animals are eating w/in 2 days of surgery. Realistically an animal should not be released form the hospital until they are eating. Your dog should definitely be drinking water w/in 24 hours post surgery. I would take her outside every 6 hours to see if she has to urinate. Tis is the protocol we use at our veterinary hospital injured animals not able to walk on their own.

Hi T.. My name is E.. I'm the mom of a 10 and 1/2 month old boy named Kurt, and he's my reason for smiling. But I'm writing about your doggy. Often times it can look like depression when a dog is in pain. The best thing you can do for your little friend is give her plenty of love and make sure she gets at least a little water. Ask your vet what you can do to help her pain. She'll probably perk up when she starts to feel better. If you don't notice an improvement in four or five days, call your vet for some reassurance. I hope everything goes well for you!

Hopefully your dog is doing better today. I work at a vets office and know a some. It could just be painful for her and if she is on meds she may feel sedated as well. If you are concerned call your vet and leave a message to have him call you. or talk to one of the Vet Techs, they are a wealth of information. If she is eating and drinking that is a good sign. Trust your gut and when in doubt call. That is why you pay them the big bucks.
Good luck.

My chihuahua was hit two different times. The first time was worse than the 2nd. His hind legs were bad, and they gave him an ivy drip. Give her a few days, medicine affects dogs like they do people. She is experiencing pain from the car. It happens all the time. His eye is bad, and he is very grumpy, I think he lost a few teeth in the process. He growls at the other dogs that he doesn't want them around him. I can't say how long it takes, give your dog a week or two. Its an impact on dogs like it is people.

Your poor dog has had a trauma happen to her and dogs react sometimes very strongly. I rescued my dog and when we brought him home he didn't eat for a few days and we have to give him herbal sedatives. I would just love her and give her lots of attention, or at least as much as possible and take her outside every now and then and try to walk her a little to encourage her to potty. If she would take a treat of peanut butter you might try an herbal relaxer for dogs called Quiet Moments, it's all natural very safe and found in alot of pet stores and feed stores. It should help calm her nerves. There's also a product called Rescue Remedy that is sold at Whole Foods type stores. Hope she gets all better quick!

Poor thing. You too! Give her lots of love and tlc and she will come around

T.,

I myself am a animal lover and know that after an accident like that it is going to take your dog a while to recover. Slowly but surley she will come back to normal. You need to keep an eye on if she is eating and drinking, just make sure she is a little. As the days go by she should start to eat and drink more. Since she is not eating that much she shouldn't have to use the bathroom that much. Hope this helps!

Hi T.,

Sorry about your dog! But hope is more than a word.
I understand what you're going through; last September our wonderful dog Amy was hit and run over by a car in our street. Her pelvis has been crushed but luckily none of her vital organs has been damaged. She had surgery; part of her femur is missing and she has couple screws in her body.
The first week her body and scar looked awful, but already after another week it looked so much better and was healing very well. Unfortunately it is hard to keep a dog from moving and she reinjuried herself. Two of the screws got lose and she was in pain. But she didn' t go under another surgery that would have been very risky and also very expensive. We decided to give a chance for the bones to heal by getting back together and to let the lose screws just be.
Well, dogs are a mazing and Amy especially. She's 8 and used to go on runs with my partner Steven almost every day. She 's very sweet and never complains when she's hungry or in pain, only when someone leaves.
The first month she wasn't allowed to move around without help, I had to carry her dowstair to the back yard and stay close to her. She did look depressed, but things started to change when she could walk outside on a leasch.
Well things did evolve progressivley. First she could walk slowly in our street once in a while, and now... she's running again! She has a slight limp that most of the people don't notice and needs more rest, but she's running . She has become more demanding and will begg for food in a way that she never did before, but she's the same affectionate lovely dog .
She loves kids and have a special, very protective relationship with our 2 year old son Liam, whom she saw right after the birth at home. He has been very aware of the whole process, but can be quite rough with her and still want to ly down on her as he used to. Despite her limitations, like no pressure on her rear end, sh'e putting up a lot with him.
So Amy is doing well, although she's not exactly the same as she used to.
This whole story is reminding me that love is a key in healing for animals and humans.

My name is S., I live with my 2 year old son Laim, his 2 siblings ( Zachary, 11 and Celia 14), their father Steven and our Golden Retriever (actually a Nova Scottia Duck Retriever) Amy.

T.: The dogs I've had which had surgery do go through a very quiet time after getting home- remember they had anesethia and a lot of poking and prodding - they don't get "luxury" of a hospital stay - It will take a few days for her to come around. She needs lots of love and pets. As far as the bathrm, she'll probably try to get up and if she can't, she'll look to you like, "What's wrong?" - Dogs have a hard time when things aren't normal- Try to be aware if you hear her whining - it could be she can't get up and needs help or she might be having some pain. So sorry she was hit by a car, thankfully it was something that could be fixed. Did the driver stop? If so, youmay be able to get re-imbursement from his ins. What king of dog is she and how old? Good luck (I've always had a dog or numerous dogs my whole life- Right now I have 4-all different breed and ages so I read and work with dogs all the time!)

Well our dog has had multiple surgeries, as they have finally diagnosed her as having seizure disorder. The point is that through all the talking with the vets, they have relayed to me that for a while she will not be herself, and the fact that your dog had her paw run over would be understandable that she wouldn't want to walk on it. It may just be that it physically hurts her to walk on it. Did the vet happen to give you some form of doggie pain killer pills? If not, you may want to ask them about that and tell them why you need it. They would be able to tell you more so what may be going on with your dog.

T., it is not unusual for a dog not to be back their old self after surgery and especially anesthesia. Give her a couple of days for the anesthetic to rid itself from her system, but keep her moving on leash only, this will give her the opportunity to go potty if she needs to. also, don't be afraid to call your vet, they can assure you about this and also let you know if they need to see her. keep up the good work!

Hello T.,
coming from a dog lover, dont u think shes in pain, its just like us humans, the only sad thing is, is we get pain pills,did they give her pain pills? If not, i think ater the 4th or 5th day, she should be herself. Also, on taking her pottie, after they wake up, is a good time. I hope i was just a little bit helpfull.
Sincerely L.

Trish your going to have to be patient with her if she just came home yesterday she was still very drugged up and she is also probably in a lot of pain. She will be fine in a few days. But if it continues you may want to take her back to the dr. Also watch for her to eat, drink and use the bathroom if she doesn't do any of these today or tomorrow then definatley call the doc at least. My dog is having surgery today too and has had it before so I know how your feeling. Also your going to have to remember too that she just got hit by a car and I am sure that was very tramatic for her too. Good Luck

Hi T.,

You don't indicate how old your dog is, but I'd say give her a few days to come around from the anesthesia. Her little body has been through a tremendous trauma (both the accident and the subsequent surgery) and now she needs some quiet time to heal. If she's not eating, she probably doesn't need to go to the bathroom. She will let you know when she has to go, if she did prior to the surgery. I'd wait another few days to see if she's back to her old self, before consulting the vet again. Good Luck to you and your sweet pooch!

Hello, It can take a few days for her to get over the surgery.When they go under anestesia it can take awhile for that to get out of her system. I would take her potty every couple of hours just to get her out. any more questions let me know.
J.

I am an older mom with a 12 year old dog (golden lab) as well as 3 out of the house children. Our dog has suffered throught 3 surgeries. I know it broke my heart to see him suffer. My dog really enjoyed going outside, even if it was just in the backyard for a 3 minute sniff.....with a sling as well, since we have stairs. Just break up his/her day with short outside adventures. My dog also loves to eat......so I would save some of his dry kibble from him morning meal and but it in his "treat" bowl and give him extra treats throughout the day...which always makes him happy. They do respond well just be patient. Good luck!

Our cat recently had surgery, and after a lifetime of pet ownership, this vet is the first one to have sent us home with pain meds! I asked if it was safe, and he said yes - just don't give her the meds for longer than 3 days. It seemed to make a big difference for my cat, vs other pets and surgeries we've had in the past. I would imagine that your dog is in a fair amount of pain and may just be laying there as still as she can because moving hurts. I don't know if your vet gave you pain meds but if not, you may want to ask for some and just give them to your dog whenever she most seems to need them. Also, it can take certain pets longer to recover from anesthesia, just like with people. With regard to potty breaks, maybe just take her outside on her usual schedule and give her the opportunity to go. She may not need to very often but you never know. Good luck and I hope your dog recovers and is up and about again soon!

Hi, I was a vet tech years ago, so here are a few things to check and keep in mind. Dogs often go off thier food when in pain. The most important thing is that she drinks enough to keep her hydration normal. Try beef or chicken broth, or the water drained from the tuna can (dilute it some). Most likely she will regain her appetite within the week. Is she on any medication for pain? If so and you are following the directions, talk to your vet and let him know how the dog is responding-or not- to the meds. Some dogs are more sensitive to anesthetics and take longer to metabolize them, some breeds as long as 2 or 3 days. Give her a couple of days to work it out of her system. As far as going potty, you can set a schedule for her, say every 3-4 hours and help her up and out of the house(winter weather makes it so much less appealing to trudge out with a lame dog, but she'll appreciate the routine). Follow your vet's instructions for caring for the surgical site-cleaning, dressing changes, etc. You should be checking the site at least once a day to be sure there is no swelling, discoloration, oozing, etc that might be a sign of a complication. Finally, don't be afraid to call your vet, they'd rather hear from you now than when things get really nasty... Good luck!

As someone with veterinary medical training, it sounds to me that she is in pain. Often animals that are in pain with just withdraw as a response instead of crying out as you might expect. Call the vet who did the surgery or your regular vet and see if you can get some pain medication for her. If she already has pain meds., see if you can increase the amount you are giving or increase how often you give it (but don't just do this without checking - a lot of pain medications have side effects.) If your vet says that she needs to feel the pain so that she doesn't use the foot too much, this is not true - no pain medication is so good that it eliminates ALL the pain, but pain relief should make her comfortable to the point that she can eat and be a part of the family.
Good luck and I hope your furry friend is feeling better soon!
A.

It is very normal for a dog not to be interested in a whole lot after any type of surgery. We had our Yorkie fixed about a year ago and it took him four days to do anything but lie around and sleep. If after a couple of days you don't see an improvement at all you may want to call the veterinarian that did the surgery. Some veterinarians won't charge you for a post operation visit. As far as going to the bathroom I have a funny feeling that the anesthesia slows down processes in the dogs body including bathroom functions. If your dog is on pain medicine as well that to could slow everything down so your dog may not need to go as much. I hope this helps.

Don't worry! I'm sure your little dog will be fine. She's probably a little depressed and this is quite normal. Let me tell you about my little dog. He's a Toy Shihtzu and because he had quite a few knots, had to be shaven. He wouldn't eat or play when we got him home. I called the groomer and she had me take him in to examine him. Sunny was just not happy with me, but after 5 days he finally started eating....He got over it. So I'm sure your little dog was a bit traumatized, but he'll be fine and he'll eat when he really gets hungry---don't start hand feeding him, because that'll be a habit he'll want to keep----I started doing that and the groomer told me to stop that. He'll go potty when he's ready.
Good luck. Hope he gets better.

Sorry to hear about your dog. I have been in your situation more than once, and I always believed my dogs were depressed. The one thing I did for them that seemed to have a healing effect was to cook something for them, like a piece of chicken or a burger. They were always super stoked and rarely turned it down. Good luck.

Hi, I am a dog behavior specialist and certified professional dog trainer. I'll reinforce what the others said - this is normal for dogs. Heck, it's normal for humans to be a little tired, in pain and "down" after surgery. If you think she is in pain, give her pain meds that the vet gave you - or ask for some if they didn't. She will probably be fine in a few days. If she's not better within a few weeks, then please contact me for more advice!

S.

S. Braslau-Schneck, MA CPDT CAP2
S.'s Wag'N'Train
www.wagntrain.com
San Jose, CA
You'll love your well-behaved dog!

I'm so glad to hear that your dog is doing well. If you run into anymore issues post surgery, let me know. I've worked in veterinary offices off and on since I was 16 (total experience of 10 years). I would be willing to answer any questions I can.

D.

When I was around 9 years old our dog got hit by a car and had to have surgery. Afterwards she would only let my mom near her for over 6 months (as best as I can remember). I don't have any advice since I was so young, but I do believe that it's normal for a pet to be "off" after an accident or surgery. Best of luck to you and your dog, I hope you get great advice from all the wonderful moms here!

Hi T., as a dog owner that's gone through the same thing, I can understand your concern. For one thing, the vet had to heavily medicate your dog for surgery, so she's going to feel "down" for a couple of days. Then, she'll come around and start figuring out how to remove her cast or bandages. Unless you get her an Elizabeth collar, which will prevent her from chewing her cast, etc. this will be a constant battle. A dog's instinct is to lick it's wounds. Other than that, she will be up and around rather quickly and back to normal. Good luck with her, Sincerely, CJ

Hi T.,

I had a similar feeling about my dog that was diabetic. He would spend 12 hours at the vet for a blood sugar curve. When he came home he would lay around for two days. I thought he was depressed. When I talked to the vet she told me that he was probably tired. The dogs are over stimulated by the sights and smells of people and other animals. In other words, they don't get much rest while at the hospital. I would contact your vet about your concerns and they will be able to tell you what to do about food and how often she will need to go to the bathroom.

I hope this helps,
L.

Try to emagine you just had surgery. You would probably come home and just sleep. It's most likely the medication they gave her so that she's not likely to get up and run around. Don't worry to much, I'm sure she'll pull through just fine and be back to her normal self soon. Just give her lots of love. That's really all your pet needs right now.

B. Here! owner of 2 pugs and 1 25 year old male human. I've used homeopathy and flower essences - please check out rescue remedy (flower essences) and Dr. Piticairn's book: Natural Health for Dogs & Cats. I'm guessing your doggie has been traumatized by all that's happened it her. Working with a Homeopathic in SF, Beth Murray of Oakland, you can find her on the web and check out her website. she's helped us keep the cancer under control, and Gracie's other problems like her blindness, kidney issues, and depression. Sometimes, like people, some folks like to be quiet for awhile and others are more needy and demonstrative. I put my babies in the kitchen and let them do their thing at the other end of the kitchen. Hope this provides you with some support.

Hi - I have a cat that went through some traumatic stuff and was in and out of the vet hospital. He was not himself for awhile. But he did pull through it and I would say within a week or two he was able to get back to his very lovable self. As a matter of fact when I'm sitting at the computer typing, like now, he comes in and makes himself at home on my lap, like now. Good luck with your doggie!

Hi, I am a vet tech and it is perfectly normal for your pup to not "Feel like herself". Animals feel pain just as we do. She is, I am assuming, taking pain medication which can also have a sedation effect. Also having been hit by a car she may have bruising. Sometimes after an trama, it takes a few days before we feel all the effects. (bruising etc.) I am sure she is just sore and feeling the after effects of surgery and anesthesia. Anesthesia can cause some constipation and having not eaten prior to going under she may not have stools for a few days. However she should be producing urine. I would just take her outside to try to go every few hours. Give her a few days. If she is not eating or drinking for 24 hours or if she is vomitting or totally listless definitely call your vet. If she is very painful she may urinate or deficate where ever she is laying. Make her comfortable and give her ample time to sleep and heal which in my house means keeping my son away from the dog.(he loves the dog but climbs all over him) One other note... If the dog is painful she may not act the same toward your 6 year old. Use caution. Even the sweetest pet can growl or bite when they don't feel good. Hope she feels better soon.

hi, i dont know if this helps or not. My dog Muggsy had a mast cell tumor it was huge. We had it removed and within a few days he was pretty much back to himself. It has been almost a year and you would never know that he had any problems except for the scar on his side. I think all animals are like people they heal differently. As far as going the bathroom your dog probably isnt drinking as much as usual or eating so she probably dosent need to use the bathroom alot. personally i would just take her out every few hours .. but the best thing if you are to worried ask your vet who did the surgery. they would be able to answer all your questions so you will not worry as much.. i love my dog and i was worried about him too.. his is as good as new now ... :}