Dog Community

re: the after care for my 10 yr. old+, after her dental surgery & cleaning, refusing to eat

Posted : 8/2/2009 1:58:25 PM

My 10(+) yr. old Mollie just had dental surgery on Wed. 7-29-09 and the first evening she was home she actually ate some baked/broiled chicken, and the evening after that she also ate, but it was boiled chicken. That was on Thursday, 7-30-09, and she has not eaten since. I have offered her just about everything that she would normally eat, and prepared in every way I can and did fix it, but still nothing. I am very frustrated at this point, and I have about exhausted all of my options and ideas, and do not know what the heck to do; can anyone please tell me what is going on here with her. Why is she acting like this? It is like she is on a "hunger strike." Is she just doing this to aggravate me, or does her mouth still really hurt her, and she will eat when she feels it is safe to do so, and comfortable for her? Can she just be acting like a brat? All she wants to do is sleep, and not wanting to even go outside for some fresh air, and sunshine. She is just not the same dog, whatsoever!! What happened to my dog????? I have changed the food to a more nutritional and high dollar food, and I do not want to waste anymore of this good food or anything else for that matter; does anyone out there have any suggestions of what I could do to help her eat? Dogs will not starve theirselves to death, will they? Should I just not fuss over her so much and go on about my business? Oh, she is drinking lots of water, there is no problem there.

calliecritturs

Posted : 8/2/2009 2:05:56 PM

michelle Lee
All she wants to do is sleep, and not wanting to even go outside for some fresh air, and sunshine. She is just not the same dog, whatsoever!!

That statement right there is the most important of all that you said. THAT is cause for an immediate vet visit.

How many teeth did the vet have to pull? Did the vet both sedate and mask her down? She could definitely have had a reaction to any of the chemicals she was given.

Look at her gums -- if they are pale in color GO TO THE VET **NOW** -- literally don't wait for Monday. Find an emergency vet and go.

Lethargy is always a serious high priorty symptom -- and if she was eating at first then I'd suspect a problem.

No, she's not being a brat -- dogs may have their reasons for doing things but "just to annoy you" is not one of them.

Vet -- absolutely as soon as you can get her there (even if the gums are not pale **go tomorrow**).

Anything that involves sedation or surgery can trigger other problems, OR it can simply reveal something that was already there.

CoBuHe

Posted : 8/2/2009 3:25:39 PM

I'm glad to hear she is drinking water...thats good. She just had a medical procedure, she is not trying to aggravate you. When dogs don't feel well, they typically don't eat and they will sleep a lot.. She is not just acting like a brat. Vet visit asap. Callie is right on. Check the color of her gums; and I hope that your regular vet gave you their after hours number.

Good luck.

stardog85

Posted : 8/2/2009 3:40:27 PM

I second Callie's thoughts on her behavior warranting a vet visit. Did the vet give her any pain meds?

My 10yo girl also had dental work recently, mainly having a large molar pulled. She was on a pain med/anti-inflammatory for 7 days, a few days of antibiotics (started before her surgery for a total of 7 days), and they recommended softened food for 3-5 days. The first two days she was acting tired and sore, but she perked up after that. She ate exclusively canned food (with water added) for the first 3 days, then dry food soaked in water for another 3, and then finally back to dry food on the 7th day.

spiritdogs

Posted : 8/2/2009 7:47:58 PM

I have to agree with the others and say that if this were my dog, I'd be thinking that a vet visit is in order.