Surgery can be a terrifying experience for your dog. Like people, pets need time to recover from surgery, which may include rest and specific diets that don’t upset their stomachs. How and what you feed them can help them recover and get a healthier digestive system after surgery. Try the tips below, and if they are still not eating after a day, call your veterinarian.
How to Feed Your Pet After Surgery
What should I feed my pet after surgery? How can I offer them the best option? And how do I make him eat? Below are some helpful tips that will address your concerns.
1. Warm Their Food
If your dog often consumes dry kibble, including warm water in its food can soften it and make it more convenient to eat, which is essential for a dog with reduced energy. You can add water and then microwave their food for a few seconds to enrich the smell and make it more enticing to your dog. After surgery, veterinarians at the emergency animal hospital in Staten Island will most likely suggest soft food for pets.
2. Prepare a Home Cooked Food
If your dog isn’t feeling better after eating more protein, try cooking him a special meal with equal parts cooked protein and a carb. For example, you could prepare a dish of steamed ground turkey with rice, pasta, or potatoes. Again, guarantee that whatever you make isn’t too rich to make sure that it doesn’t upset their already delicate digestive system.
3. Include Tasty Protein
You can include some delicious protein if your pet doesn’t want to eat his regular kibble or canned food. This will not just increase their appetite but will also help in their body’s healing. Cooked eggs, shredded chicken (bones removed), or steamed ground turkey are all good additions.
Ensure that the protein you add is not too rich; avoid heavy, fatty meats and fried foods. Similar to people, anesthesia can make you feel uncomfortable, and rich foods and sweets can also make you feel unwell.
4. Hand-Feed Them
Never undervalue how much a little TLC can help a dog feel better. Get down on their level and carefully hand-feed them small bites of kibble, cooked chicken, hardboiled egg, and more. Slowly approach them and talk softly, offering plenty of pets and words of encouragement. It’s crucial to avoid pressuring or forcing them to eat because doing so may have the contrary effect and make them even less interested in food.
The anesthesia can take up to 24 hours to completely subside, so always follow the Aadobe Animal Hospital’s recovery tips. There’s no need to be concerned if your pet goes a whole day without eating after surgery.
5. Try Baby Food
Although it sounds odd, feeding a sick, aching pet after surgery baby food may help. Its soft consistency makes it easy to eat; no chewing is needed. You can get pre-made baby food or prepare your own in a blender with their favorite carbs or vegetables and spoon-feed it to your dog. Always check the label to guarantee that all ingredients are harmless to feed your dog.
However, remember that each dog and its dietary requirements will vary, so follow the advice of the emergency vet on what to feed them after surgery.
Bottom Line
Because every dog is different, be imaginative and try new things. If your pet vomits after surgery, ensure the food isn’t too rich, and try feeding a less portion at the next meal. While losing appetite is normal after surgery, call your vet if your pet hasn’t eaten anything after 24 hours.
