How to Care for a Spayed Dog With Vomiting & Diarrhea

Dogs regularly experience vomiting and diarrhea after spay surgery.

Vomiting and diarrhea are common symptoms or ailments dogs experience after undergoing spay surgery. If not properly cared for in a timely manner, dogs that suffer frequent bouts of vomiting and diarrhea could quickly become dehydrated and die, as a result. Learning how to care for your dog after she's been spayed is important if you truly care about the well-being of your dog and want her to stay in the safest, most healthiest condition possible.

Things You'll Need

• Pen/kennel
• Rag
• Water
• White rice
• Beef

Instructions

1. Place your dog in a safe, noiseless, secure location away from children and other animals to prevent them from tampering with or contracting the vomit or diarrhea. Pens, kennels and bathrooms serve as locations to temporarily house your spayed dog.

2. Hold off feeding your dog until 6 to 8 hours after she returns home. After the spay surgery, a dog's stomach will be temporarily upset, causing the dog to vomit or have bouts of diarrhea if fed a hearty meal.

3. Monitor the incision on your dog's stomach regularly. If the incision becomes infected, swollen, red or tender to the touch, your dog may contract a fever, vomit or experience occasional diarrhea attacks as a result. Keep the area around the incision as clean as possible by using a warm, damp rag to wash away any dirt or debris.

4. Give your dog plenty of fluids. Dogs that suffer through bouts of vomiting and diarrhea frequently become severely dehydrated. Place water in a bowl a few feet away from your sick dog within her view. Replace the water on a regular basis to ensure the bowl is always full.

5. Feed your dog bland foods, like white rice and beef, to settle her stomach. The Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine recommends feeding your dog small amounts of a bland, low-fat food 3 to 6 times daily for a few days, with a gradual increase in the amount fed and a gradual transition to the pet's normal diet to treat bouts of vomiting and diarrhea.

6. Take your dog off any pain medication. If your veterinarian prescribed a pain medication, take your dog off the medication if she is experiencing excessive vomiting and diarrhea attacks, as she may be allergic to the medicine. Consult with your veterinarian about the different side effects associated with the pain medication you're given.

Tips & Warnings

• If your dog begins to breathe rapidly after spay surgery, take her to the vet immediately as the incision may have split open or vital organs may have ruptured.

• If your dog has blood in the vomit, rush her to the veterinarian as soon as possible, as it could be a sign of severe infection.

• If after a few days your dog continues to suffer with bouts of vomiting and diarrhea, take her to the vet for a thorough checkup.

References

• Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine: Vomiting