Surgery is a traumatic thing for dogs, causing general pain and discomfort. This discomfort does not end when the surgery ends, however. Some dogs suffer nausea following surgery, often due to the anesthesia used. This nausea is effectively treated at home using natural remedies and simple methods. Inform your veterinarian if your dog feels nauseous after surgery, and try these methods along with the treatment your vet recommends to perk your pooch up again.
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Fasting
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Temporarily restricting food, or fasting, gives your dog&'s stomach and digestive tract a chance to rest. During fasting, do not allow your dog to eat for 24 hours. Allow limited amounts of water (1/2 tsp. to two tbsp. depending on the size of the dog) every hour for 24 hours. Doing so lets the inflammation and irritation of the stomach lining heal so that the dog is ready for food again.
Fluids
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If your dog just had surgery, or has been fasting for 24 hours post-surgery, he may feel dehydrated. Dehydration paired with the anesthesia used during surgery often leads to nausea. Place your dog on a liquid diet for six hours. Offer water, electrolyte replacement drinks or chicken broth. If after six hours your dog cannot keep the liquids down, remain on the liquid diet for another six hours. If the liquid diet agrees with your dog after six hours, introduce bland foods for the next 24 hours.
Bland Diet
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A bland diet consists of foods that your dog can easily digest, allowing any post-surgical nausea to subside. Foods to offer on a bland diet include boiled chicken (without the skin), chicken broth, water and boiled rice. Offer these foods as meals as you would offer your dog&'s regular food. After 24 hours of a strict bland diet, combine half a serving of bland food with half a serving of your dog&'s regular food at mealtimes for the next 24 hours. After that 24 hours has passed, your dog may resume eating his regular food.
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