Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

Is my dog's slow anesthesia recovery after dental cleaning normal?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Bichon Frise | Male | neutered | 9 years and 5 months old | 6.2 lbs

My dog had teeth cleaned yesterday. Didn't not recover from anesthesia for over 24 hours, still not fully back. I believe they gave him anesthetic for a dog 7.7 pounds, but he is only 6.2. My other dog, 7.7, came out rapidly, no problems. They had their charts mixed up when I got there, calling them wrong name, etc. Vet claims no difference in dosage but I question this because 1.5 lbs in such small dogs seems like a lot. So, does it sound like wrong dose or was she correct that they'd receive

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on November 25th, 2017

I'm sorry that Bubba had a tough time coming out of anesthesia! Please know that without seeing his records, and knowing what drugs he received as well as the doses of them, there is no way I can say if he got the wrong drug amount. I can tell you for sure that different dogs react differently to anesthesia that other dogs, just like in humans. Some recover quickly while others take a longer time to recover and may have some after effects. It truly does vary from dog to dog, and I wouldn't base your concern about Bubba on the fact your other dog recovered quickly because of how anesthesia affects other dogs differently. Also keep in mind that drugs have a wide range of doses, and it could be safe that both dogs got the same amount of drugs. Again, without seeing the records in person, I can't say for certain. You do sound worried, and you can ask for the records to take to another vet in person to review them and give their opinion. I'm sorry I couldn't be more specific, but I hope this helps you somewhat.

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog got his teeth cleaned today. He is eating a little, but is still very groggy. He's been mostly sleeping and when he stands, he's a little unsteady. Is this normal? When does this stop being normal? I'm concerned because my other dog had the sa
It depends quite a bit on what drugs and doses were used for anesthesia, so unfortunately it's difficult to give a good answer to this question without being able to look at his medical record. But in general, for most anesthetic procedures, it's not uncommon for many dogs to remain somewhat groggy or drowsy for up to 12 hours or so afterwards - my rule of thumb for owners at our clinic is that their pet should be acting normal again by the following morning, but not to worry overly much if they are a bit sleepy or "off" for the rest of the afternoon or evening after going home. However, the pet should be able to get up and walk around, eat and drink without problems, etc. - if they are groggy to the point of being unresponsive or unable to stand, this is not normal. If you are concerned about Falkor, the safest course of action would be to call your vet's office and describe how he is currently acting - they should be able to tell you if this is reasonable, based on their anesthesi
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My 11 year old dog had her teeth cleaned under anesthesia yesterday. Vet said she did fine but 24 hours later she still seems a little spaced out. I have caught her just staring at wall several times today, which is not like her. Also, during the ni
Older dogs can take longer to completely process the anesthesia medications and return fully to normal. If she's on any pain medications after the cleaning (for example if she had dental extractions), that could also be causing some sedation. If she's eating, drinking, going to the bathroom, and appears comfortable, there's nothing you need to do right now and can give her another day or two to be totally normal. If she's not back to normal tomorrow evening, it might be wise to take her in for an appointment Friday before the weekend to make sure nothing else is going on.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Our nearly 8 year old great Dane went for a routine cleaning, heart wirm, and comprehensive examine yesterday with a new vet location. They released him much earlier than past appointments with his regular vet. Since he has been disoriented, winter l
If Cooper had general anesthesia for a dental cleaning it could take 24 hours or more to recover from anesthesia. He may have been given different medications than in the past. The trachea and back of the throat can be irritated by the endotracheal tube and cause coughing or reverse sneezing. I would recommend calling the veterinarian who performed the procedure and expressing your concerns. If they are not open and you feel Cooper is in distress, having difficulty breathing, or in pain I'd recommend seeing an emergency veterinarian.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Grooming
My dog had a teeth cleaning this morning and he is still off balance and not himself tonight.
Thank you for contacting Boop by Petco with your question about Loki. Anesthesia can make a dog a bit off balance for a bit, and it take a bit for a dog to return to normal. Keep an eye on him tonight, and if he's still acting this way in the morning, give his vet a call. Hopefully, he should be back to normal in the morning. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Acting odd after twilight anesthesia
Dogs are often not themselves 100% after recovering from anesthesia, this can last up to 24 hours at a certain degree, i wouldn't be worried as long as he isn't too lethargic, appetite can also be affected. if you are concerned please contact the vet responsible for the anesthesia for further instructions.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
4pm yesterday our 11 year old was put under mild anesthesia for ultra sound...found intestinal ulcer. He is still really sleepy, not eating and not taking New meds. He drank water...alot, and peed a few times. How do we know when to bring him in f
Hello, sorry to hear about Taz. Sedatives and anesthesia may take up to 24-32 hours to wear off in some dogs, particularly older patients. Other factors that contribute to this include any concurrent illnesses such as liver disease, kidney disease, or even his ulcer. If Taz continues to be sedate and without an appetite, then he should be rechecked at the latest tomorrow morning. If he seems more lethargic or painful, then he should be evaluated sooner. Please contact your veterinarian to inform them that Taz is still sedate and not wanting to eat as they may want to see him sooner depending on his concurrent medical history and what agents they used for anesthesia. Hope this helps and best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Healthy 6 year old pit had teeth cleaned. Blood work showed good to go. The next day he refused food but drank water. Had diarrhea which suddenly progressed to incontinence before he became unresponsive to sound and touch. Glassy, unblinking eyes, he
I'm so sorry this happened. It is not likely an overdose of anesthetic. If that was the case he would have passed away during the dental procedure. It is more likely that he threw a blood clot post-anesthesia. The only way to know for sure would be to have a necropsy (autopsy) done on him.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Training & Behavior
My 14 year old Cairn Terrier got the majority of his teeth pulled a couple months ago and ever since he has been snoring loudly. Is this something to be concerned with? He also sleep A LOT!!
Sometimes after dental extractions they can develop a connection between the nasal and oral cavities called a fistula. This can allow oral cavity food, bacteria, saliva, etc. to enter the nose which can sometimes lead to these signs. Often times there may be nasal discharge as well. As well there are other post anesthesia problems that can occur less frequently. Since this sounds like a notable change post dental i would have it evaluated by your family vet. They can look at the extraction sites and do a thorough oral exam (sedation likely required) as well as check for normal airflow via the nose and normal airway function. If you think the sleeping a lot is new as well then this could be related or some other issue. Rechecking some bloodwork will likely be recommended as he is an older pet that underwent anesthesia. I hope this helps and thank you for using Boop by Petco!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog had a dental done today with 4 extractions (2 of them being surgical) as well as slight gum trimming due to gingivitis. I gave a Tramadol at 7 pm and some rice in water for dinner (small amounts separated an hour apart) and then he vomited a s
I wouldn't be too concerned at this point if the dental was only just done today. Your dog underwent a pretty significant procedure and may not be the same for a couple of days. Give the pain medication as directed by your veterinarian unless your dog vomits again. If this is the case, call your vet about switching to something else. Post-anesthetic nausea is not uncommon so you might consider giving some pepsid or prilosec if you have any around the house. Hope this helps.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog was put under to have a cyst lanced this morning and he is still pretty out of 8.5 hours later is this normal?
Hello, thank you for your question. General anesthesia/sedation can take 18-24 hours to completely work it's way out of the pet's system. Fat Boy may still be quite sleepy and prefer to lie on the cough or bed for the rest of the evening tonight, but should be back to his normal self by tomorrow. If he is unrousable or taking short shallow breaths I would recommend having him rechecked by your veterinarian to ensure that he is not having a reaction to any of the medications that were used. Hope this helps, good luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025

Related Searches

Dog First Aid & Recovery Dog Health & Wellness Dog Pain Medicine & Relief Dog Dental Care Dog Anxiety Medication Dog Medicine and Prescriptions Dog Breath Fresheners & Mouthwashes Dog Braces & Splints Dog Pain Relief & Arthritis Meds Dog Recovery Cones & Surgical Suits Methocarbamol Dog First Aid & Recovery DOG by Dr Lisa Dog First Aid & Recovery Reconcile Dog Anxiety Medication OxyMed Dog Pain Medicine & Relief Gabapentin Dog First Aid & Recovery Remedy+Recovery Dog Pain Medicine & Relief Methocarbamol Dog Pain Medicine & Relief Deramaxx Dog Pain Medicine & Relief Earthbath Dog Pain Medicine & Relief TropiClean Dog Pain Medicine & Relief
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored