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My pet isn't pooping or drinking after foreign object surgery. Normal?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Beagle | Female | unspayed | 3 months and 14 days old | 6 lbs

My pet had a foreign object removal from her stomach Wednesday evening she pooped yesterday morning but hasn’t had a bowel movement again yet is that normal my vet is closed now and she isn’t hardly drinking either but is eating her canned food very well. I’m just concerned about her not pooping again and not drinking hardly at all

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Ana M, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on October 27th, 2018

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Lucy. Anesthesia will slow down the gastrointestinal tract and make bowel movements less frequent. Plus she was probably not eating well before surgery due to being ill and most patients are fasted for a bit after surgery. This means there is likely less food in her system to come out. Unless she is straining to defecate, it is typically not worrisome that she is not defecating regularly yet. As far as the drinking, she most likely received IV fluids under anesthesia and while hospitalized. This would have provided her with a large amount of fluids. Now eating the canned food, this is supplying her with moisture as well. As long as she is eating and is acting normally, then I suspect her recovery is going well. If you have any concerns though, I would seek emergency care this weekend just to be sure. I hope this information helps!

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Sara Farmer, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 28th, 2018

    This all sounds quite normal following surgery and I wouldn't worry too much. It can take several days for a dog to defecate following surgery because the medications used under anesthesia and the surgery itself tend to slow movement through the gastrointestinal tract. Constipation is rare but can occasionally happen. If Lucy is straining to defecate without producing stool I would be a little more worried. It is also normal for a dog to drink less water when eating canned food since the food has a higher water content. I would continue to take Lucy for short leashed walks as instructed and contact your vet once they open to see when they would recommend coming in for a recheck if she still has not defecated.

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