Vomiting, Diarrhea or Constipation:  Anesthesia and surgery of the abdomen can upset your pet's digestive tract.  One episode of vomiting or a small amount of loose stool is not cause for alarm, and may simply be the result of a "nervous stomach" or abrupt change to hospital food.  However, if your pet has repeated vomiting and/or extended diarrhea, please contact us.

Some dogs and cats can be constipated after surgery.  Some pets will not defecate for several days after returning home due to the discomfort of using abdominal muscles or painful limbs after orthopedic surgery.  If your pet has not gone after five days post-operatively, please contact us at the Animal Hospital of Waynesboro.  We will likely recommend a stool softener or administer an enema.  For many surgeries, gas anesthesia is used.  The anesthesia itself and the tube used to deliver it to the windpipe can irritate the airways.  Because of this, some pets may have a mild dry cought after surgery.  This cough should only last a day or so.  If the cough does not go away after twenty-four hours or is excessive, please call and speak with one of our veterinarians or technicians.  If your pet is coughing, keep him or her quiet and the air humidified.  Excercise can worsen the cough.