Anaesthetic drugs can affect balance, appetite and temperature for several hours. Most patients become steadily brighter overnight.
Your first steps
What to do at home
- Keep your pet warm, indoors and supervised.
- Block access to stairs and high furniture.
- Offer a small meal when fully awake unless advised otherwise.
- Provide water in manageable amounts.
- Separate pets if companions may disturb the recovering patient.
Things that often settle
- Sleepiness and mild wobbliness
- A quiet evening
- Eating less than usual
- A mild cough after a breathing tube
Things we want to know about
- Breathing appears laboured or noisy
- Your pet cannot stand or becomes less responsive
- Repeated vomiting
- Pale or blue gums
- They are not improving within the expected timeframe
Medication safety
Only give what has been prescribed.
Human painkillers—including ibuprofen and paracetamol—can be dangerous to pets. Contact the practice before adding, stopping or changing any medicine.