It’s natural to feel concerned if your dog is shaking or trembling after undergoing surgery. The shaking may be a result of several factors related to the procedure and your dog’s recovery. In most cases, mild shaking that occurs a few days after surgery is nothing to worry about. However, persistent or severe trembling could indicate an underlying issue that needs veterinary attention.
Common Causes of Shaking After Surgery
Here are some of the most common reasons why your dog may be shaking 3 days after having surgery:
Anesthesia Side Effects
Anesthesia causes muscle relaxation and temporary partial paralysis to allow surgery to be performed without resistance from the patient. It can take 24-72 hours for the effects of general anesthesia to fully wear off in dogs. The medication can leave dogs feeling groggy and weak as it leaves their system, and this can cause mild tremors or shivering.
Pain and Discomfort
Even with medication, surgery and incisions can leave dogs feeling sore and achy. Discomfort, pain, and inflammation during the post-operative period may make your dog tremble. Medications prescribed for pain relief also commonly cause mild muscle tremors as a side effect.
Low Body Temperature
It’s common for dogs to have a lower than normal body temperature after surgery, a condition called hypothermia. The anesthetics, medications, and effects of surgery can all contribute to this. Shivering and trembling helps raise body temperature back up to normal.
Stress and Anxiety
The experience of surgery and the post-operative recovery process is stressful for dogs. Discomfort combined with spending time at the veterinary clinic away from home can cause anxiety. The trembling and shaking may be a physical manifestation of stress as the dog readjusts.
When to See the Vet
In most cases, mild shaking starting a few days after surgery should not cause alarm. However, contact your veterinarian if:
- The shaking and trembling is severe and nonstop
- The tremors get worse instead of better over time
- Your dog is also panting, pacing, vocalizing, or seems very anxious
- Shaking is accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea or loss of appetite
- Your dog appears confused, uncoordinated, or collapses
Severe or worsening tremors may indicate complications like internal bleeding, infection, or an adverse reaction to medications. Neurological issues related to anesthesia or surgical trauma are also possible. Let your vet examine your dog to pinpoint the cause and provide appropriate treatment.
Home Care for a Shaking Dog After Surgery
While mild shaking often resolves on its own, you can help soothe your dog and monitor their recovery by:
- Gently petting or massaging areas away from the surgical site
- Speaking softly and reassure them
- Placing a blanket over your dog if they feel cool to the touch
- Using a warm (not hot) water bottle or heating pad under the blanket
- Keeping the dog in a quiet, calm environment
- Slowly increasing exercise and activity over a period of 2 weeks
- Giving all medications prescribed by your veterinarian
- Avoiding stressors like loud noises, strangers, and children roughhousing
- Calling the vet with any concerns about worsening symptoms
With time, care, and patience your dog should stop shaking as the effects of anesthesia wear off fully and they regain strength after surgery. Follow all post-operative instructions from your veterinarian to ensure your dog heals properly.
When to Expect the Shaking to Resolve
The timeline for the shaking resolving depends on:
- The type of surgery performed
- Your dog’s health, age, and breed
- Medications and dosage prescribed
In straightforward routine surgeries in otherwise healthy dogs, the trembling should gradually improve noticeably by 5-7 days after surgery. Within 2 weeks, the shaking should no longer occur. However, every dog recovers differently based on the factors above. Discuss an expected timeline for shaking and other surgery side effects with your vet.
Spay/Neuter Surgery
After neutering or spaying surgery, it’s common for dogs to shake for 2-3 days due to anesthesia and inflammation at incision sites. Shaking should markedly improve within 5-6 days.
Orthopedic Surgery
Surgeries like CCL repair, hip replacement, and amputation often result in more swelling, pain and nerve trauma than a routine spay or neuter. Dogs can shake for 3-4 days as they recover. Improvement may take 10-14 days. Follow all restrictions and recovery instructions closely to avoid complications.
Emergency Surgery
Surgeries needed for life-threatening conditions like obstruction, perforation, or trauma mean higher anesthetic risk and more stress on the body. It may take 4 days or more for trembling to resolve, and up to 3-4 weeks for a full recovery.
When to Call the Vet About Continued Shaking
While shaking often takes days or weeks to fully resolve after surgery, contact your veterinarian if it persists beyond:
- 7 days after a spay or neuter
- 10-14 days after orthopedic surgery
- 4 weeks after emergency surgery
Be sure to also call the vet if the shaking seems to worsen or be accompanied by other concerning symptoms at any point during recovery. Ongoing trembling could signify complications that require prompt veterinary assessment and treatment.
Preventing Shaking After Surgery
While some temporary shaking is expected after anesthesia and surgery, there are steps you can take to help minimize it:
- Follow all pre-operative instructions from your vet, such as withholding food and water before surgery.
- Allow your vet to perform pre-anesthesia bloodwork to identify any risks.
- Keep your dog warm before and after surgery to prevent hypothermia.
- Use medications as directed to manage pain and inflammation.
- Limit activity during the recovery period to prevent stress on incisions.
- Help your dog remain calm and relaxed as the anesthetic wears off.
Conclusion
It’s common for dogs to shake or tremble for a few days after surgery as a side effect of anesthesia and the surgical stress on the body. While concerning, mild postoperative trembling often resolves on its own within 1-2 weeks. Severe or worsening shaking could indicate a complication, so contact your vet if your dog does not improve as expected during recovery. With patience and proper post-operative care, your furry friend should make a full recovery and stop shaking soon.