Constant whining post Lap Spay

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My 18 month old girl had a successful Lap Spay yesterday. She was drowsy and sleepy when she cane home but after only a few hours physically perked up but has barely stopped whining since then.
I've ended up sleepin down on the sofa with her. She normally sleeps sound and happy all night but she took ages to settle and then woke every few hours whining.
I took her outside for a wee a few times. And gave her water.
The main thing I think might be causing it is hunger? Vet advised she only be given half her usual amount of food for a few days so after the pre op fast - I'm wondering if she's just ravenous. She has eaten, as usual, with gusto.
Also, she was sent home with anti inflammatories.. to he started this morn. But not no pain killers.. is that right?
I've never seen her like this and she is no stranger to a cone of shame, it makes no difference to the whining on or off.
I'll call the vet when they open.. but anyone experienced this level of whining? We cant sleep or function... and poor little thing.. it surely means something?

Hi, I'm a vet. I have never heard the advice only to give half the usual amount of food following a spay (and we do lap spays at my practice). I agree that she is probably hungry.

The anti-inflammatory medication you mention is probably also a painkiller. Is it meloxicam or carprofen? If so, they are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the same family as ibuprofen, and are indeed effective painkillers. If sore despite these, she may be able to have paracetamol also - ask your vet about this when you ring them.

(It is important that she eats well on "non-steroidals" or they can cause vomiting/diarrhoea).

Thank you so much for your reply. The anti inflammatory is Onisor - Robinacoxib ?

She is a Lab so I really think she's starving!
It's wierd as the nurse on discharge said about the food.. but there was a bit of confusion as to whether she meant just give usual amount but in smaller quantities or half the full amount in smaller quantities, due to language barrier. We were sure by the end she meant half the usual amount but perhaps we did misunderstand?

I will ask again when I call. She hasnt brought anything back up yet, thankfully.

Our lab had a lap spay at Christmas, they recommended wet food for the first 24 hours (she was sent home with some) but otherwise feed as normal.

Thank you. I think we must have misunderstood then! I'm going to just give her more.

Have given her her usual quantity of breakfast in small portions.. she seems a little happier but still basically constant whining.. and standing around like she's waiting for her walk or more food!

I'll call the vet when they open.. but anyone experienced this level of whining?

Just to add, I have had two dogs whine like this post a 'big' anaesthetic. It lasted about 24 hours in each and I think it's just due to them slowly coming round again.

In both cases, for other 'milder' aneasthetics (eg teeth cleaning) they did not whine anywhere near as much.

Thanks, that's really helpful to know.
I did read online that just the anaesthetic can cause them to whine as it wears off... hopefully its just that.
I'll give it til this afternoon when it would have been 24 hours and then maybe call vet if she is still super whiny.

Had my pup spayed just over 2 weeks ago and was also told by the nurse to give small quantities of food. My girl had the normal spay, she didn't whine (she slept the entire day/night I brought her home) and didn't use the toilet at all until the next morning.

My biggest problem was the diarrhoea 😩 she had a normal poo the morning after her spay but by lunch time she had a terrible tummy, I'm not sure whether it was the first lot of medication she'd had that morning (Rimadyl) or the effects from the anaesthetic. I had to start her on Pro Kolin, chicken & rice and then I took her back to the vets and they gave her liquid paracetamol instead. Could she perhaps have stomach ache?

Mine wouldn't drink either so I asked for a bottle of electrolytes when I went to the vets, despite the poorly tummy she still wanted to eat. 🙄

Hope your dog has a speedy recovery.

The vet phoned and DH spoke to them. There clearly was a misco about food and what they meant was just smaller portions...
They didnt seem to concerned about the whining on that account... they said sounds like all is progressing fine and as expected.
She had 2 decent bowel movements this morning and a couple of short walks, and is definitely much better and less whiny/more settled.

Just an update to say she settled down after 24 hours, slept well last night, and is now back to her usual happy self and desperate for a decent a walk!

Thanks for all the replies, they were reall helpful.

Ah good news!

Now comes the tricky part - keeping her calm and still while she heals

100% this!

She's raring to go...!