Most people don't need to follow a special diet after having surgery to remove their gallbladder, as the gallbladder isn't essential for digestion. You can usually start eating normally a few hours after your operation, although you'll probably prefer to eat small meals to start with.
General anesthetic could cause your dog to feel a little queasy, and lose their appetite. When it's time to feed your dog after surgery try offering your pet a light meal (1/4 or 1/2 of regular meal) such as chicken and rice which can be easier to digest than regular store bought dog food.
Foods to Eat After You Have Your Gallbladder Removed
Soft boiled or lightly scrambled eggs.
Start with a soft diet that includes porridge, fish, oatmeal, mashed potato/sweet potato, softly cooked vegetables and fruits. Eat smaller meals. Avoid having large meals, as it may be difficult for your body to digest and may lead to bloating.
Soft, solid foods (i.e. bananas, plain pasta, eggs, etc.) are easier for your body to digest,but this depends on how you are feeling after your gallbladder removal. It is important to remember that it is best to slowly introduce solid foods as more time passes.
More severe cases may require removing either the gallstones or the gallbladder itself. It is important for the dog to eat small frequent meals that are low in fat but contain adequate soluble fiber. The soluble fiber in Volhard's Rescue diet will help the dog's body to get rid of bile acid sterols.
Whole foods, rice, chicken and other meats or specially formulated dog foods are the most common foods for dogs with gallbladder problems. If your pet is diagnosed with gallstones a veterinarian will recommend a strict diet as the removal of the organ leads to dietary restrictions.
Recuperating from Surgery For two weeks or more following surgery, feed your bulldog soft foods until his palate heals.
Gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) is a serious surgical procedure with the potential for complications. Surgery involves going into the abdomen to remove your dog's gallbladder. Not all veterinarians perform this procedure.
Dogs with gallbladder mucoceles that undergo cholecystectomy and survive the immediate perioperative period have an excellent long term prognosis. Overall mortality rates are reported to be between 20–39% for this disease, however, early surgical intervention may significantly reduce mortality rates.
Most pets will not eat their regular dog food after surgery, especially if it is dry kibble. Try mixing canned dog food into normal diet, or alone for a couple day to enhance flavor. Always remember to gradually switch back into normal diet.
How can you care for yourself at home?
Most dogs will lose interest in eating food immediately after surgery - particularly if their usual food is dry kibble. In fact, for the first few hours, it is not recommended to feed your dog since they may choke due to their nausea. You should wait to feed your dog until the effects of anesthesia have worn off.