COncerned for adopted per that was just spayed. please help!

[Mozartcowgirl]

I adopted a dog from the animal shelter. She had to stay in the shelter until she was spayed. I picked her up on Wednesday, around 5:30 pm.  I bought her a nice comfy bed, and waited.  SHe threw up about 6 times, and urinated only once that day. The next day, she threw up once, and then ate around 5:30, not a whole lot, but, some, and she also drank some water. She has drank in total about a large sized dog bowl of water, has ate about 2 cans of Iams wet dog food.  She is not being aggressive, she wags her tail, willingly goes outside with me, and looks up at me with so much emotion in her eyes.. This is breaking my heart.  I am so worried about her. Her respirations seem to be excessive . I called the vet last night, and was told that anything over 80 would be cause for alarm.  When we had our cats fixed, they did not behave this way. so this is very foreign to me.  I understand she is tired, i get that she doesnt want to eat alot,, but what is concerning me.. is that she is breathing what i think.. is fast. what is normal for a dog that just went through being spayed? I also think that she has kennel cough, while we were going through theadoption process, one of the volunteers mentioned that she might have it, but that when we take her for her first well check, we could get her antibiotics then. Her well visit is monday, but i think i am going to bump it up to tomorrow.  

can anyone tell me.. is the panting normal? she was in heat at the time of her spay. i dont think that matters, but i thought that i would mention it,,, thats what the paper work said anyway.
im going crazy with worry here. any advice would be most welcomed.

[Arnold L Goldman, D.V.M.]

Dear Mozartcowgirl,

From your description, it sounds like your dog experienced a minor post anesthetic complication: upset stomach, which has resolved. If she was fed too soon or too much after anesthesia or had excitement like going to  a new home, that would be unremarkable. Panting in dogs is normal with excitement, overheated condition or anxiety. Being in heat shouldn't be a factor.
If she has a respiratory virus or "kennel cough" she could have a mild fever.
In any case, do ratchet down your own anxiety. None of this is likely to be serious.
Followup with your doctor for confirmation. If your dog is eating and not vomiting any longer, Monday is soon enough.

Best regards,

Arnold L. Goldman DVM, MS
MedHelp & PDOC

[Mozartcowgirl]

Sorry, thought that i would add that she has gone to the bathroom, this am, and that she had a bowel movement this afternoon..