how can I get my puppy to eat after surgery?

Your puppy has no business being at home a few hours after having a linear foreign body removed. He should be in the hospital with injectable or trans-dermal pain meds (such as a fentanyl patch) and hooked up to IV fluids.

Why on earth would they send him home right after surgery and with ORAL pain meds? I don't mean to be disrespectful, but was money an issue? If not, I'd find another vet.

I would give him some chicken broth, or even chicken soup. I have used both of these things for my own dog when I've needed to. I would just give him a bit of chicken broth, low sodium, and feed him that tonight. tomorrow, I would add some white rice to the broth for a day or so. His body isn't use to eating and his stomach has shrunk due to him not having food in it for so long. Also, the aroma of the chicken broth will entice him to drink it. Then add the rice into it, and then you can add a little bit of his dog food to the broth, and let it soak up some of the chicken broth. He will slowly start to eat again.

It sounds like this was life saving surgery. I'm sure the surgery has made his stomach sick from the anesthesia that they use. I'm glad that you took him to the vet so soon. He could of died from this. I'm glad he's doing okay now. He will get use to eating again soon. He's had a pretty significant surgery. He just isn't himself right now. But the chicken broth or soup will get his tummy use to having food in it again. If he eats the chicken broth tonight, tomorrow you can add rice and some ground chicken.

Set out food and water but don't expect him to eat much, if at all, for a few days after the surgery. His insides are healing but are very sore. He's going to need a soft diet for a while but I guess your vet told you that.

Phone the vet and ask their advice. They're likely to recommend a bland diet like boiled chicken or boiled hamburger and plain white rice.

Pls call vet. He needs fluids as dehydration is #1 killer.

post op care with your vet