My Saint Bernard has a huge belly hematoma after spay. Is it normal?

It is likely that your puppy had an ovariohysterectomy, which is the removal of both ovaries and both uterine horns plus the uterine body. So there is likely no swollen uterine horn present. Also, you would not be able to see that from the outside when you look at your dog. That said, if you think your puppy's abdomen is excessively swollen and /or if your puppy appears ill you should take her to a veterinarian for an exam. You may want to call the shelter and find out whether Athena had an ovarectomy or ovariohysterectomy and whether you should take her back there for an exam.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Giselle. If she is eating, drinking and acting normal, then it is likely not an emergency. However, she should have it evaluated by her veterinarian. She may have developed a mammary mass. This is more common in dogs that have not been spayed. Her veterinarian will perform an examination and then possibly collect a sample from the swelling to analyze. I hope this information helps!

The most likely cause is a suture reaction, similar to how the body tries to get rid of a sticker in your finger. However, an infection or a hernia are also possible. I would encourage you to have her evaluated by a veterinarian soon. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hi there! It sounds like you're a very good friend to Athena and care very much. This looks very much like a suture reaction, or a reaction to the material of her internal stitches. The stitches we use inside the body are absorbable, and eventually break down in the tissues. Sometimes, they can cause an inflammatory reaction when this happens that looks a lot like this. If the reaction or breakdown is too soon, we risk the possibility of a hernia, etc. there is a possibility (smaller but still there) that the suture broke down a bit before it was noticed and with her exertion it just pushed its way a bit more open. If she is unbothered and has not changed in size it could probably wait until your appointment. I would recommend keeping her exercise very restricted in the meantime though-no stairs, no running outside just leash walks, etc. if you are still concerned, you can always call her doctor and see if they can get you in a bit sooner. Hope this helps!

Larger dogs or dogs that are playful after a procedure can develop a seroma at the incision site. These firm bumps under the skin at the incision and are not painful. Sometimes they can drain and be fluid-filled. They will go away completely as healing takes place, but it may take a little longer than the normal 10 days for healing. It is still there after 2 weeks, begins to ooze any fluid, or gets noticeably larger, then I would have it rechecked. It's unlikely to be a hernia, particularly if it resolves on it's own. For some dogs, warm (not hot) compresses applied a few times per day can be helpful.

It looks like there could be some inflammation at the site of the incision. That could be due to her body breaking down the sutures, or she caused some sort of trauma to the area. If she is acting normal and you don't feel any swelling around that area I would wait and see if it improves. But if there is swelling, drainage, or pain I would worry about a dehiscence (opening of the incision) which would be an emergency and she should see a vet immediately.

The discoloration you are seeing appears to be located around Ariel's mammary glands. I see that she is 10 months old and not yet spayed. If she has just had a heat cycle it is normal for there to be increased blood flow to the mammary glands, which can cause them to be a little swollen and discolored. However, if it appears to be getting worse, there is any discharge or she appears painful, I would certainly have your veterinarian examine her. It's hard to tell from the picture, but if it is spreading down the inside of her leg, then that is abnormal and she should be examined. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.