Why is my dog bleeding and acting strange after spay surgery?

Your veterinarian is correct that this is very uncommon. They likely gave the medication to treat rat poisoning just in case. You may also want to look into genetic testing to see if Bella carries a mutated gene that increases her risk of bleeding since this is very important to know moving forward for the rest of her life. The best person to answer is your veterinarian. Veterinarians would rather clients ask all the questions so that they can be sure clients understand the rationale behind medical decisions. I’m glad Bella is doing well now and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I am so sorry to hear that Francis isn’t feeling well. I would be suspicious of tick born infections such as ehrlichia. She could have been infected for some time, but the stress of the surgery could have caused her to become ill with it. It is also possible that she is having a rare complication to surgery such as an infection at the uterine stump. Another possible cause is that she is experiencing an immune mediated anemia and thrombocytopenia event. If she is genetically predisposed then anything can trigger it- surgery, vaccinations, infections etc. I would recommend asking for a clinical pathology review of the CBC, the total protein level can help determine if she has bled. I would recommend an x-ray or even better an ultrasound to examine the uterine stump. Best of luck and I hope you find an answer soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

If they vet recommended spaying, I wondering if the bleeding is actually coming from her vulva. If it's definitely from her anus, she needs a rectal exam, abdominal x-rays, and then likely a colonocopy to look for the problem. I would be concerned about a cancerous growth.

I would have Hennessey seen by a vet immediately. I would be very concerned that this heavy bleeding, lethargy, and bloating is caused by a pyometra. A pyometra is a serous infection of the uterus that is fatal without treatment. Using a physical exam, blood tests, urinalysis, and x-rays, the vet can diagnose if she does have a pyometra and can treat her for it. Should she have one, spaying her is part of the recommended treatment. Please take Hennessey into an ER vet or find a vet on call to see her now.

Please enquire about subsidized clinics or care credit to get her the help she needs. Her appetite is altered likely due to anemia and the blood loss needs to be stopped, by a hysterectomy before the condition can be resolved. No supplements will stem the blood loss

Poor girl. Without seeing her in person, I can't say what is going on with her. I would speak with her vet to talk about what's going on, and they can give you an accurate description. She's in the best place and I hope she's better soon.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm so sorry to hear that your friend's dog lost so much blood during her surgery. While it is a routine surgery, complications like bleeding can occur. There is a chance that your friend's pet will be OK, she may require a blood transfusion if her anemia (level of red blood cells) is low enough. She may also just need time for her own body to make more red blood cells. There are lots of patients in critical care units that have lost a lot of blood that are able to be nursed back to health. I hope this is helpful!