My Dachshund has a large painful bruise after a vet X-ray. Why?

If the bruising is accompanied by lethargy, swelling and lameness, then Chomps should be seen by your veterinarian or at the nearest veterinary ER. X-rays may be indicated to diagnose or rule out fractures. A "simple" bruise with no other symptoms may resolve on it's own within a few weeks. Restrict activity to just leash walks for elimination in the meantime.

Yes, the jugular vein is almost always used for blood draws in dogs unless only a drop or two is needed - this is common practice, and very normal :) It's possible that there might be some bruising for a few days in this area, just like in humans after a blood draw. If he's acting normal and the area is not swollen, this is likely not any cause for concern. If the bruise seems to be getting larger, or if he is acting painful or lethargic, you can always take him back in for a recheck to make sure everything is okay.

It's hard to tell from the pictures, but it looks like there might be a small puncture near the bruised area? This would mean that Rosie was bitten on the abdomen. These types of injuries could be associated with internal damage, and should warrant immediate veterinary care. If there is no wound, then I would still be concerned about the sudden appearance of a bruise. Bruises can form if there is a bleeding or clotting issue or internal bleeding.

I’m wondering if Friday also had blood drawn for a heartworm test - the jugular vein is often used for venipuncture and bruising can be common. A platelet problem or other clotting disorder could also cause bruising. I think seeing your vet is a good idea.

For a urinalysis, we usually draw urine directly from the bladder by inserting a needle through the abdomen. It's difficult to see exactly where this bruising is, but it appears to be where the needle would have been inserted and is likely the reason for the bruising. The needle can cause some damage and leaking of local blood vessels, which will give this bruise appearance. If Wolfgang is otherwise acting normal, then I would not be concerned about this. If Wolfgang seems to be acting sick, or the bruising appears to be getting larger, then I would be more concerned and recommend a visit to the emergency vet. I hope that helps and Wolfgang gets better soon.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Chewy. Yes, this area does appear to have a bruise. However, bruising is not common in dogs and can indicate a bleeding disorder. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian today. Bloodwork should be tested. I hope this information helps!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can see the circular, dark red, flat areas on Denim's skin. These definitely look like bruises, and can be caused by abnormal blood clotting. This can be caused by certain toxins such as rat poison, cancers, and inherent inability of the blood to clot. Your vet can run some quick blood tests to determine what is going on. I hope this helps and that all is well with Denim!