Why does my dog get bruises and wounds after vet blood tests?

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.

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.

There should not be a bruise from a chest x-ray. Your dog may have struggled while being steadied for the x-ray but even then there should be no bruise. You will need to take Roy back to the vet and show him the bruise. Actually this may be a hematoma from taking blood from the jugular vein. But even for that this is too big and needs to be investigated. Your dog could have a coagulation disorder causing this after a needle stick for blood work.

I'm not quite sure how or why your vet would have needed to take a blood sample in a location where there was also a wound, but I wouldn't be sure that the wound is getting worse from being disrupted by a needle. It's always difficult to determine whether or not treatment was appropriate without knowing all of the details of the case. If you're concerned that the wound is worse I would recommend rechecking with your vet. You should bring up your concerns and if you still don't feel comfortable with the care provided you may want to get a second opinion.

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 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!

This could be a hematoma (when blood vessels burst and cause a blood-filled blister.) from being poked three times for blood. Typically these are not something to worry about and resolve on their own. Do not try to squeeze, and keep an eye on it. If it gets bigger or doesn't appear to be resolving over the next week, I'd take Oxley into the vet. I hope this helps!