My dog has severe bruising and pain after neuter. Is it an emergency?

Poor Quentin! From what I can see in the photo, it does look like he has some swelling and discoloration of the scrotum, and a small amount of bruising around the incision site itself. These issues can sometimes happen after a neuter - they're more common if the dog has been too active (I know this is hard to avoid sometimes!), but sometimes they just happen as a result of the surgery itself, just like post-op swelling and soreness in humans. If your pup is still eating and drinking normally, and seems alert and otherwise okay apart from being sore and reluctant to move around much, then it would be reasonable to wait until Monday to have him checked out by your regular veterinarian. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medication, as there are no OTC human options that are safe for use in dogs. In the meantime, you can use a warm compress on the area (a washcloth soaked in warm water, and then wrung out) for 5-10 minutes once or twice a day if he'll let you - this can help some with the soreness, and help the swelling resolve more quickly. I would also restrict his exercise as much as possible (crate rest would be best), since the more he moves around, the more he will aggravate the swelling. Make sure he isn't licking the incision or his scrotum at all, as this will also make things worse - use an e-collar (plastic cone) if needed to prevent this. If you feel that the swelling and bruising is continuing to get worse over the course of the weekend, or if your pup is not eating or acting extremely depressed/lethargic, then the safest bet would be to have him seen at your nearest emergency clinic to make sure there's nothing more serious going on.

Hi there. It's very common to see some scrotal bruising after a neuter surgery, especially in an adult dog that's fairly active. So as long as the dog is acting normal and not having any bleeding or discharge from the surgery site, this doesn't normally concern me. I would suggest restricting his exercise as much as possible for the next 7-10 days, and using an e-collar (plastic cone) to make sure that Milo isn't licking or chewing at the area. You can also hold a warm (not hot!) washcloth on the bruised area for 5 minutes a couple of times a day, if he will tolerate this, to help the bruising resolve more quickly. If the swelling seems to be getting worse instead of better, or if there is any bleeding or drainage, or if Milo starts to act like he doesn't feel well (not eating, excessively painful or lethargic, etc.), then I would recommend taking him back to the vet for a recheck visit.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Chulo. Hemorrhaging is a life threatening surgical complication that typically occurs relatively soon after the surgery. The patient becomes weak, pale and very lethargic. If he has any of these signs, then you need to seek emergency care right away. If he is eating, drinking and acting like himself, then it is more likely that he has some post-surgical swelling and bruising of the scrotum. The incision site itself appears to be healing well. I recommend following up with his veterinarian to ensure he does not require additional treatment. For example, some dogs that are too active will require mild sedatives to keep them quiet and allow their body to heal. I hope this information helps!

Thank you for the picture of Apollo's incision, it's very helpful. I agree the incision does look a bit swollen and red, and I'm concerned there is some bleeding. Please feel the skin area, and if it's warm as well, he needs to see an ER vet immediately. Otherwise, wait until the morning and take him in then. Should the area keep swelling during the night, it keeps bleeding, and/or he becomes lethargic, then rush him into an ER vet right away. I hope this helps!

Your dog may have been kicked or had a traffic accident. Such extensive bruising is either caused by trauma or a coagulation problem (e.g. caused by rodenticide or disease). This is severe enough to warrant a visit at a pet ER for an exam. If this is caused by trauma there may be more internal injury and it would also be painful. If it is caused by a coaguation problem your dog will need medication to counteract this so he does not bleed to death. Please take him to a vet or Pet ER now.

There should never be blood in stools, so it is certainly abnormal. Some medications could cause bleeding in the GI tract, so I would stop any medications and call the vet for advice. He should be examined by a vet or emergency vet if additional symptoms develop, such as lethargy, poor appetite, or vomiting.

Hello. That is a lot of bruising, but it just indicates that there was some subsurface capillary bleeding. This can occur in any surgery, but most often is the result of too much activity too soon after surgery. Try to confine Barklie a little more, by keeping him indoors & leash walking only for another week. If he is licking a lot, you may have to put an Elizabethan collar on him for a week or so so everything can heal. You can pick up the collars at most pet stores or even Tractor Supply if one is near you. If you are truly concerned, it is always best to have the veterinarian who did the surgery take a look to make sure everything is OK. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.