Is a dark red spot on my dog's belly after surgery normal?

This is similar to a bruise and indicates bleeding under the skin. The fact that it's located around the incision is less concerning than if it was all over the abdomen. However, I am a little concerned by the extent of it. If I had first-hand knowledge of the techniques used during the surgery, then I may be less concerned. The biggest concern with the bleeding is that it may indicate a clotting problem and can lead to anemia. If Sadie has a decrease in activity, the red areas spread further and/or pale gums, then I'd recommend taking her to a vet right away. Otherwise, you are safe to wait until the vet who did the surgery is available to check this. I hope that helps and all is well with Sadie.

Hi there, Is this dark red circle flat and not swollen? If so, it appears most similar to a black fly bite. You can look these up on google images. They are generally benign but some dogs benefit from anti itch medications. If its warm to touch or swollen, or she seems to develop more of these bruises even while indoors, those would be reasons to have Stevie seen by her vet to ensure it's not something more serious. Her spay incision looks great. I hope this is helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The incision looks like it is healing well so I would not be concerned about those dark spots. Those could be normal pigmentation changes. As long as the incision continues to look like it is healing, there is no need to recheck her. Good luck and best wishes!

It's difficult to tell from just a picture. The skin is definitely discolored, but this could be from the surgical prep (iodine), or from dried blood. If the skin is not stained, then this would be abnormal and would indicate bruising or an infection. You can test for stained skin by gently wiping the skin with a little hydrogen peroxide. Avoid wiping the incision (the middle) and just wipe the edges. If it's staining, then the redness will start to be lifted with just a couple of wipes. If the wiping is unsuccessful at removing the discoloration, then it's likely bruising or infection and I'd recommend he get checked by the vet in the next 24 hours. I hope that helps and all is well with your dog.

Hello, thank you for your question. This lesion looks similar to a blood blister. I would recommend continuing to monitor this bump. If it becomes painful or you notice a colored or odorous discharge at any point please have Harley seen by a veterinarian. Additionally, please try to prevent Harley from licking or scratching at the lesion while it heals. Hope this helps!

It's a little difficult to tell in your picture - it doesn't appear to be raised. If it is a flat area of redness and hair loss it could be a hot spot or superficial bacterial infection. If it is raised it could be a skin growth like a histiocytoma. I would recommend having your vet examine this lesion to determine for certain what it is.

It looks like a bit of suture reaction - this is very common and goes away on it's own. As long as there isn't anything coming out (like pus) from the area and it's not bothering her, just leave it alone and keep an eye on it. If she's lethargic, has poor appetite, is trying to lick it, or has any discharge, she should go back to the vet to see if she needs antibiotics or other testing. But 9 times out of 10 (probably even better than that) these need no treatment - it's just the body dealing with having something inside that shouldn't be there. The sutures will dissolve over the next month or so and the reaction will go away. I hope that helps and good luck!