Dog has clear swelling after FHO. Is exploratory surgery needed?

This is most likely a seroma which is just a fluid pocket. But a seroma can inhibit healing if it is too big. I would have your vet look at it so they can drain it. Your vet will be able to confirm that it is a seroma and that there isn’t any pus or infection involved. After it is drained you can put a warm compress on it for 10 minutes twice a day to help prevent the fluid from coming back. Sometimes it will return and need to be drained again. Also make sure you are keeping her confined as too much activity can also cause these to form post-op. I hope this helps!

Hopefully it is what is called a seroma, or pocket of draining fluid. This can happen with almost any type of surgery. However, the bigger concern would be if it is an abscess. It would be extremely dangerous to have an infection over the surgery site. I would highly encourage you to have her evaluated by your surgeon or regular veterinarian to make sure there is no sign of infection. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon.

Hello. I am sorry about your concerns about Chewy. It is possible that this is just a significant bruise & possible hematoma under the skin ( & probably in the muscle ) that is just taking a long time to resolve. A simple seroma should have resolved by now, but if there was a large blood clot that formed from the trauma, that may take a bit longer to resolve. The other, but less likely possibility is that the joint capsule at the scapulohumeral junction ( where the upper leg bone connects to the shoulder ) has torn. This can result in the leakage of joint fluid into the surrounding tissues. This can be repaired surgically if necessary. Your veterinarian will probably recommend an x-ray & try to sample the fluid to see if it is blood tinged ( a seroma ), bloody ( a hematoma ), or clear & stringy ( joint fluid ). None of these is life-threatening, but if this is joint fluid, Chewy could wind up with some arthritis in the shoulder. So do not worry too much until you have a chance to have things looked at. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

According to the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (www.acvsorg), results after FHO vary and are highly dependent upon patient size and proper postoperative physical rehabilitation. While many dogs will have varying degrees of lameness, function should improve when compared with preoperative status. After FHO, pets are encouraged to use the limb as soon as possible in a controlled manner. Aggressive physical rehabilitation and controlled exercise to increase hip range of motion are essential for an optimal outcome. It may take up to six weeks or longer after surgery for some dogs to show improvement.

Yes it will heal if you keep the area clean. Gradually over a week or so the skin edges will get closer together and finally heal over. The popping noise may be the movement in the hip area since there hasn’t been time yet for a false joint to form. Over time the hip area will form scar tissue to support the femur in the hip area. If you’re concerned I certainly would take her back for a recheck to make sure there isn’t a problem with she surgical implants. Once the pelvis is healed and you are able to increase her exercise I recommend an evaluation and treatment program with a Rehabilitation veterinarian to get her leg back to as normal as possible. They will give you exercises and may recommend hydrotherapy to strengthen her leg muscles. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Sadie.

A small amount of straw-colored or blood-tinged fluid is common after surgery and usually isn't a concern. Just try to keep the incisions free of discharge by gently cleaning with a warm wash cloth. If the incisions look very red, puffy, and have thick discharge that has a foul odor, then an infection could be developing. If this is the case, I would recommend taking her to a veterinarian to have the incisions evaluated. I hope this helps and that Seide feels better soon!

It looks like there is accumulation of fluid (the cranial swelling) and inflammation of the surgical site. the rest of the wound looks like it is healing. a check up and physical examination it is essential in her case to rule out any accumulation of fluid (which could be even pus).