Is my dog's incision leaking bloody fluid post-surgery normal?

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!

The site itself looks good. No swelling, redness or bruising and it appears closed. The slight discharge does not appear to be frank blood. It looks like it may be fluid from a seroma. Seromas can occur after surgery. Continue to monitor the site, If the discharge increases or has a bad odor then see your veterinarian. Monitor Delilah for lethargy, fever, loss of appetite, vomiting or diarrhea. These are symptoms that should also be addressed by your vet. Keep an e-collar (cone) on her to prevent licking or chewing of the site. You can use a diluted betadine or Hibiclens solution around the site to keep the area clean.

In some cases, a small amount of serous or serosanguinous (clear or pinkish) discharge can occur a day or two after surgery. However, Elvis should be checked by his vet to make sure the incision has not become infected or developed a seroma, and is healing properly. Keep using his cone of shame to prevent any licking. I hope his recovery goes well!

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! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Yes, this drainage could be due to excessive activity which in turn it can cause a seroma which is essentially an accumulation of fluid at the incision site which can result in drainage. Another possibility is an infection. Even though his discharge does not have a smell to it, it can still be due to an infection. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian when possible (for example next Tuesday when they open again). The reason is that that region is very prone to infections as it is so close to the anus and if an infection is present, you want to treat it appropriately. In the meantime, keep the area clean and keep him as quiet as possible to prevent any further issues. If the incision forms any scabs, avoid picking the scabs. Good luck! I will keep my fingers crossed that everything goes well! Have a good night!

The wound looks dry and not swollen. A small amount of discharge (not pus) even clear blood, would be normal. If your dog is otherwise normal, eating and drinking ok and normal activity level and not painful, I would just monitor her at this stage and make sure she does not lick the wound and rest her as much as possible. A buster collar would be helpful in case of any licking.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Chip! From your pictures, Chip's incisions look good! If he has been thrashing he may just caused some mild trauma. The yellow discharge can indicate an infection but it could just be some plasma like fluid. Contact your Vet Monday to add additional sedatives. Check the incisions twice daily. Do not allow scooting or licking. I hope this helps!