Is my dog's incision site supposed to be red a week after surgery?

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.

Hello. This may need to be rechecked by the surgeon. There is some redness extending out on each side which can indicate that it is infected. I would expect it to look more healed after 8 days, so it is possible that there is some infection which is delaying the healing. I would recommend a recheck visit or possibly calling to let them know that it still seems painful . They may be able to look at your photos and determine if they want to see him or dispense any medication.

Thank you for contacting Pet Coach with your question about IIsie. The top half of the incision looks like it's healing beautifully. You can see some redness and if the staples are tighter at the bottom of the incision, it could account for the swelling. I agree there are no signs of infection from the picture, so continue to monitor the incision for now. If the area gets redder, more swollen, and/or you see other signs of infection, then I would be concerned and have her seen by a vet. I hope this helps!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Redness can develop around an incision a few days after surgery and be normal as long as there isn’t pain or discharge. If you can post a picture we can get a better idea. I hope this helps!

The red discoloured area seems to only be a bruise in the skin. I would not be very concerned and it should go away on its own. Just like with bruises on our skin, though they are healing they can sometimes appear larger or darker first. Issues to watch out for which would indicate a problem and a need to return to the veterinarian; Swelling Redness which is getting much larger or darker very quickly Redness at the incision site Discharge Bleeding Foul order Pain behaviours - hiding, lack of interest in food Fever Vomiting or dirrhoea

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The red area next to his incision looks like some bruising that likely occurred due to trauma/pinching of the area during surgery. Bruising can worsen during the first 2-3 days following a procedure, but should start to improve after that time. The dried blood/crusting around his incision is not abnormal either. If Charlie Brown will tolerate it, you can gently wipe the crusting away using a damp wash cloth once daily, but not any more frequent than this. I definitely recommend keeping Charlie Brown's Elizabethan collar on AT ALL TIMES until his sutures are removed by your veterinarian to prevent him from licking at the area and causing trauma/increasing the risk of an incisional infection. If the bruising worsens after day 3-4 post-op, and/or you notice yellow/thick, foul-smelling discharge, and/or if any of the sutures seem to have fallen out, I recommend having Charlie Brown seen by your veterinarian right away. Otherwise, I recommend monitoring the area and keeping his E-collar on. Best of luck with Charlie Brown! And THANK YOU for neutering your pet!

The incision appears closed in the pictures and the blood around the incision appears dried, so that is all good news. However, the incision is much redder and more swollen than I would expect it to be the day after surgery, so I would be concerned that she has been licking at the incision. If you don't have one, I would recommend getting an e-collar to prevent her from licking at the incision and keep her in a kennel to make sure that she cannot run and jump and risk opening the incision. If the incision starts to ooze or continues to be red and swollen, you may need to have your veterinarian examine it to make sure that it isn't infected. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and that Maggy heals quickly. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.