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Is a red, painful lump on my dog's spay incision normal?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 1 year and 7 months old | 9 lbs

My 2yr old chihuahua just got spay surgery 11/08. I notice this redness lump around her incision. I attached photos. The surgery used dissolvable stitches. are these normal for day-4 after the surgery? She obviously in some pain when I touched area around. If I need take her to the vet, how soon I should? Can I still take her out for short walk, or better stay home all time? Thank you!

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Published on November 11th, 2018

This doesn't look perfect but definitely does not look too bad either, there is some bulging as you mentioned, probably because the stitches have been put on a little too tight, as long as the stitches hold though i would not be too worried, you need to make sure she does not lick the area (i assume she has an E-collar on) and make sure the incision does not open up, the swelling should start resolving within a couple days from now. as long as it does not look worse than this i would be ok keeping her at home, you can still take her for short walks without any issues and your vet needs to see her at some point but it is not urgent (usually post opps are done 3 days and 10 days after the surgery).

2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on November 27th, 2016
Poor Pixie! You are correct that she may have been itching it at night. If the area is bloody and swollen, she needs to see a vet immediately. She may have introduced infection into the incision, and she may have pulled out a couple of the stitches. I would take her into a vet now.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Davis
Veterinarian
Published on November 21st, 2018
It’s always a good idea to have a recheck after surgery if you see problems. It is a common problem to have the incision open a little. It should heal fine as long as you prevent her from licking it, and it doesn’t start to get infected. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your dog.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on June 5th, 2021
Hello. Thanks for the very good picture. The incision does look a little puffy, but I do not see this as an emergency. I would apply a warm compress twice daily for 10 minutes & see how it looks on Monday. Even though her surgery was 2 weeks ago, the underlying muscle is still trying to heal & she may be experiencing a suture reaction. As long as there is no discharge from the incision, either bloody or clear, she should be fine, but do try to curtail her activity , especially jumping on furniture, running up & down stairs, etc. to not put more stress on the incision until you can have her seen. I do hope all is well & thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Related Questions

My dog's spay incision has a pink bump weeks after surgery. Normal?

It looks like there could be some inflammation at the site of the incision. That could be due to her body breaking down the sutures, or she caused some sort of trauma to the area. If she is acting normal and you don't feel any swelling around that area I would wait and see if it improves. But if there is swelling, drainage, or pain I would worry about a dehiscence (opening of the incision) which would be an emergency and she should see a vet immediately.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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Is a red bump on my dog's spay incision normal after 9 days?

This appears to be healing just fine. I suspect this is a mild reaction to the stitches under the skin. This is very common. I would only be worried if it opens up and starts draining fluid, gets much larger or becomes very red. Just make sure she cannot lick it until it is completely healed.

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Spayed dog incision bump: Is it normal or should I see the vet?

Although quite inflamed and with mild amount of dry discharge, the incision looks healing normally and does not look infected. A vet check up at this stage is not needed. Buster collar should be kept on at all times. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Training & Behavior

Is my dog's lumpy, crusty spay incision normal 6 days post-op?

Hello. I think this incision looks good for 6 days post op. The crustiness is most likely just a little bit of dried blood and skin glue. Do not pick it or try to scrub it away. It will go away on its own. The minor swelling or “lump” that you Ser is due to the muscle being inflamed where the incision through the abdominal muscle was made. This lump is typically firm and is more prominent in busy active dogs. It, too, will resolve on its own - but it will take a couple of weeks to flatten out. If the lump was soft or flattens out with mild pressure from your hands- that is a concern and should be checked. A firm lump is typical and not an issue. Continue to monitor the area for heat, redness or active bleeding or discharge . So far, it’s looking pretty typical for a busy young lab. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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My dog's spay incision is swollen and red. Is this normal healing?

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The incision looks inflammed, but this could be part of the normal healing process. If there is any discharge, OR if the wound looked better than this previously and is now looking MORE red than say Friday or Saturday, I would take her back to the vet right away. If it is steadily looking better, and she is eating, drinking, pooping and peeing normally, then you can continue to monitor it. Best of luck with Lilo.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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What is this lump on my puppy's spay incision? Is it normal?

Larger dogs or dogs that are playful after a procedure can develop a seroma at the incision site. These firm bumps under the skin at the incision and are not painful. Sometimes they can drain and be fluid-filled. They will go away completely as healing takes place, but it may take a little longer than the normal 10 days for healing. It is still there after 2 weeks, begins to ooze any fluid, or gets noticeably larger, then I would have it rechecked. It's unlikely to be a hernia, particularly if it resolves on it's own. For some dogs, warm (not hot) compresses applied a few times per day can be helpful.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog's spay incision is red, lumpy, and leaking. Is it an emergency?

If the area is leaking a clear/light pinkish fluid, that makes me thing she has a seroma. A seroma is a collection of fluid, usually occurring at an incision site. This is not a medical emergency, so I would wait to take Lily into the vet until Monday. Keep her quiet and rested until then, no running, jumping, or playing. Take her out to toilet on a lead only, and bring her right back in when done. I would keep an eye on the swelling, and if pus starts coming out, or it becomes red, swollen, or warm to the touch, then I would bring her into a vet right away.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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