My spayed puppy has a lump and red dot on her belly. Is it serious?

Hi there! It sounds like you're a very good friend to Athena and care very much. This looks very much like a suture reaction, or a reaction to the material of her internal stitches. The stitches we use inside the body are absorbable, and eventually break down in the tissues. Sometimes, they can cause an inflammatory reaction when this happens that looks a lot like this. If the reaction or breakdown is too soon, we risk the possibility of a hernia, etc. there is a possibility (smaller but still there) that the suture broke down a bit before it was noticed and with her exertion it just pushed its way a bit more open. If she is unbothered and has not changed in size it could probably wait until your appointment. I would recommend keeping her exercise very restricted in the meantime though-no stairs, no running outside just leash walks, etc. if you are still concerned, you can always call her doctor and see if they can get you in a bit sooner. Hope this helps!

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!

This is a pustule probably from a buried suture knot. The suture is absorbable but it takes several months to dissolve and sometimes the knot can cause irritation and a small infected pustule. I recommend taking Patti to your veterinarian and they can feel if there is suture left in the incision. It can be removed now that the incision is healed. Generally when the pustule is opened the knot is exposed and can be cut off and removed with suture scissors. Then the skin will be cleaned and it should heal up quickly once the knot is gone. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Patti Mayonnaise.

Hello. There may be a reaction to some suture material that was used to close the muscle layer under the skin. Start apply very warm compresses to the lesion for 10 minutes twice a day. Gently clean with a skin antiseptic with chlorhexidine & apply a little topical antibiotic. If the lesion does not resolve within the next 10-14 days, your pet may need to be seen by your veterinarian & a course of antibiotics may be required. But, it is not anything too worrisome. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

From the picture, that looks like a suture reaction, which is common a month or two out from surgery as the internal suture material is dissolving. If there is no discharge and it's not warm to the touch, and she's otherwise normal, it shouldn't need medical attention. However if it starts to bleed or have discharge, take her in for a check up

I'm wondering if the 'pimple' in the first picture is potentially part of her spay scar and a suture reaction if she was recently adopted and spayed. You may be able to feel some 'firm' tissue beneath this area if that is the case. It's also possible that this is a small skin mass that has become infected. Dogs can develop milia, but milia are most commonly seen when there is excess cortisol due to a disease like Cushing's. The milia do not typically require treatment but the underlying disease does. Cushing's is common in middle aged to older dogs and other signs include increased thirst, hunger and urination. I think it would be a good idea to have a veterinarian examine her skin to make sure treatment for an infection isn't necessary, and to discuss testing for Cushing's disease if she is showing any other signs.

That has nothing to do with the surgery or shaving. It is kind of like a pimple; a minor skin infection. It should go away on it's own but if you want to put something on it I would suggest these medicated pads. These are great to have around for all kinds of skin issues anyway! ( https://www.allivet.com/p-5393-douxo-chlorhexidine-3-ps-pads-for-dogs-and-cats-30.aspx?SearchTerm=duoxo%20pad+Auto ) Hope this helps. Best wishes!