Is blood and yellow fluid from my dog's surgery wound normal?

Scab formation as surgical incisions heal is quite normal. As for the yellowish tissue that you are seeing from the middle of the incision, this could be fibrin-rich tissue as a part of normal healing, or could be purulent (pus-like) discharge associated with infection. If an incisional infection is present, I would also expect Ellie's incision to be red and/or inflamed. If you do see signs that could be consistent with infection, try to find a vet to take Ellie to this weekend since antibiotics may be necessary. If there is no redness or inflammation, and Ellie is otherwise eating, drinking, and acting normally, you can continue to monitor this incision closely at home through the weekend. If you are not already doing so, be sure to keep an e-collar (cone) on Ellie at all times until her sutures are removed so that she cannot lick the incision, introducing infection or even inadvertently removing her sutures. I hope this helps and that all goes well!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It can be normal to see a small amount of blood-tinged/clear fluid (what we term serosanguinous discharge) from an incision within the first 24-48 hours following a surgical procedure. This discharge will typically decrease in amount and should have resolved within 48 hours following surgery. Clinical signs that could indicate a problem with the incision (such as dehiscence or infection) or abdomen would include a swelling that was not previously noted that is painful and may be firm or fluid-filled, discharge that looks purulent (pus) or has a foul odor, extreme reddening of the incision, or if Ashleigh is exhibiting lethargy, fever, inappetance, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is probably ok for now though it does indicate that there was some discharge and potentially an infection. I would recommend that you keep a very close eye on the incision site. If you notice any active discharge (moist instead of dry), bleeding or pain, have her evaluated as soon as possible to make sure it is not an active infection. Keep the area clean for now. If no more discharge is noted, it is possible that it will heal completely on its own. Good luck and have a nice day!

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!

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!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The photo looks like there is a little crusted discharge around the incision, which is OK. As long as the swelling continues to stay down, and you don't see yellow, thick, purulent liquid coming from the incision site, he will likely be OK. Winston should absolutely be wearing an Elizabethan collar (cone collar) AT ALL TIMES until his sutures are removed. It is best to restrict his activity too so that he is not stretching or pulling at his stitches. I hope this is helpful!

Hi and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am so sorry to hear Rumple was bitten by another dog. Based on the photos, it looks like the wound is draining a little, which is a good thing. However, I cannot say with certainty it is not still infected. Given Rumple was just started on antibiotics, he likely needs the full two weeks for it to heal. I would monitor for any pain or swelling in that area, worsening discharge or foul smelling odor or anything else concerning like incompetence, vomiting or diarrhea. If Rumple is otherwise OK, I would say it is fine to continue to monitor him and continue his previously prescribed medication. In fact, I would send these photos to your veterinarian who looked at Rumple two days ago. They would be able to compare the photos and let you know if they think the wound has gotten worse or not. I hope this has been helpful!