Dog's surgery wound has pus, pain, and panting. Vet tonight?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. I would recommend having this treated sooner rather than later and get in as soon as you can to have this taken care of. This appears to be an abscess and has ruptured. This needs to be drained and flushed out with an antiseptic solution as well as having him placed on oral antibiotics. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. Please take the time to mark this question as helpful or not as it helps us to improve on the quality of our answers to other pet owners. Thank you kindly!

Hello. It does look like the wound needs some stitches, but it also does not look too badly infected. There could be many reasons for the dog to pant rapidly, including lung infections & parasites, heartworm disease, or other infections in the body. Be careful with the paracetamol because too much can cause serious liver issues in dogs ( we are unable to dispense dosing advice ). If you can have him seen by a vet, this would be best, otherwise, keep him cool & hydrated & keep the wound as clean as you can. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Yes panting and licking can be signs of pain and nausea. I'd get him to an emergency vet tonight if possible, or to your regular vet tomorrow if tonight isn't an option. This could certainly be nothing more than needing a bit more time and medications, but with his recent history, I would take the more cautious route.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It does look like it may be infected. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They can flush it and clean it well and start him on antibiotics. He will get better on the right therapy. They can also examine him for possible causes of vomiting such as gastroenteritis and perhaps start him on something for nausea. Have a good night!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It sounds like this wound that became a lump that is oozing fluid has become an abscess, or a pocket of infected fluid. Abscesses form when infection is trapped under the skin or within tissues such as fat or muscle. The bacteria will try to find a way out, so they can break through the skin and create a "draining tract" of pus. This should be addressed by your veterinarian, who will likely drain the abscess and open it up to allow continuous drainage. Antibiotics for at least 2 weeks will be needed, along with pain medications. Depending on the size of the wound/abscess, a bandage may be needed. I hope this is helpful! Thank you for seeking care for your Luna!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Thor. Thank you for providing a picture, it's really helpful! That looks like there is pus and the incision is open. It does look infected. I'd take him into a vet immediately to get this treated. Best of luck.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Bolt. You will need to stop him from scratching the wound. He can wear an E-collar if the wound is near his face. A tshirt may be useful if it is on his body. I would contact his veterinarian today as panting can be a sign of pain. He may require adjustments or additional pain medications. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!