My dog is very swollen after surgery, how life-threatening is this?

I wonder if the swelling was unrelated to the surgery and was actually a spider bite or something similar? If he is comfortable and it is not bleeding (just blood tinged fluid), then I think waiting to see your primary veterinarian would be appropriate. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Poor Oreo! Please call a vet near you to have her seen immediately to help treat the swelling, as this could be an allergic reaction, and could become life threatening. Oreo may have ingested something she is allergic to or have been bitten/stung by something she is allergic to, and your vet can help direct treatment to help prevent worsening of her symptoms. If you notice any difficulty breathing that is an emergency situation, as it could indicate a severe allergic reaction, and requires immediate vet care. Good luck and I hope she feels better soon!

Swelling of the face and mouth/facial swelling are often initial symptoms of an anaphylactic/allergic reaction. These reactions can occur in dogs after vaccines, after exposure to a food or substance they are allergic to, or after a bite from an insect. As it is impossible to predict whether an anaphylactic reaction will remain localized or progress to trouble breathing, which can be life threatening, it is safest to contact a 24 hour vet for Bella at this time to have her seen. The ER may recommend a treatment plan including anti-histamines, corticosteroids +/- epinephrine and montitoring until the selling has gone down. They will also likely recommend an at home dose for Benadryl after establishing a valid patient/client relationship if this should occur again as it is uncertain at this point what Bella is allergic to. Wishing Bella a quick recovery!

Oh no, poor Sasha! I'm sorry she was bitten and is now very swollen on top of the head and under the neck. I would be concerned that she has suffered from internal injuries from the bite, and she should see a vet immediately for medical treatment. Please take her into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website.

This may be post-operative inflammation or possibly an infection. Monitor the incision for odor and drainage as these symptoms further indicate the possibility of infection. Make sure Zaida wears an E-collar to prevent scratching at the incision site and contact your veterinarian to let them know about the swelling. As an aside, the swelling may be totally unrelated to the surgery. Again, follow up with your veterinarian.

It is a possibility that the tightness of both the collar and cone caused the swelling. I'd keep a close eye on the swelling, and if it gets bigger over the next 24 hours, doesn't go down over the next 48-72 hours, or Max has trouble breathing, take him back into the vet immediately. Best of luck.

I would bring him in for a recheck right away. This looks like edema or swelling under the skin. It could be related to the surgery, or may be another problem that needs treatment. Having a firm mass behind it worries me also, and he must be uncomfortable if he won’t lay down. Regardless this isn’t normal and a veterinary exam is needed. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Coop.