Why is my dog whining and his scrotum hard after being neutered today?

Poor guy...that does look uncomfortable. It may be infected, but I would suspect a discharge at the incision or a fever, lethargy. It is more likely that this is a scrotal hematoma. These typically do resolve in their own, but it can take weeks. Keep his activity level as low as possible to discourage more swelling, continue the anti inflammatory medication, make sure he cannot bite or lick it by using a “cone” if needed. It can provide some relief if he will allow you to do a cold compress on the area. Try wrapping an ice pack with cloth and apply to the area for 15 minutes..three times daily. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It actually looks likes it is healing great. If the scrotum as painful and swollen I would have it checked out but if it is not painful, no fever, no discharge I would just watch him. It may seem firmer because it is shriveling up post surgery. The area looks great though! Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm not able to see the incision, but what looks like the scrotum. When a dog, especially an older dog who's testicles have developed, is neutered, the scrotum (or the sack that the testicle is in) can have some empty space in it. This is completely normal and can get smaller with time, or stay the same. Unfortunately, Pokey absolutely must keep his collar on at all times, even when he is sleeping. The collar prevents him from biting or licking the area. Not only can he pull out his stitches and hurt himself, but he can actually cause the area to become infected. If he is not comfortable with the cone, you can get him a donut-shaped version that some dogs find more comfortable. It is very important that the collar stays on to avoid complications. I hope this helps!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Swelling of scrotum is not uncommon after neutering. As long as the swelling is not painful to touch, is not bothering Sheldon and he is acting as normal, you can monitor him at home. However, if the scrotum becomes hot to touch, painful or your dog is lethargic, you should take him back to your vets for a course of painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications. Typically, this kind of swelling goes down a few days after castration.

Poor Quentin! From what I can see in the photo, it does look like he has some swelling and discoloration of the scrotum, and a small amount of bruising around the incision site itself. These issues can sometimes happen after a neuter - they're more common if the dog has been too active (I know this is hard to avoid sometimes!), but sometimes they just happen as a result of the surgery itself, just like post-op swelling and soreness in humans. If your pup is still eating and drinking normally, and seems alert and otherwise okay apart from being sore and reluctant to move around much, then it would be reasonable to wait until Monday to have him checked out by your regular veterinarian. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medication, as there are no OTC human options that are safe for use in dogs. In the meantime, you can use a warm compress on the area (a washcloth soaked in warm water, and then wrung out) for 5-10 minutes once or twice a day if he'll let you - this can help some with the soreness, and help the swelling resolve more quickly. I would also restrict his exercise as much as possible (crate rest would be best), since the more he moves around, the more he will aggravate the swelling. Make sure he isn't licking the incision or his scrotum at all, as this will also make things worse - use an e-collar (plastic cone) if needed to prevent this. If you feel that the swelling and bruising is continuing to get worse over the course of the weekend, or if your pup is not eating or acting extremely depressed/lethargic, then the safest bet would be to have him seen at your nearest emergency clinic to make sure there's nothing more serious going on.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I suspect the hard bumps in the scrotum is swelling or haematoma caused by castration. The swelling should disappear in the next few days. However if the scrotum is painful or hot to touch, you should take Einstein to your local vets for an appointment.

If his sac looks like it has testicles in it, this is most likely due to swelling from the surgery. This is called a scrotal hematoma, and is fairly common after a [neuter surgery](https://www.petcoach.co/article/benefits-of-neutering-castrating-male-dogs-puppies). The swelling can definitely look like testicles, but it's just fluid and blood clots from the procedure. It should resolve on its own within the next 7-10 days as long as you [keep him calm and quiet](https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-ways-to-rest-your-pet-after-surgery-or-injury) and prevent him from licking at the surgical site by using an [Elizabethan collar (e-collar)](https://www.petcoach.co/article/e-collars-for-cats-dogs-types-of-collars-and-diy-options/). The testicles themselves are removed during the neuter, so they're definitely not still there. If you have any concerns about how it looks, you can always have him rechecked next week with the vet who did his surgery to make sure everything is healing as expected.