Why is my large dog's spay incision so long? Is it normal?

Incision lengths vary from surgeon to surgeon. Since incisions heal from side to side and not from end to end, it takes a short incision the same time to heal as a long incision. Your vet will give you written instructions on how to treat your dog after surgery. Here is a sample: http://files.dvm360.com/alfresco_images/DVM360//2014/09/26/ca50e33b-4a98-4584-bf15-dbf0f2a912c7/handout_afterspay_neuter.pdf Healing times will vary but the incision should be healed after 10 to 14 days. All will be well.

Thank you contacting Pet Coach about Sophie! An ovariohysterectomy means her uterus, both ovaries, and uterine horns were removed. Veterinarians are able to perform spays using much smaller incisions, which is why hers is so small. You don't need a large incision to spay a dog. Each dog reacts differently to the procedure, and some are more active than others. It's very important that you keep her as quiet as possible to ensure correct healing and avoid post-surgical complications like wound breakdown or a sermoa. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

Call your veterinarian in the morning to ask to be sure. Some vets will tattoo pets that are spayed/neutered (permanent identification). The incision on the left appears dark, maybe a tattoo? Your veterinarian should be able to explain. Care for both incisions will be the same. I hope this helps.

This is more bruising than normal. It can be caused by a blood vessel in the skin when they put the buried sutures in. It’s not from the abdomen. The incision is fine. The underlying stitches cause the incision to be jagged but it will heal fine and you will barely be able to see the incision in a month or so. So nothing to be overly concerned about. Keep her quiet with no running and jumping and she’ll be fine. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.

Actually, it could be stitches, depending on what kind of material they used for that layer (we close abdominal incisions in 3 individual layers). Or it could be scar tissue. Either way, if it isn’t causing any issues, just let it be! :) If it seems to be causing discomfort or swelling, then it needs to be examined by a vet.

That looks pretty good for two days post spay. Keep doing what you're doing for another ten days or so and then she can be a normal dog again. If it gets red, hot, starts seeping or bleeding, or if she stops eating or acts sick in any way, get her rechecked by your vet right away.

The incision looks good. It is closed with the amount of redness and swelling you would see the day after a surgery. There aren't any external sutures which is probably why it looks odd to you. To pick her up, place one hand on her chest in front of her front legs and use the other hand behind her rear legs to scoop her up. Do the reverse to put her down. Keep an e-collar on her and restrict activity as much as possible.