Dog Just Got Fixed...Help!

[BEloveDisney]

Hello all!

My dog was spayed on the 15th. She's 6 months old and is difficult to keep calm. Until yesterday, everything was fine. Yesterday I noticed that her stomach was a little swollen. She didn't appear to be in any pain. We decided to wait until today and check again and if it was still swollen call the vet. I called the vet and all the woman who answered the phone said was to keep her calm. She suggested putting her on her leash or in her crate. I tried both. The crate kept her from running around and jumping, but made her whine and cry. The leash hasn't helped. Now her stomach is more swollen. Her incision isn't red or swollen. It's the area about an inch below and to the left of it. The incision might have some scabbing, but doesn't appear to be bleeding or seeping or anything. The dog doesn't seem to be in any pain and is still acting like she always does. I suppose I'll have to call the vet again tomorrow. Do you agree that I should call again? Any suggestions for keeping her calm?


Thanks so much!

 

[HeatherH]

Yes, of course you should get your dog back into the vet for an evaluation! If something doesn't look right, I would definitely take her back in to have her checked. Hope she is okay.

 

[Tinkerbell58]

Hello all!

My dog was spayed on the 15th. She's 6 months old and is difficult to keep calm. Until yesterday, everything was fine. Yesterday I noticed that her stomach was a little swollen. She didn't appear to be in any pain. We decided to wait until today and check again and if it was still swollen call the vet. I called the vet and all the woman who answered the phone said was to keep her calm. She suggested putting her on her leash or in her crate. I tried both. The crate kept her from running around and jumping, but made her whine and cry. The leash hasn't helped. Now her stomach is more swollen. Her incision isn't red or swollen. It's the area about an inch below and to the left of it. The incision might have some scabbing, but doesn't appear to be bleeding or seeping or anything. The dog doesn't seem to be in any pain and is still acting like she always does. I suppose I'll have to call the vet again tomorrow. Do you agree that I should call again? Any suggestions for keeping her calm?


Thanks so much!

Yes, I'd call the vet again.

 

[Scurvy]

Continue to keep her in her crate. She might whine or cry but she won't be able to run or jump, which are the main things you are supposed to avoid after a dog has been spayed. I'm surprised they didn't tell you to confine her when you first brought her home; that seems like a huge oversight to me and I'd be quite annoyed with them for not mentioning it. She should stay in her crate (except when you take her out to the bathroom) until she has her stitches removed. Do not let her run or jump at all; when you take her outside keep her on the leash.

I do think you should call again tomorrow if the swelling hasn't gone away. How much swelling are you talking about? Does the area of the swelling look bruised or discolored? Is it hard or soft? She's probably fine - it's probably just bruising or a reaction to the sutures, but there could be some bleeding or infection going on in there. If she was too active at any point after the surgery, it's also possible she popped some of the internal stitches. I personally would feel more comfortable taking her in so the vet could take a look at the swelling, if it was my dog, but at a minimum I'd call tomorrow unless the swelling had receded dramatically by then. In the meantime, keep an eye out for any seeping, redness or fever.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

You have to keep her crated even if she whines. In other words you have to know better than the dog.

My dog got a hematoma from her spaying as well. We had to really keep her calm so she could heal.

 

[walden]

Keep her calm and crated (a kong with a scraping of peanut butter and a few treats inside might to help keep her happy) and keep the vet informed. Does she have a fever? Keep checking for extreme tenderness around the swelling and any evidence of infection like redness, inflamation or seeping.

I'd take her in to the vet tomorrow to check the incision. Just to set your mind at rest.

 

[lttlmc3]

I would also take the doggie to the vet to get checked. Also, if she refuses to calm down, you may want to see if the vet would be willing to give you a mild setative to give her at home so she doesnt upset it even more.

 

[Squirrel!!!]

It is probably just a seroma which is a fluid accumulation under the skin from the dog being a bit too active. I know, it is impossible to completely hold her down, she is 6 months old!

I would call the vet tomorrow and ask to have her seen "just in case", Just because it is probably nothing, there is the tiniest possibility that it is something. KWIM?

Peace of mind is a good thing. ALso, if she needs chemical "restraint" to be calm, then vet can provide that as well.

 

[BEloveDisney]

Thanks everyone!

The swelling is maybe golf ball sized and feels like the fat on my stomach! It doesn't seem to be filled with fluid, it isn't discolored, and I don't think it hurts because she let me squeeze it, poke it, and otherwise investigate it. The incision itself still looks fine.