Hi all,

Had Mika spayed two weeks ago.  Noticed a "bulge" the last couple of days .  It is relatively hard. Googled and it appears to be a Seroma, which, apparently is not that big of a deal.

Searched here and didn't see Seroma mentioned before.

The place who did the spay was closed today so I'll see if I can get her in there tomorrow for a check-up.

She is otherwise fine.  I can touch it without her whining.  Hopefully it's not a ruptured suture.

The incision looks good. The puffy spot will likely go away on its own in time. My black female years ago had a spay that looked similar but never hurts to verify.

Got into the vet this morning.  Said it is not a Seroma or hernia.  She thinks it's a "granular" build up- which is common.  

Asked about her incision opening up and she didn't think that was anything to worry about.  Oddly enough, it appeared to have closed up a bit since this morning.  I showed her the picture I took this morning (see below) and we both looked at the incision and didn't see anything like it.  Kooky.

Better safe than sorry, I suppose.

It almost looks like she’s having a suture reaction to the sutures then used, I’d definitely keep watching it.

Looking at the first pic you posted, it doesn't look that bad but the pics you took this morning, I'd have been worried too! I'm glad you had it looked at and hope Mika heals well. I wish I would remember what Mishka's suture looked like and for how long but I don't. Only thing that stands out in my mind after her spay is that for a couple days, she squeaked if she moved too fast

Thanks all.

She was in heat when they did the spay so, apparently, the incision needed to be larger/ longer than normal, so perhaps that has something to do with it.

The vet did mention a possible reaction to the sutures, which she said will resolve itself in a couple months.

Since my pups are all rescues of some sort they've either been spayed (sometimes just spayed) or I have them spayed shortly after I get them.

In your shoes, I'd have gone back to the vet as well. I really don't like the looks of the bottom picture since it looks as if she might have pulled a couple of stitches loose (not out, just loose)(where there appears to be a small gap in the incision towards the bottom of the picture.) I thought the incision looked abnormally long, but then I've never had a dog spayed in heat so I'll accept that as a possible reason.

Spay and neuter are such common operations in almost any vets office that I think too many of them "go on autopilot" and don't really look at what they're doing or at least aren't looking for the exception. On the other hand, most dogs survive the operation with no problems - but us humans seem to have to "make mountains ..." when things aren't right. (( Just ask me, US$600 later for a dog with what amounted to be an upset stomach! ))

Thanks Al.

Agree with the autopilot mode. I'm sure it's routine to the vets (this place did 60 (!) spay/ neuters that day), but when it's your puppy, everything is magnified for sure.

The incision in the pic above was glued shut. There are internal stitches, but the external layer was glued.

Glad to hear your pup is on the mend.

Hi all,

Just an update for those who might search.  Incision is healing MUCH better and inflammation/ lump is almost gone.  My guess is it was a combination of a reaction to the sutures (actually had one poking out at one point) and mismanagement on our end by not keeping her more calm for the first week or so.

Incision pic from this morning.

My Grendel is going in for a biopsy tomorrow for possible seroma, between his toes, if its anything else they will have to removd the digit as there is very little skin to close up a wound in that spot. Pic to follow.