Your Pet's Incision
The appearance of your pet’s incision can be a source of stress unless you know what to expect! These photos are some very common things that you may see with your pet’s incision after surgery.
-
Bruising around the incision and surgical site is normal and will vary from pet to pet. This will resolve gradually over time.
-
Postoperative swelling is extremely common and will often appear days after surgery.
-
Discharge from the incision can have the appearance of blood, but it rarely is. The thin, red-tinged fluid is inflammatory fluid, which the body produces after surgery and is completely normal.
What does a normal incision look like?
Immediatley After Surgery
Two Weeks After Surgery
-
​It is not fun when it starts to get worse and halts your pet's progress.
-
You don’t want to see what it looks like underneath.
Your primary goal during the first two weeks is to ensure that your pet cannot interfere with its incision in any way.
NOT a normal incision...
Trust us… We know what it looks like when your pet is interfering with their incision:
What do I have to do with my pet’s incision?​
-
Keep the incision clean and dry.
-
Ensure your pet’s e-collar stays on at all times.
-
Use cool and warm compresses to help reduce swelling.
Important:
-
​Compresses are only beneficial if they are tolerated. Do not force on your pet.
-
Never place an ice pack or cold object directly on the surface of your pet’s skin. Wrap ice packs with a clean cloth or towel.
For any concerns about your pet’s incision or anything else, please take a picture and/or video and Contact Dr. Lynch or his nurse will advise you.