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What to do if my dog's spay incision is leaking clear fluid?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Belgian Malinois | Female | spayed | 55 lbs

Photo 1 - this morning Photo 2 - 4 hours later What happened!? It is seeping clear liquid. Unsure if she's removed a stitch somehow or if something has stretched. She is a 12 year old recently rescued Malinois just been spayed and had a mammary mass removed also, she's on antibiotics already. Do i keep an eye on it? Take her in? She has slight red bruising but not a lot of redness other than that. (sorry for resubmission, photos didn't attach for some reason)

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on September 22nd, 2017

Unfortunately your photos weren't posted again along with your question so I can't see them :( I'm not sure what is happening that your photos aren't posting, but I suggest trying one more time to make your post with the photos. If it still doesn't work, I recommend requesting a consult online with an expert where you can share a photo and have more in-depth help.

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1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Questions

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Health & Wellbeing
I got my dog spayed on Saturday yet it still leaking fluid 6 days later
Unfortunately it is hard to tell from the picture what is going on. If her spay incision is leaking fluid I recommend taking her back to the veterinarian. Incisions can get infected and need antibiotics and I would make sure this is not going on with her.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog was spayed 4 days ago and her vet is closed for the next week (on vacation). They failed to mention that before operating on my pup. Her incision looked fine this morning, but now I'm noticing some discharge. Does this appear to be infected? I
Hi there! No picture came through with your question. If you re-submit with an in-focus picture of her incision, I will be more than happy to take a look. If the discharge is a translucent red color and in small amounts, it could be a normal part of the healing process. If the discharge is thick, green/yellow, or milky, that may indicate an infection that would require a course of oral antibiotics to treat. In the mean time, please do not put anything on the incision. Creams and ointments will trap bacteria underneath them and it is better to leave the area open to the air. If she is licking or bothering the incision, please restrain her from doing so by using a cone collar, inflatable tube collar, or shirt. I hope this helps! Thanks for using Boop by Petco!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My 6month old GSD was spayed 5 days ago. She has been in surgical suit and has seemed interdst in getting to incision. However, she ran in yard and following day I noticed red seepage. My vet put her on antibiotics incase. No odor. Thought maybe w
Hi and thanks for getting in touch with us! The incision seems relatively healthy, with a small amount of dry discharge. Antibiotics will prevent any infection. She should be checked only if the discharge is increasing and she seems uncomfortable and lethargic. She should be absolutely kept indoors and rested as much as possible. A cone/buster collar should be kept on at all times.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I have a 10 month old mastiff mix puppy who is 6 days post spay. Her incision towards the end)is oozing a clear fluid. There is not swelling or bleeding. Only mild redness. No apparent openings. No pain on palpation. No odor Is this normal this
Thank you for contacting Boop by Petco with your question about Charly. This clear fluid may be normal, and from your description, it doesn't sound like it's infected. Due to that, I cannot recommend giving her any antibiotics, and I never recommend starting them on your own without seeing your vet. Do not put anything on the incision, just leave it be. If you are concerned, then have her seen by a vet. I hope this helps.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog was spayed 4 days ago and her vet is closed for the next week (on vacation). They failed to mention that before operating on my pup. Her incision looked fine this morning, but now I'm noticing some discharge. Does this appear to be infected? I
Hello. I think this incision looks pretty good for 4 days post op. I think you are seeing dried blood and possibly skin glue caked on the incision line. It does not appear infected right now. I would avoid putting any ointment or cream on the incision as this will attract her to lick it. If you see yellow fluid or wet accumulation of oozing fluid at the incision, post a photo again so we can help you evaluate it. If it does start to look worse, topical Neosporin applied 2-3 times a day is fine BUT you should keep an e-collar or “cone” on her to prevent her from licking the ointment. Thank you for using Boop by Petco
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I spayed my 8 year old dog friday, everything was ok until sundat overnight when she start dripping. I took her to the vet and gave her antibiotics. She is still dripping but less a sticky smelly liquid. The skin looks also a bit like its not "glued"
Hello, & thank you for using Boop by Petco. While the antibiotics should prevent a real nasty infection from progressing, I would also recommend gently cleaning the area with dilute betadine and warm water. Add a couple of tablespoons of the betadine into 1/2 cup of warm water, & clean off any serum that has accumulated around the incision. Do not scrub the incision. Dry the area, & you can wrap her abdomen using an absorbant pad & either vetwrap or coban. Most general pharmacies will have all this. You can also place an infant t-shirt on her, tying up the bottom to cinch her just in front of the hindlegs. Keep the cone on, & clean the wound several times a day. If it is not healing or the discharge increases or changes in any way, see your vet immediately. Good luck with her, she should be fine in 7-10 days.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog was spayed two weeks ago, yesterday we noticed a lot of swelling, taken to vets and placed her on anti inflamtory medication 180mg a day, however the wound is weepingoing this evening, can understand why she was not placed on anti biopics?
I cannot speak for your vet but Spays are sterile procedures. This means it is done in a sterile bacteria free area. Sometimes patients can have suture reactions or inflammation around the surgery site secondary to movement. Also sometimes mild discharge if clear in color is not actually a bacterial infection. The clear discharge can be just secondary to the inflammation and reaction. However at anytime if you see green/yellow discharge, heat around the incision, increase in patients temperature or the incision separating I would recommend taking Lexi back to the vet for possible antibiotics and a close exam of the incision. I hope that helps and Lexi makes a speedy recovery.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Does my dogs spay look okay? It's been a week I don't know if she licked the stitches out! Help?
Unfortunately there is no way to share photos on the forum, so without seeing a picture of Blue Bell's incision, I can't say if it looks ok or not. You can request a consult with me where you can share as many photos as you'd like and get more in-depth help.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My 45lb husky mix was spayed January 4th. She was given clavamox about 3 weeks ago because her incision was slightly bleeding. It has started bleeding a little bit again. How can I get this to heal properly? She's not scratching or licking the incisi
It is hard for me to see from your image if the incision looks infected or not. I would say that if she is still having some discharge from her incision, it would be a good idea to have her examined by a veterinarian. Most incision's should be fully healed by now. Causes of bloody discharge could be infection or she could be having trouble clotting (low platelets). Your veterinarian can run some blood work (CBC) to check her platelet count and make sure it is normal. I hope this has helped. Thank you for using pet coach.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Luna was spayed 7/31/18. As of today 8/4/18, this is what the area looks like. There is some fluid that came out of the hole and a little bit of blood. Is this normal?
Hi and thanks for posting! I think the actual spay incision which appears to be the green line below the area of concern (green die is used sometimes to tattoo them) looks very good. The area above this looks like there is some blood and redness from perhaps a scratch or puncture wound. It is a little hard to tell from the picture. I would recommend you can take some mild soap and water and clean the area a bit to see exactly where the blood in coming from. If the area continues to have discharge or blood coming from it, I would have Luna seen by her veterinarian. Typically spay incisions should not bleed or have a lot of discharge. I hope this helps and thanks again for posting!
Updated on September 24th, 2025

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