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Why is my dog's spay incision jagged and bruised 24 hours post-op?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Should I be concerned about by dogs spay incision. This is 24 hours after surgery. It was closed with surgical glue but I’m surprised by how jagged it is and the bruising. Any insight greatly appreciated.
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on January 12th, 2018
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.
6Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on August 3rd, 2019
It looks OK right now; there is just some bruising around the incision. You can ice the incision for 5 minutes 2-3 times per day for the next couple days if she will let you. That may help. Please keep a "cone" collar on her so she doesn't lick this or it will turn in to a huge problem.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
Is this bruising normal around the spay incision? This 3 days post spay surgery.
Yes, bruising can be very normal as long as it is not severe or progressive. This amount of bruising is normal and usually caused by little vessels in the skin that bleed during surgery. I would monitor the area closely and the bruising should start to improve over the next few days. Contact your veterinarian if it is progressive or if your dog has any heat, swelling, or discharge from the incision.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi my cat was spayed 2 days ago and she has a lot of what looks like bruising around the area. Is this normal or should I take her back? They’re closed over the weekend so I can’t call until Monday.
Hello and thank you for reaching out to Boop by Petco. The purple areas look like bruising that likely occurred due to trauma/pinching of the area during surgery. Bruising can worsen during the first 2-3 days following a procedure, so this is not abnormal to see at this time for Molly. This bruising should start to improve after another 1-2 days. I definitely recommend keeping Molly's Elizabethan collar (E-collar) on AT ALL TIMES until her sutures are removed by your veterinarian to prevent her from licking at the area and causing trauma/increasing the risk of an incisional infection. If the bruising worsens after day 3-4 post-op, and/or you notice yellow/thick, foul-smelling discharge, and/or if any of the sutures seem to have fallen out, I recommend having Molly seen by your veterinarian right away. Otherwise, I recommend monitoring the area and keeping her E-collar on. Best of luck with Molly - and THANK YOU for spaying your pet!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My puppy’s spay incision 10 days post surgery is a little bumpy. Is this normal? She is acting perfectly fine and doesn’t seem to be in any pain.
Thanks for using Boop by Petco. This can be normal just slight inflammation from the sutures can cause it to look or feel bumpy. As long as it isn’t open, there is no discharge and she is acting normal I wouldn’t worry.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog is 4 days spay post op. This morning I noticed a new red "bruise" mark on her belly. She did have other such marks but they have faded. Could this be a sign that she has "popped" an internal suture?? Thanks in advance for your help.
Hello, sorry to hear about Mya. It really depends on here this bruise mark is. If it is near her incision than it could be something such as a suture reaction, normal bruising from the surgery itself, or even early signs that the incision may be coming undone. We expect the incision site to have mild redness and mild swelling even a few days after surgery. I would be most concerned if the area was opening, there was bleeding or any kind of discharge, or if there was extensive swelling. Ensure that Mya is unable to reach her incision to lick it by keeping an e-collar on her at all times. If you do note any swelling, discharge, bleeding, or if the incision becomes open then rush her to your emergency hospital. Internal sutures don't usually become undone unless post-op patients are licking at the area or are not being exercise restricted adequately (they are running, jumping, or rough housing with other pets). Hope this helps and best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
We just had our dog Ladybug spayed on Tuesday. We started to notice huge deep red bruises developing around the mammary area after the first couple of days, and now that bruising has spread down her thighs. They said her bloodwork was fine, and her
These bruises happen when blood seeps into the tissue surrounding the surgical site. This usually happens when a dog has a coagulation disorder, or the dog bled a lot during the surgery (for example when spayed during her heat) and then the blood cannot be absorbed quickly enough and seeps into the tissue. If the bruises expand more and should your dog develop white gums or pale gums, then she needs to be seen by your vet who should do a packed cell volume blood test and a coagulation panel. Dogs can easily bleed to death when there is a coagulation problem or continuous bleeding.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hello, was just wondering if my pets spay incision has been healing properly? Currently on day 6 post-surgery
This looks like a typical post spay incision site. The skin can pucker a bit as the pet reacts to the sutures used, but this is normal. As long as you are not seeing any discharge or open areas, then this looks just fine. Thanks for visiting Boop by Petco. Take care!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
New Pet
My healthy, 10 pound 4.5 month old Chinese crested puppy was spayed earlier today and her incision looks really weird, I was wondering if there’s something wrong with it.
It looks OK right now; there is just some bruising around the incision. You can ice the incision for 5 minutes 2-3 times per day for the next couple days if she will let you. That may help. Please keep a "cone" collar on her so she doesn't lick this or it will turn in to a huge problem.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Long story short we had our high strung shepherd spayed in early May. We had issues with the vet and with our dog being so active it was hard to keep her calm. The incision swelled a little we saw a new vet who got us on antibiotics and she's been fi
It looks like there could be some inflammation at the site of the incision. That could be due to her body breaking down the sutures, or she caused some sort of trauma to the area. If she is acting normal and you don't feel any swelling around that area I would wait and see if it improves. But if there is swelling, drainage, or pain I would worry about a dehiscence (opening of the incision) which would be an emergency and she should see a vet immediately.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
New Pet
Our yorkie was spayed Oct 7, so almost 3 weeks ago. Both of these lumps at the top and bottom of her incision have just come up. It doesn't hurt her for me to mess with them and they feel maybe a little hard. She is a rescue and the vet is 2 hours aw
Hi there and thank you for using Boop by Petco to address your concern. The picture is a bit grainy and discolored so it is difficult to say for sure what the problem is. However, with your description, what you are feeling are likely the knots of the suture at the top and bottom portion of the incision line. These knots can sometimes cause inflammation due to a slight suture reaction. If the incision is not open, then I would just monitor for now. If the incision is red, inflamed or there is pus present, then I would have Huggle rechecked by the veterinarian that did the procedure. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction! If the bumps are indeed due to the suture and they do not worsen, you should see those disappear over the next few months hopefully. Complete absorption of the suture I use in my spay procedures takes about 3-4 months to occur. However, absorption time depends on the type of suture used.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Day 14 post spay. Does the incision look like it’s healing nicely? Thank you!
Willow's incision looks as though it's healing beautifully! I can see a bit of suture sticking out from the top of the incision. It's not uncommon for a little suture end to poke through with this type of skin closure that does not use sutures on the outside of the skin. If she can be relatively still, it's ok if you use a pair of scissors to trim the suture that's sticking out. Depending on the type of suture your vet used in her spay, it can take 6+ months for the suture to fully dissolve internally. All of that said, the incision looks great!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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