Why is my dog's spay incision area hard and lumpy after surgery?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Dachshund | Female | spayed | 21 lbs
My dog got spayed 4 days ago. Her belly is hanging down right under her incision and it is hard. Like a lump of some sort. Is this normal?
5 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on March 20th, 2018
Yes this is normal. The stitches underneath the skin can cause swelling like you are seeing while they are getting dissolved by the body, The incision itself is healing nicely. She may have this swelling for several weeks before it goes down completely. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Minnie.
24Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on January 9th, 2017
You may be feeling sutures under her skin. These hold her muscle layer closed and can remain for several weeks. Monitor for rapid change, growth, bruising or bleeding. If she continues to exhibit signs of discomfort, have Maggie rechecked by your vet within the next few days.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on July 28th, 2019
Thank you for the photos. No, this is nothing to be concerned about. What you are feeling is likely the suture knot under the skin. It will eventually be absorbed by the body and go away. Nothing to worry about. Hope this helps. Best wishes!
27Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on April 5th, 2020
Layla's wound looks to be healing nicely. It looks like she is having a mild suture reaction at the very end, likely where the suture is knotted. This is not uncommon and often a little lump forms which then bursts open and sometimes you will see some suture poke out. I would usually recommend going into the vet as often the piece of suture can be pulled out. However given the current circumstances I would keep it clean at home as long as she seems her normal self and there is no pus.
5Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on June 8th, 2017
It looks like this may be a bit of suture working its way out. Internal sutures are absorbable but sometimes they may not fully break down. If it develops any more redness or swelling you may want to take her to the vet to get it removed but if she isn't licking it or bothered by it you can monitor for a bit to see if it works itself out.
4Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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
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
I noticed a small lump along her incision line from her spay surgery. Any idea what this could be?
My dog got spayed a few weeks ago and she is fine right now but there a bump on her stomach. It's not red and it's not bothering her. Is this normal l? Should I take her to the vet?
My 2yr old chihuahua just got spay surgery 11/08. I notice this redness lump around her incision. I attached photos. The surgery used dissolvable stitches. are these normal for day-4 after the surgery? She obviously in some pain when I touched area a
Dog Bitch has been spayed. Immediately noticed hard protruding lumps on her stomach. What I can only liken to a hernia. Went to vet for check up who advised was normal and gave antibiotics. I don’t know if this is “normal” or whether the vet has mu
My dog was spayed about 9 days ago, but there is a little red bump on her belly at the incision site. She has been on an antibiotic and an NSAID for 4 days.
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.
My 8 month Boston Terrier got spayed 3 weeks ago her incision was healing perfectly till I noticed a lump on top of her incision. It is very firm but doesn’t seem to hurt her
In the red circle area I can sort of feel a tiny soft lump. I’m thinking this may be a normal thing for her however in September of last year she had something similar except it was visible to the eye but it went away fast. She was spayed & had a bum
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