Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

My dog's neuter incision looks infected 4 days post-op, but he's fine?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | neutered | 56.7 lbs

Is my dogs neutering stitch infected? 4 days post op. No signs of pain, eating & drinking normal, going to the bathroom normal, and lots of energy. No foul smell.

This question includes photos that may contain sensitive content. Click to view.

View more to consider that the photos may include sensitive content.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on May 17th, 2020

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Thor. Thank you for providing a picture, it's really helpful! That looks like there is pus and the incision is open. It does look infected. I'd take him into a vet immediately to get this treated. Best of luck.

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Image profile

    Answered By Rodrigo Roca, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on January 28th, 2019

    Hello, thank you for your question about Kobe. Based on the photos you've provided I believe that Kobe's incision appears to be healing well and looks fairly normal. A small amount of redness, swelling, or clear discharge is to be expected as the incision heals. Things that I would be concerned about and that would prompt having Kobe rechecked would be colored/odorous discharge from the incision site, significant swelling, redness, or heat. If Kobe develops any of these symptoms it is possible that he could have an incision site infection. Hope this helps, good luck!

    Vote icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Image profile

    Answered By Lauren Jones VMD

    Veterinarian

    Published on March 3rd, 2021

    I think it looks like Jackson's incision is healing beautifully! There's a little bit of bruising and redness, but this minor amount is pretty normal. The most important things you can do to help Jackson heal are to keep an e-collar (cone) on him to prevent any licking or chewing, and to try to keep him relatively quiet (easier said than done, I realize!) for the next week. If you notice significant swelling, worsening redness, or any discharge, these are all signs of infection that should be addressed by his veterinarian. Otherwise, just give him another week or so to finish healing. Congratulations on your new addition! :-)

    Vote icon

    2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

See More Answers

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My boxer/corgi 10 month old was neutered on Tuesday, December 19th and since has become very clingy and after looking at the area I am curious if it is normal to look how it does since it has been 5 days.
Hi there and thank you for using Boop by Petco to address your concern. From your pictures you have provided, I would strongly suggest taking Buddy in to have the neuter incision rechecked. It looks infected and looks as though the wound will open up further. The sooner this is seen the better. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. This likely needs to be cleaned up and Buddy needs to be on an oral antibiotic.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Is my dog's neuter incision infected? If so, is it okay to wait until tomorrow to take him to the vet?
Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. From your photo I can tell you that this looks seriously infected and does not look very good post-neuter. I would get him in as soon as you can for treatment before this affects healthy surrounding tissue. He will likely need to be sedated and have the dead tissue removed for treatment and placed on a course of oral antibiotics and pain medications to reduce inflammation. If he has been chewing at the area, he must wear a plastic cone at all times to prevent him from getting to the incision. I hope this helps! Please feel free to contact me with any further questions or concerns you may have. I am also available via consultation if needed.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My male golden doodle got neutered on Friday, September 15th. He just finished his pain meds yesterday and has been acting like himself and eating normally. He has had diarrhea and thrown up once since surgery, but out vet said his pain meds could ca
Hello, thank you for using Boop by Petco. I think the incision looks fine. Just continue to monitor it by checking it daily definitely keep him from licking it. Licking is the the number one cause of incisional infection. Don't apply anything to the incision and don't remove the scabs. Just leave it to heal on its own. Things to be worried about: swelling, actual discharge (pus or blood-tinged fluid) coming from the incision, lots of redness around the incision or a portion of the incision is open. To me, this looks just fine right now. Hope this helps. Best wishes.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog got neutered 6 days ago. The healing seemed to be going well and everything was turning to normal color. But now this morning an area is red again. Is it infected?
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! While this may represent an infection, this is not definitive just based on inflammation. This may just be part of the healing process and may mean that he was able to lick at his surgical incision. I would encourage you to prevent him from licking at his incision at least until 14 days post-surgery to ensure healing. If it worsens, does not improve or you see any discharge, I would recommend you check in with your veterinarian to ensure at that point that there is no infection going on. At this point however, I think it would be fine to monitor it. Have a great day! I hope this improves and he is fine!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi , I have a puppy that’s 8.5 months old , he had Surgery on June 26th to be neutered. Surgery went well , Got pain meds for him first 3 days at home and he’s eating and pooping fine , but On his balls where I’m Assuming was the incision .... it see
The surgical incision should have healed by now. This sounds like the incision isn’t fully healed. I do recommend a recheck with your veterinarian to make sure this is normal. There may be a mild infection causing this not to heal as quickly as expected. I don’t think this is a serious problem but would get it checked out. Thanks for using Boop by Petco to help you care for Acton.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi it’s been 7 days since Mogli got neutered, his incision looks like it’s open. Contacted the vet, asked to put Mogli on antibiotics. He seems to be ok, but I am worried if he needs to go in for sutures. Thank you.
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! I am afraid that he needs to go back in to possibly consider sutures though it is hard to see in these pictures. I recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian that can look at the incision in person and decide what would be best. Best of luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog had a cryptorchid neuter on Thursday (4 days ago) the incision site looks puffy. Does this need to be seen? He’s on antibiotics and pain meds.
Thanks for visiting Boop by Petco. The incision appears to be closed, although it isn't a pretty incision, it is functional. : )There is one area that has a pustule (infected pocket) there, but it should heal with the antibiotics that he is on. This is a common thing that occurs in pets that have a mild reaction to the sutures or staples placed, nothing serious to be concerned about at this time. So far, this looks to be healing appropriately. : ) Keep an eye on the pustule there, it may rupture, and if it does just wipe it with a clean dry towel and make sure the incision does not get wet in any way. Also ensure that Waffles keeps his e-collar on at all times to avoid him getting to the incision and potentially taking out staples, which could cause this to open up. With the antibiotics on board, the incision and pustule should heal completely by day 10. Keep an eye out also for any profuse drainage, separation of the incision line, or increased redness, and get this rechecke
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I cleaned my dogs opened wound with Hydrogen peroxide. I just learned it's bad for dogs. What should I do? I cleaned DDs opened neutered wound. He's been throwing up since, I haven't feed him since yesterday. He's throwing up clear foamy spit up. Fir
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! It does look like it may be infected. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They can flush it and clean it well and start him on antibiotics. He will get better on the right therapy. They can also examine him for possible causes of vomiting such as gastroenteritis and perhaps start him on something for nausea. Have a good night!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi we are about 7 days post neuter and i was laying with my dog and it looks like his incision has opened. It’s not bleeding or oozing but i was wondering what to do. The doctor said she left a little open so that any infection but I was wondering if
Hello. I have never heard of leaving a dog neuter incision open like this. We do it in cats & horses, but not dogs. If this is your veterinarians practice, then he should have sent home a Elizabethan cone to prevent Cutty from getting to & licking the incision. Personally, I do not like the way it looks & really think it needs to be cleaned up & sutured closed. Until you can see your vet, please purchase a protective collar to keep him from licking & clean the area 2-3 times daily with a povidone-iodine or chlorhexidine skin cleanser. Thanks for contacting Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi. My dog was neutered 5 days ago but it doesn't look to be healing as well as it should after 5 days. One part of the incision looks to not be closing and is red and moist but not weeping
Hi there. It looks like a small part of the skin incision may be open a bit, but I don’t see any swelling or drainage, which are the most common signs of infection. This will probably heal over just fine - but to be safe, I would recommend having your regular veterinarian take a quick look. He/she may want to prescribe an antibiotic to prevent the open area of incision from becoming infected as it heals.
Updated on September 24th, 2025

Related Searches

Dog Supplies Dog Food Dog Toys Dog Health & Wellness Dog Medicine and Prescriptions Dog First Aid & Recovery Dog Incontinence & Bladder Control Medicine Dog Recovery Cones & Surgical Suits Pet Pharmacy Dog Pain Medicine & Relief Incurin Dog Incontinence & Bladder Control Medicine Nutri-Vet Dog First Aid & Recovery Incurin Dog Health & Wellness Neo-Poly-Dex Dog Medicine and Prescriptions Incurin Dog Medicine and Prescriptions All Four Paws Dog Recovery Cones & Surgical Suits Sulfodene Dog Pain Medicine & Relief Novolin N Insulin Dog Medicine and Prescriptions Proin ER Dog Incontinence & Bladder Control Medicine Lactated Ringers Electrolytes for Dogs
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored