What do you think?

[Sowa]

I'm sure some of you remember the post I had about Clover after she was spayed. How she was bloated looking, sick, etc. She's been find since. (she was spayed Dec 2nd) I kept her from offleash runs until yesterday. The vet said wait a week before exercising, but she got sick. So I waited a little longer, then she hurt her paw. Again, vet said to keep her calm for a week. So anyway, she was going insane around Christmas time. Leashed walks around here just aren't doing it for her so I took her out for a nice run yesterday.

I just noticed shortly after I was back that there was a weird swelling along her incision. Could have been there before the run, but it wasn't there the day before. Christmas day, her belly was swollen again. It went away and she was fine yesterday. Last time vet said it was gas, so I didn't think too much of it. Again today her belly is swollen and she can't seem to get enough water (I guess why her belly is big?) I've been monitoring her water so she doesn't make herself sick. What do you think? I've been to the vet so much this month over things that ended up not being a problem. I really can't afford another vet visit just for them to tell me it's nothing, but I will find the money if it's a problem. I'm getting a little tired of the constant problems she seems to be having. Not sure why I can't get a break. She was fine before she got spayed....

Here are some pictures. Sorry not the best quality.
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x258/darktora07/clover/IMG_1630.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x258/darktora07/clover/IMG_1635.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x258/darktora07/clover/IMG_1637.jpg

It's at the end of her incision. I really thought it would have been healed by now and she'd be ok to run

[chocolatepuppy]

Her belly does look swollen. It's been three weeks so she should be able to run. I believe if she over did it, the incision site would be swollen. I hope someone can offer you more help.

[Karen]

Is the area that looks swollen warm to the touch? I'd not panic yet, just keep an eye on it, make sure her gums are nice and pink of course, and she's eliminating normally ...

[Sowa]

It's not warm. I think she is fine otherwise. (I don't think it's bloat at all) I just don't know what's going on. She has diarrhea too. I'm mostly concerned about the thing on her incision.

[Varga]

I don't know about the belly swelling but the thing on her incision looks like a abscess - so basically a collection of pus. Seeing this thread made me remember that Tiki actually had the same thing. It got bigger over time and I did end up taking her to the vet but what he basically did was just to pop it and put on some antibacterial cream and then told me to keep an eye on it, keep her from messing with it, and if it didn't heal I'd get a prescription for antibiotic pills. As far as I remember that was not needed.
So yeah, I don't know if you'll need to see a vet about it. It might just heal up on it's own.

When Taggart was neutered he also took a quite while to heal but I sprayed his wound with an aloe vera spray (all natural) which helps healing and also cooled down the area so he was more comfortable. Maybe you could do something like that to help with the healing?

[luvofallhorses]

It also could be a hernia. That is quite common, actually. Have your vet take a look at it. :)

[Sowa]

I think it's getting bigger so I'm taking her to the vet. Do you think I can ask for a cheaper price to have her looked at since it has to do with her surgery?

[Karen]

You can say it's a follow-up from the surgery, and see if they will give you a discount, it is worth asking!

[*LabLoverKEB*]

It looks like miss Clover has what is called a seroma. A seroma is an accumulation of fluid under the skin at the incision site, these usually occur when an animal is active shortly after surgery rather than remaining relatively inactive during the recovery period. It's a watery fluid with a slight blood color that is made up of 'serous fluid' or blood without most of its cells. Let us know what your veterinarian says! :)

[kaycountrygal]

MY! MY! You do have more than your share of vet visits, dont you? However, I think I would be like you--take her to the vet--just in case there is a problem. I know I dont want to NOT do something that might be needed. I certainly would ask for a discount with all your trips and the redness is at the surgery site. It won't hurt to ask.

[Sowa]

The vet said it isn't that uncommon. I don't remember what he called it. Something about a stitch something or other :rolleyes: He said sometimes it happens 2-3 weeks after the surgery and is nothing to worry about. He said it will go away on its own.

He said her drinking a lot could be psychological, and that she feels the need to drink a lot when her tummy hurts. I just need to monitor what she has while she is like this. It could be from something she got into. I forgot I had given her canned food for Christmas dinner which she isn't used to and got the runs after that.

Her belly swelling up is likely from the water or gas.

Also he didn't charge me anything. Phew!

[chocolatepuppy]

I'm glad Clover is ok.:)

[Asiel]

Catching this thread a little late but I'm glad Sowa will be okay. I thought it looked like an abcess too, glad it's nothing. Glad the vet didn't charge you anything, didn't they owe you a free recheck after the surgery? We always get a free recheck anytime we go in for a problem.
I hope Sowa will give you a break for a while, seems she's putting you through the mill , guess it's normal to worry about our dogs, I'm just as bad.

[Bonny]

It is good to hear Clover is all right. We have a dog here that gases up when he has rich food. We feed him dry dog food that has rice & lamb in it & that helps but when we are in the woods, if he finds a road killed deer & eats some of it he has the same results as Clover. Bless you for taking such good care of Clover.