Incision Bleeding in Dogs

If your dog has recently had surgery, it is likely to have a visible incision. The wound is stitched up to allow the cut to heal, however, the stitches might break apart. As a result, the incision might start bleeding. Do not worry if this happens, so long as you are able to react quickly and appropriately, your dog is not likely to come to serious harm from this incident. You can put preventative methods in place to stop the incision bleeding again.

  1. Incision Wound

    • A normal incision wound is a cut in the skin, which has a clear line of stitches across its length. The edges of the cut touch and it is clear, without any dried fluid or bleeding. If the incision is less then three- or four-days- old, it might be noticeably pinker than normal, as the skin heals. If the dog is active, minimal bleeding might be seen up to 24 hours after the procedure. Sometimes, you might be able to see bruising around the area; this is more obvious in dogs with paler skin. Again this is nothing to worry about and part of the healing process.

    Reasons for Bleeding

    • The incision might bleed if the dog has nibbled at the stitches and tried to tear them out of its skin. This is a natural reaction as the healing process can create itching and the dog attempts to remedy this by licking at the wound. A dog might have an incision which is not the result of surgery; in this case make sure you clean the cut properly and apply pressure to it until it stops bleeding.

    Cause for Concern

    • It is advised by the VCA Animal Hospital to seek veterinary help if blood is continuously seeping or dripping from the incision of the dog. In this case, there might be a gap in the incision which can lead to infection, so it is best to go to the vet to have it fixed. Likewise, if the dog has bleeding that is intermittent but lasts for more than 24 hours, it should be taken to the vet. Finally, it is necessary to seek help if there is excessive swelling, bruising or unpleasant smells around the wound. Infection can cause a smell to be omitted.

    Prevent Bleeding

    • A plastic collar can be attached around the neck of the dog to stop it nibbling at the incision stitches. This is a large cone which prevents the dog reaching the problematic area. It is also important to stop your dog running off the lead for at least 14 days the procedure has taken place. Exercise might cause the edges of the incision to pull apart and bleed again. This prolongs the healing process.

    Proper Incision Care

    • The dog will adapt to wearing a collar quickly, but you will still need to care for the incision. Firstly, it needs to be cleaned with gauze. Do not use cotton wool which sticks to the incision. All you need to do is to dab the incision with warm water and a clean cloth. The incision might weep a small amount of fluid, but this is normal. Perform this cleaning process at least twice a day to prevent infection and promote healing.