Hello! Ella is 3 days post surgery and everything is going really well, a lot better than I expected! Before today she hadn't been sleeping and was whining a lot but other than that I am very impressed with her recovery and today Ella has been napping so even that is getting better.

Question- Today I had a little 'nervous' moment and took her back to the vet. She was sitting up in her favorite chair next to the window and I noticed her abdomen seemed to be bloating and was all puffy. She has bandages on her whole torso so I couldn't see her whole stomach but through the bandages is felt swollen. So off to the vet we went and they said she was fine? They explained that it was just fluid and it was probably being pushed down because of the bandages. But it seems strange to me? Has anyone else come across anything like this??

I did peak under her bandages and from what I can see her incision looks fantastic, no blood, not swollen or red and no leaking. The bandages right on her staples  even look clean so I'm pretty sure the fluid isn't leaking. Is this a good sign or bad??

Thank you!!

Angie (Ella's mom)

Chloe didn't have swelling, but lots of bruising under the incision site which went away about the time her staples came out.  Every amputation is different but I am glad Ella is doing well!

-Chloe's mom

I don't have any experience with seromas, but what I have read here on other posts is that they usually look worse than they are.  The main issue is infection, so keep an eye on how things look (and I know this is kinda gross), but how things smell.  If it doesn't reabsorb, and interferes with mobility, than draining may be required. Sadie had a drain tube, I don't know if that played a role in her not getting a seroma.  I say trust your vet, and continue to inspect the incision area.  Hang in there, sounds like she's doing great!

Hugs and sloppy Sadie kisses,

Lisa & Sadie

Yes, I did look at the pictures of the seromas gone bad, Heidi the person who posted those  is actually a friend of mine! Her fluid has become worse tonight, she has a BIG pouch in her tummy and she has been panting bad for the last couple of hours which is new. We have to bring her to the vet in the morning to get her bandages off so we will see what they say?? Hopefully they will say that Ella is fine :)

Thanks

Angie

Thank you!!!

Congrats Ella! 

Like I said with Chloe, she didn't have fluid swelling, she just had bruising/redness under her incision site.  That went away by the time she had her staples removed.  Hopefully Ella's body will reabsorb the fluid soon and look less icky.  I know Chloe's bruising worried me at first, but the vet assured me it would go away and it did.

Keep resting and recovering Ella!

-Chloe's mom

Ronnie of Bella's Pain Relief is so wonderful, she donated one of the hot/cold packs to Ella a few weeks ago!