Why was my dog's back surgery incision across? Did it cause seroma?

This was likely done to reduce tension on the incision. Since such a large section of tissue was removed, not making these small cuts in the surrounding tissue would increase the risk that the incision would open up even if sutured or stapled. You will need to keep the area clean, dry and free of debris. A bandage may be applied, however it would need to be changed daily or more frequently to keep the area clean. An e-collar should also be used to prevent licking until healing is complete.

It could be that Dana has a seroma, which is a pocket of fluid that forms in empty space. This can be caused by too much activity after surgery. I would have her seen by a vet first thing in the morning. If it is a seroma, it may need to be sterilely drained.

I see that Cheyenne is a large dog, and she could have needed a larger incision in order to safely visualize her uterus and ovaries to have them removed. Sometimes incisions can be bigger than others in order to perform the surgery. It does sound like 12 inches is a little longer than usual, but without seeing her in person or having done her surgery, I can't say for certain. You can ask your vet as to why the incision is this long, and they can explain it to you :-)

Larger dogs or dogs that are playful after a procedure can develop a seroma at the incision site. These firm bumps under the skin at the incision and are not painful. Sometimes they can drain and be fluid-filled. They will go away completely as healing takes place, but it may take a little longer than the normal 10 days for healing. It is still there after 2 weeks, begins to ooze any fluid, or gets noticeably larger, then I would have it rechecked. It's unlikely to be a hernia, particularly if it resolves on it's own. For some dogs, warm (not hot) compresses applied a few times per day can be helpful.

This is most likely a seroma which is just a fluid pocket. But a seroma can inhibit healing if it is too big. I would have your vet look at it so they can drain it. Your vet will be able to confirm that it is a seroma and that there isn’t any pus or infection involved. After it is drained you can put a warm compress on it for 10 minutes twice a day to help prevent the fluid from coming back. Sometimes it will return and need to be drained again. Also make sure you are keeping her confined as too much activity can also cause these to form post-op. I hope this helps!

Thank you for providing a picture of Mabel's incision! This small lump could be a local tissue reaction from an internal suture, scar tissue, a seroma (fluid in the dead space from a surgery), or a cyst. I'm not sure if the lump is hard or soft. The incision itself looks like it healed beautifully, but i would have this lump checked out by the vet to be safe. The vet can diagnose what is causing it and if it needs any treatment. Good luck, I hope this helps!

I would have Mia seen by a vet for this. If this stitch is causing irritation, it may need to be removed to prevent further irritation. It could also cause the seroma to get bigger, so it's best to see the vet today or tomorrow to see if they want to remove the stitch.