Complications from neutering surgery?

Question

I adopted a 3 year old Cocker Spaniel from a local shelter who had a strange complication from his neutering surgery. Blood drained back into the scrotal area and he had a baseball-sized mass hanging between his legs. The vet said that this occurs occassionally and that the blood would be reabsorbed back into the body in about 10 days. However, even with an e-collar, the dog managed to irritate the area enough to cause it to open up and drain. He spent 10 days at the vet on antibiotics and painkillers until he healed. The vet could not have been more kind; he was very apologetic and charged me only for the meds (I'd already paid $ 300.00 for the initial surgery, innoculations, etc. and a $ 200.00 visit to the ER vet in the middle of the night.) I've shared my journey with some amazing pets over the years, all of them altered OF COURSE, but have never heard of this type of complication. I was wondering if anyone here has heard of this before? Vet techs - is this common?

Answer 1

Yup it is common not so much in younger dogs but in older mature dogs. Most of the time it reabsorbs on it's own, but sometimes , like in your situation, a dog does need treatment from a vet.

Answer 2

I've seen the scrotal area do that after neutering, but it didn't get near that big! I slight swelling is normal, and occasionally, a hematoma, which is what you are describing, will occur. That is pretty excessive, but it sounds like it was handled correctly.

Answer 3

First.. Thank you for adopting!!! :)

I myself have never heard of it. I think there are a few vet techs that are here on answers, so hopefully they can tell you. Complications rarely happen with neuters. Hope your dog is better soon!

Answer 4

obviously it isn't common. It can happen though, and it isn't a result of medical error, so your vet handled it very nicely. It's pretty scary when unusual complications come up, and i'm really sorry you and the poor dog had to go through it.

Answer 5

This happens rarely, but occasionally. The vet handled it appropriately and it does not indicate a mistake on his part.

Answer 6

Yes it can happen although at my practice he would have been re-anaesthetised to check that a ligature hadn't slipped if it was the size of a baseball. The scrotum itself can bleed profusely and it may just have been that.