Diesel had knee surgery. Pretty swollen with fluid... some advice
Submitted by michael43 on September 4, 2011 - 12:14pmHad a very reputable vet do the surgery and ither than this issue I do see it as a success for he couldnt use his back right leg for about a month and 3 days after surgery he was walking on it. I have to try and keep him rested now cause he is much more active again. So its been 2 and a half weeks since surgery. Went to vet 4 days ago for stitches out and the vet drained the knee. A lot was clear, some bloody but he said somewhat normal. Today it is pretty swollen again with fluid, probably more so then the first time. Isnt giving off heat or showing pink as if infected(just got off post surgery antibiotics) . He is still walking no issues but its noticably swollen. With rest and time will this just go down on its own or do I need repetitive draining? I fully trust the vet and he has said nothing but goods things regarding how the outcome seems, and I see it with him physically without a question. The vet is about an hour and a half or I would just bring him right back again for another look just to be sure but its just not that convenient. If I see any pain or further issues, without a dount ill go, but is this normal to an extent or should I address it promptly? Any help/experience would be great. Thank you
Fluid ...
.... this is normal--at least happened to my girl, too. She had surgery on 7/12. It was drained by local vet, but apparently that's unnecessary as it will resorb....she still had some little fluid -- not to my eye, but to surgeon -- at 8 weeks post op, but he says it's ok, and I do trust him. He told us we might even see some weeping and stiches coming out through incision site. She, too, was up and about almost immediately on coming home, and unexpected jumped right on the couch, so it was a little job to keep her down. Good luck!
Just to clarify...
..she had cruciate surgery not patella. Maybe that's a different issue.
I have been through this and can be positive
The reason it is sometimes drained is so it does not impede healing and the dog can move the joint somewhat after surgery (even though activity is restricted) If full of fluid, it kind of restricts joint movement.
If you do a search on my dog "Mr. Higgins+seroma" you will see lots of posts by me. He had a very large one that lasted a year in spite of 5 interventions to drain it. He had a patella removal after a failed luxating patella surgery earlier.
After a year it finally began to resorb and my boy walks perfectly well to this day with no patella on his left side!
Best of luck with this, I know it can be worrisome.
Deborah and Mr. Higgins
Rest
When our bully was young she had cruiciate surgery on one leg at the Veterinary College in Guelph Ontario. Upon leaving they told us that they had done their job and now we had to do ours which was to keep totally on rest for the next 10 weeks if we wanted it to heal well. Fortunately she was a most compliant girl and we were able to do so with trips outside only for bathroom purposes. She experienced a full recovery and never again had a problem with that leg. Perhaps the philosphy has changed as this was a number of years ago but if your bully were mine I would really be pushing for lots of down time and rest to let it heal.