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Could Cyst Surgery Have Caused My Dog's Death?

by A reader

Reader Question
My dog died a few weeks after having an operation to remove two cysts from her head and one from her neck. She developed problems with her lungs and could not breath and was panting for breath . her lungs became full of fluid. She was 11years old and rotweiler cross breed. would the operation to remove cysts have contributed to her death?


Answer from Our Team

We're so sorry for the loss of your dog. We can't know for certain what happened without her records, but we can explain some possibilities.

Removing skin cysts is usually a low-risk operation, but any anesthetic carries a small risk, and the risk is higher in older dogs. Lung problems after surgery can happen if a dog breathes in stomach contents while under anesthesia or waking up (aspiration pneumonia), and that usually shows up within days. Fluid in the lungs a few weeks later is more often caused by something else, such as heart disease, which is common in older large-breed dogs, or a lung problem or tumor that was already there.

If you'd like answers, ask your vet to go over her records with you, including the lab report on the lumps that were removed. Knowing what the lumps were, and whether any X-rays were taken, can help explain what happened. Please don't blame yourself. Choosing to treat a problem is a caring decision.

See cysts on dogs.

This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.

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