Penrose Drain Discharge Instructions for Dogs

What is a Penrose drain?

A Penrose drain is a latex tube placed into a wound with one or two ends exiting the skin, allowing fluids to drain from the wound. The drain is typically sutured (stitched) to the skin to hold it in place.

In most cases, the drain exits from an incision site, not the primary wound site. It is designed to passively remove unwanted fluid from the wound, usually when treating abscesses or open wounds. Removing this unwanted fluid and pus helps the wound heal.

What should I do when my dog arrives home?

Keep your dog indoors to prevent the wound area from getting dirty. Activity, such as running and jumping, should be kept to a minimum to avoid strain and damage to the wound.

What do I need to know if my dog received anesthesia to place the drain?

Your dog may be sleepy for 24 to 48 hours after the procedure. Some dogs feel nauseated after anesthesia, so offer small amounts of food and water at first. If your dog does not vomit after an hour, you can continue to offer small meals and free choice water over the next 24 hours before returning to regular feedings.

Contact your veterinarian if lethargy or lack of appetite lasts more than 24 hours after anesthesia or if vomiting or diarrhea occurs. Your dog may have a mild cough for a few days if they were under general anesthesia, but if the cough persists or worsens or your dog has any breathing difficulties, contact your veterinarian.

What should I do if my dog licks or chews at the drain site?

An Elizabethan collar (E-collar, or cone) should be placed on your dog to prevent chewing and licking the wound. A clean bandage should also cover the drain, absorb the fluid, and protect the wound from contamination with dirt or other debris. Your dog may try to remove the E-collar at first, but most dogs get used to the collar and tolerate wearing it. It is better to use the E-collar than risk your dog damaging the surgery site or ingesting bandage material.

Do I need to change the bandage?

If there is a bandage, change it frequently enough that the draining fluid does not saturate the bandage. The amount of fluid draining determines how often you need to change the bandage. As the wound heals, the amount of fluid draining from the Penrose drain should decrease.

Should I apply any medication to the wound?

No, do not apply any medication to the wound or draining areas unless recommended by your veterinarian. To avoid irritation to the intact areas of skin under the drain edges, you can apply a light layer of Vaseline® or triple antibiotic ointment can be applied. 

Each day, clean the site where the drain exits with chlorhexidine or another appropriate cleanser to maintain drainage. Clean the draining material off the skin regularly to help prevent skin irritation. Your veterinarian will provide specific instructions for cleaning and ointments; follow these instructions closely to avoid potential complications.

Will my dog receive any medication after surgery?

Your dog may be sent home with pain or other oral medications, such as antibiotics. If you have been given medications, read the label carefully to ensure you give all medications correctly. If antibiotics are prescribed, it is essential to finish the entire prescription.

What should the drain site look like, and when should I be concerned?

There should be a small opening where the drain exits the skin, but the skin edges should be closed at all other incision sites. The drain should not disappear under the skin and should remain sutured in place. The skin around any incisions may be a normal color to slightly reddish. There may be mild swelling of the skin. Fluid should be draining from the Penrose drain's end, but the fluid amount should decrease daily. 

Depending on the reason for the drain, the fluid may vary in color and consistency, but there should be no excessive fresh blood, active bleeding, or increasingly unpleasant, thick, or smelly discharge. There should not be excessive redness or swelling of the skin. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you observe any of the above.

When should the drain be removed?

Drains should be removed as soon as possible, usually within two to four days. Drains may need to stay in place longer for more extensive wounds. A drastic decrease in the amount of draining fluid indicates that the drain is ready to be removed. Your veterinarian will provide instructions about how long the drain needs to remain in place.

When can my dog resume normal activities?

Once the drain and all the sutures have been removed, your dog can return to normal activities unless directed otherwise by your veterinarian. Do not bathe your dog until all sutures have been removed and the drain openings have closed completely.