Seroma

Commonly infected wildlife

Is this animal infected?

• Yellow or reddish clear fluid under skin or within muscle
• Can be large (football-sized), and contain more than a gallon of fluid
  • Often present between front legs
  • Can cause animal difficulty in moving
  • Affected animals may be easier prey

Can I get it?

No

• Seromas are NOT infectious

How bad can it get?

No risk to humans

Protect myself and others

• Trim away affected tissue – it is unappetizing and should not be eaten
  • Once affected tissue has been trimmed away, the meat can be cooked and eaten
  • Any meat surrounding a seroma is safe to eat
• Alwayspractice good hygiene by washing hands after handling any wild animal

Symptoms in humans

• None – people are not at risk
• The fluid inside a seroma is not dangerous to human health

Safe for pets?

Yes - After trimming away affected tissue

What causes it?

• Localized soft-tissue injury
  • Not caused by an infection
  • Does not contain pus
• Fluid (blood serum) seeps from tiny ruptured blood vessels in injured areas
  • Fluid accumulates, often under the skin, and drains away after some time