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