Is my cats incision spot supposed to look like this?

erinkins

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I had Bugs spayed a week ago, and on Saturday I started to notice it was looking a little weird. She was due to go back to the bet today so we waited as it was a holiday weekend and no one was in the office. They took the sutures out today and they said everything was fine but I'm still worried because it looks really inflammed or something. I just wanted to get a second opinion because we just started going to this vet. Is this how it should look or does it look infected?

 

nerdrock

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That doesn't look normal to me, but I haven't had an animal spayed in about 7 years and that was a dog. It may just be the way they sutured it shut though...

If you touch the edge of it (with clean hands) does it feel warmer than the rest of her skin? Is there any discharge from it or "crust" around the incision? If it's not warm and there isn't any discharge or swelling, I would just keep an eye on it. There are antibiotic creams that you can get at pet stores that are safe if pets ingest them (off the top of my head, Dr Maggie has one http://drmaggie.ca/faqs_skin_care_ointment.html). You could pick up some of that and apply it over the area to help with healing (most are also bitter, so they discourage licking). 
 

denice

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It doesn't look like my cat's did when she was spayed.  Her incision wasn't partially open like that it was completely closed.
 

ilovemia

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I would take her to a differant vet to be checked. I have had several cats spayed and I have never seen one with a crater in its abdomen. It should just have a line scar. Mine have always been looking healed within a week.
 

finnlacey

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OH MY! That's definitely not right! Please call the vet back or another vet and get that taken care of before it becomes infected. 
 

Willowy

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It could just be a sloppy suture job. I've seen a few that looked open like that, and it's just the way they folded the skin when suturing. But it does look a bit red and. . .gooey. If it doesn't look nicer tomorrow (after she's groomed herself and the folded skin has smoothed out), definitely call the vet.
 
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riccadawn

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I don't think it really looks infected (unless it's oozing or crusty, like someone else said). To me it just looks like they did a sloppy job with the sutures :(
 

jokasta

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Eh, this was not what I supposed to stumble upon with my cat's spaying due for this month.


I agree with everyone else, it doesn't look like they did a good job suturing the sides of the wound. You should take it to another vet and see what can be done about it. Good luck!
 
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erinkins

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Thanks for everyones input. I decided to wait until I got out of class today until I did anything, and I think everyone who said something about sloppy suturing was right. The line is a bit more straight now and there is no oozing as I can see. I also felt the spot and it didn't seem warm or anything and it doesn't seem to be bothering her. I'm going to keep watching it the next couple of days and hopefully it will get better. And I'm definitely seeing a different vet next time! This vet is pretty expensive and I'm really frustrated with this surgery. I'm even more frustrated that they didn't even say anything about how it looked. If it were me that had taken her to the vet I would have questioned it, but my boyfriends not the type to ask any questions! 
 

Willowy

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Yeah, I've seen it a lot. I really hate sloppy suturing, and won't use that vet again if it happens. And it's always the expensive vets, too! :vibes: for her continued recovery!
 
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