Post op bacterial infection, please some advice

My foster boy was neutered 12 days ago. Everything seemed fine. Yesterday he became antisocial and I questioned if he was eating. By evening I spotted some drainage at sutgical site. After looking him over he ran under a chair, that's where I found him this morning. Very lethargic, and looking terrible. I checked out his wound and it was 2 very large openings. Rushed him to the vet. First vet thought he had a deep infection that worked its way out and he dehisced. She planned on surgery to clear necrotic area and place a drain. I got a call 2 hours later from second vet (who did surgery) and she thinks it is 2 separate issues. She gave him antibiotic shot and oral antibiotics. They sent a culture off but will take a week. He will be hospitalized for monitoring until at least Friday. They decided wounds. Needed to be left open. I'm very worried about this guy. His world has been upside down. He came in emaciated and full of arms, fleas, mites.

Anyone have similar situation. My gut says he is critical at this time. He's lost a pound in the last 2 days (from 9.8 to 8.3) he looks worse now than when taken from owner from neglect. I don't trust this vet, any turn for the worse and he is being rushed to my main vet
I did call her and she advised that I not bring cat #2into clinic for check up and suggested all cats be separated and closely monitored.

Cat #3 goes to specialty clinic tomorrow for tooth extraction and neuter and I am beyond worries.

These are my first cats, could use lots of help!

It's not uncommon for cats to develop an upper respiratory infection after surgery due to the stress of being at the clinic.  Sometimes they develop an URI just from going to the vet because of the stress.  Common signs are lethargy, sneezing, weepy eyes, loss of appetite, and congestion.  Combine that with the infection from his neuter and you do have one sick kitty.   Good for you for getting him to the vet and getting the attention he needs.  If possible, take an old towel with your scent on it for them to place in his cage.  Also, ask if you can visit him daily.

Fender is still hospitalized and will be so for at least another week. Today they sedated him and.cleaned and debrided the wounds. They vet is absolutely amazed at what has happened. He never has had a fever. One wound is large buy limited to skin, the smaller one on opposite side is much deeper. Originally the wounds were bilateral and symmetrical. The current theory is that Fender is allergic to the suture or the pre surgery wash soap causing a terrible reaction. Eventually damaging the skin to point of infection and necrosis. He was perfectly health Monday (day 9 post op) slight drainage Tuesday night with behavioral changes and critical Wednesday with large open wounds.

I'm still in shock. Anyone have experience with sever allergic reaction like this?

WOW!  I'm so sorry that he's having such a difficult time with his recovery.  I hope he improves quickly and is back home with you soon. Please keep us updated.

Just an update. Fender recovered beautifully. He has regained his weight and is an active healthy boy. They continue to label it as a suture reaction, his path report came back with what appeared to be contamination during the collection only, no real infection at the site. I am including photos (sorry graphic) just Incase anyone else happens to experience this

The first photo just shows how his whole body showed the stress of this injury, to compare, my avatar is the same cat, photo taken approximately 2 weeks before this date

The second photo is after the second surgery to see up the deeper pocket and debridement of necrotic tissue on left

I am very grateful for the fast action of the vet and close monitoring of him to save his life!

@Fender   thank you for your update, and including the above photos.

I am so glad that Fender has recovered.

I am a little confused, though. Was this complication caused after a neuter, or spay operation? I have never seen stitches on the tummy after a neuter.

Or did Fender develop an abscess from something unrelated to the neuter?

Whatever the situation, I am still glad that you were very observant, and got it all sorted.

Hoping that Fender is well back to acting, looking, and weighing his normal self.

It was post neuter. The vet used sutures on the cords (apparently very large cords) and they retracted. He then had a reaction with these lesions 10 days post op. The sutures in the above photo were a few days after original lesions appeared (looked like left side) though the right side was larger and deeper. The vet thought it was best to clean it and suture it closed, especially since path report came back clear of any organism.

It was a very bizarre case that have left 4 vets absolutely dumbfounded. There was nu access/infection, no temperature just sporadic bilateral open lesions. They used a different suture for the second surgery and kept him in clinic until he was again past the10 mark

Here in Canada, they just remove the testicles, when performing a neuter.

Spaying is more invasive.

I did not know that they tie or remove cords. Are you outside of North America?

In the US (Illinois). He was being seen by a clinic our Humane group uses. I had never heard od sutures in neuter either so I called my vet (who is amazing, trust her for anything with my animals) and she said that if the cords are large they will have to put a suture in. In her entire career, she has only had to suture one cat during neuter

Fender said:

In the US (Illinois). He was being seen by a clinic our Humane group uses. I had never heard od sutures in neuter either so I called my vet (who is amazing, trust her for anything with my animals) and she said that if the cords are large they will have to put a suture in. In her entire career, she has only had to suture one cat during neuter

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Thanks for that extra info, @Fender. I thought maybe you were somewhere else in the world, where they do things differently.

Then I thought, maybe it's a cosmetic thing, like some dog owners who like to have the look of an intact dog, even after neutering.     or maybe it was due to medical reasons, of your particular cat.

Anyhow, I am just happy that Fender is now okay.

I love learning something new everyday, especially when it has a good outcome.

Thank you for updating and explaining it.