Does Maeby's spay incision site look infected or worrisome?

mary podgorny

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Aug 3, 2015
Messages
27
Purraise
20
Location
Texas
My 6-month-old kitten Maeby 


was spayed on Monday, 11/16. They put a sticky bandage on the site like so


 & said to keep an eye on the incision and if she got off the bandage the first day, to keep an eye and make sure she's only licking, not biting at the incision site. And to bring her in if any excessive redness, swelling, or any discharge after the 1st day (They kept her overnight following the surgery, so this was over 24 hrs after the surgery they were giving these instructions. 

So the bandage is really sticky, and she only managed to get the top part pulled back a bit, but from that alone, it looked last night like the incision was seeping, so I decided to take part of the bandage off (using mineral oil with a Q-tip around the edges of the bandage) to get a better look at it. 

This is the 5th day after surgery; it looks a little angry and weird to me.


 I just want some advice from anyone who's dealt with spays before as to whether this warrants a follow-up visit to the vet on Monday or... am I just being paranoid? It's hard to tell from the pic, but the wound is just one huge, very hard lump all the way around it; I don't know what subdermal sutures feel like, but should it be that raised and hard?

Thanks in advance for any help - If you see my post history, I had a kind of traumatic and very quick loss of a cat to cancer about a year & a half ago, and with Maeby and Tuxie, I tend to get worried over every little thing because I felt like I should have noticed the signs that TC was sick earlier than I did. I know that's not rational, it's just a gut reaction to want to catch everything early, but I don't have the funds to run to the vet just to ease my conscience. So any input would be greatly appreciated! 

Thanks in advance!
 

margd

Chula and Paul's roommate
Veteran
Joined
Feb 24, 2015
Messages
15,669
Purraise
7,838
Location
Maryland USA
I'm afraid I can't answer your question because it's been so long since I've been around a newly spayed cat.   However, I would definitely email these photos to your vet on Monday, if nothing else. That red area beyond the wound does not look right to me.  Hopefully someone with more experience than I have will give some feedback on this.  Meantime, you might check her temperature as a fever (over 102.5F) could indicate infection.   Also touch the area - if it is hot to the touch, that is another sign of infection.  
 

fodder

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Dec 2, 2016
Messages
146
Purraise
71
Im not a professional either but it looks pretty normal to me. From what iv seen, if there is an infection things get pretty damn red and nasty. I agree with the above poster about showing your vet the pics but i really don't think you should be too alarmed from looking at that pic.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #4

mary podgorny

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Aug 3, 2015
Messages
27
Purraise
20
Location
Texas
Thanks, y'all!  The area isn't noticeably warm although I haven't taken her temp yet. It does have some seepage/discharge, though. I'll keep a close eye on her throughout the weekend. 
 
Top