Surgical wound keeps coming apart

[David24100]

Our beloved cat Tiger had a big operation a month ago to remove a growth. The vet said it was much bigger than she expected and he ended up with a surgical wound about 15cm / 6 inches long from his side down to his leg....completely crazy. It has been a dreadful nightmare since then.

Part of the wound split open twice and the vet had to stitch it back each time under anesthetic. The rest of the wound has healed and those stitches were removed, but it's this 7cm section in the middle that's still stitched. It has now started opening up AGAIN. The "split" is 1cm (half inch) but I fear it will get bigger all over again. It's a difficult place for a wound because it stretches whenever he moves. You can't exactly keep a cat still. He wears a cat cone at all times. It's made of a paper plate and works amazingly by the way.... He has been indoors for 3 weeks with a litter box, but he's an outdoors cat and is desperate to go outside. How can we keep going to the vet if it perpetually splits open again? The vet is with the SPCA and has low fees and we can't afford to go anywhere else. Does he have to somehow live with this hole in his side?! I'm pretty helpless and desperate at this point.

 

[Miathebsh]

Our Mia after spaying surgery started to jump and run all over the place like a beast. When we went to the vet exam after operation she had no suture left to be cleaned because she eated all You should consider keeping him in a box maybe with clean water, food and just get him out for medicine if u have prescribed .
You should ask your vet a medicine for wounds - he gave us some spray and it does miracle helping the operation spot heals faster. Maybe because yours it s bigger it will take some time but constant anesthesia and stress is no good for him.
Our toughts is with you!

 

[David24100]

Thank you Mia. If only they knew what was best for them, not ripping out stitches might be a good idea?? We do have a wound spray called Debrizine, so might try that. It has vitamin A and E and castor oil and one or two other ingredients.

 

[fionasmom]

Don't let him out, no matter what. I agree that you might need to keep him confined in some kind of a very large dog crate which does not allow for much movement, but that does keep him comfortable and quiet. He won't like it, but the wound continually splitting open is worse. If this moves into damaged or infected tissue on the edge of the incision, you have a whole new problem. What does the vet say or do aside from restitching it?

 

[Miathebsh]

Thank you Mia. If only they knew what was best for them, not ripping out stitches might be a good idea?? We do have a wound spray called Debrizine, so might try that. It has vitamin A and E and castor oil and one or two other ingredients.

I will try keeping him in the travel box for at least 24hours so the wound can heal a little. Or you should improvise somthing so he can have the litter box near . Even us we stay on the bed to recovery after operations .

 

[David24100]

The vet said he must stay indoors for a few days then he could be let outside a little bit. It will be so hard to keep him even more confined as he is so energetic.