I had my cat spayed on the 30th of September. It has been an absolute nightmare of a fortnight, constantly having to check on her day and night. She’s been through the wars: she came home in a fabric recovery suit but had an accident in her litter tray so I had to take it off. Then she had a bandage that just kept slipping, followed by a cone that she couldn't stand, and she’s finally been in a onesie for the last 4 days.
Because of the bandage, the incision got inflamed and I had to go to the vet to have it cleaned. Since then, the scar formed a big scab, then it leaked a bit the next day so I applied some Betadine. Now it’s gone red again around the stitch… I’m at my wits' end – should I be worried and take her back to the vet for a 4th time?
The vet is a bit 'couldn't care less' because I went through a local animal charity. She just brushes me off and tells me it’ll be fine. I feel reassured at the time, but then I can’t sleep for worrying.
She even told me in passing to take the stitch out myself, but when should I do that? Do you think 15 days is long enough?
We really aren't warned enough about the aftercare, which is so demanding for females… I’ve never had stitches myself so it’s hard to know if it’s looking okay or not…
Translated from French
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You can put some Vaseline on the scab to soften it up, and keep disinfecting the area around the wound with Betadine before applying a layer of Vaseline over the scab. Other than the scab itself, the wound looks healthy; it’s not red at all around the edges, which is a good sign.
Once you've applied the Vaseline, the next day clean the whole scar with Betadine (the yellow bottle, obviously), pat it dry with a gauze swab, and reapply the Vaseline. It’ll take a few days.
The stitch is underneath, so you need to soften the scab until it comes away so you can reach the stitch.
As for the stitch, just like in the other posts, don't try to do it yourself. If you cut the stitch too high, the knot will stay inside the skin (I’m a nurse, after all). It’s a job for the vet, and yours clearly isn't the best... then again, it’s free, which probably explains it.
I don't think that scar looks very healthy to be honest, and I’d suggest finding a vet that you can then stick with for your girl’s follow-up care. This one sounds completely incompetent and bordering on dangerous—you shouldn’t be removing stitches yourself, where on earth did he get that idea? Usually, the rescue is required to provide the follow-up vet care, so don’t hesitate to hold them to their obligations.
Yes, as long as she’s being supervised and you keep disinfecting the area, there’s no need to worry. Besides, she seems well in herself. It does look quite dramatic, but it’s nothing to fret about. If you can't see any pus under the scab or any inflammation, then everything is fine 🙂. If it starts to come away, you can lift the edges slightly when you clean it, but don't pull it off. Vets only remove the scab if they suspect an infection, which doesn't seem to be the case here.
Hi everyone,
Thanks for all your replies.
I’d already read about using honey on the forum and she’s desperate to lick it off. She’s such a greedy-guts!
Yeah, I’m a bit fed up, but after paying for the surgery I don’t really want to fork out more money elsewhere. Obviously, if I have to for her sake, I will, but still...
I’ve attached a photo. A scab had formed over the stitch; it looks a bit nasty, but it’s almost coming off and I can see it’s healing underneath. The skin has closed up well, and you can't see the rest of the internal stitches at all now. We’re dabbing some antiseptic on it every morning.
She’s in great spirits and eating well, so maybe I’m just worrying too much...
Hello
The vet told you to remove the stitches yourself? Seriously? And without even giving you a date?
Don't be afraid to tell them that you don't know how to do it or when it should be done... I really wouldn't recommend doing it yourself if you've never done it before. You have to sterilise the equipment and have the "guts" to get the scissors in there. Plus, a cat moves around, unlike us, so it’s much better to have two of you.
If I’d been fobbed off like that, that vet would never see me again (I’m lucky enough to have a few different ones in my area).
Don't hesitate to go back if you feel it's necessary, and push them to give you a proper diagnosis and prognosis.
As for the wound, you just need to make sure it doesn't get infected, then it should eventually heal up. It can sometimes take quite a while after irritation and infection.
Is she on any medication (anti-inflammatories, amoxicillin or anything else)?
