My kitty was spayed last Saturday and she’s had a dressing on her tummy ever since. She hasn't touched it at all, but I’d like to take it off so I can check her incision and make sure everything is healing okay.
The problem is that the dressing is stuck fast. I gave it a little tug, but it’s really gripped to her skin and I’m worried about hurting her or pulling the wound open.
I’ve thought about putting her in some lukewarm water to try and loosen the adhesive, but I don’t know if that’s a good idea.
If anyone has any suggestions, I’d really appreciate it.
Thanks
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I see, thanks. She’s behaving normally, with no signs of infection. The stitches are dissolvable, and I’ve noticed her dressing is starting to come off on its own. I think I’ll take her to the vet on Saturday just so she can check it over.
You should probably get in touch with your vet, as they should have given you a date to have the stitches removed (unless they’re dissolvable), and a follow-up appointment anyway. Vets don’t all use the same methods for spaying. Our girl was spayed two weeks ago and the scar was closer to 7–10cm than 5cm. She had a huge dressing on and a recovery suit. Our vet asked us to take the dressing off 48 hours after the op, as the scar was protected by the suit. But as @Blue cat says, she needs some form of protection, and if she hasn't got a cone or a suit, she needs the dressing. Only the vet can really advise you though, based on how they did the procedure. As for taking the dressing off, you really need medical adhesive remover so it doesn't hurt her, and you’d need a prescription for that...
Hi there,
I also think it’s best to leave the dressing on. It protects the wound from germs and stops her from licking it. If she seems fine, is eating and drinking, and her behaviour is normal, you can pretty much rule out the risk of infection. Just be patient...
Hi there, if you want to remove a dressing easily, you should use some surgical spirit.
However, I’d advise against taking the dressing off just to check the scar; you won't be able to get it to stick back on and your cat will probably start messing with the area (especially if she isn't wearing a buster collar). The dressing is specifically there to protect the wound from the elements (bacteria, dust, etc.). Plus, since she only had her op on Saturday, it’s really best to leave it alone so you don't risk disturbing the stitches. Rest assured, a spay scar is usually very clean and tiny (about 2 inches or 5cm at most).
