13 Days After Spay Photo

hi, I had my 6 month old barn cat spayed 13 days ago and i feel like it should be more healed than it is at this point. I’ve kept her area limited to the garage since the surgery (13 days ago) with her two littermates (who were also neutered at the same time she was spayed) also in there. Can you give me opinions on the incision? Is she ready to be let back outside again? It has been raining a lot so I worry that she could get it wet and dirty and infected, but it’s been almost two weeks now.

Is that blue thread supposed to just come out on its own or does she need to go back in to have them removed? It seems excessive hanging out like that and the only thing I am curious about. Otherwise the incision looks ok and after 2 weeks I am sure she is good to go. But if she decided to pull at that thread it could be bad...

jen said:

Is that blue thread supposed to just come out on its own or does she need to go back in to have them removed? It seems excessive hanging out like that and the only thing I am curious about. Otherwise the incision looks ok and after 2 weeks I am sure she is good to go. But if she decided to pull at that thread it could be bad...

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They are supposed to be the dissolving stitches. I thought that piece was a little long too..I think it was tied in a knot before and got undone. I could probably snip the long piece??

I would if it were me. But I am not giving medical advice to do so. So please do so at your own risk and if you can be sure to do it carefully. Or better yet you could just run her back to the vet who did it and ask them to take a look for your own peace of mind. At least call and ask what they think.

Dissolving stitches will only dissolve if they are inside the cat. I have seen a stitch work its way out before, similar to your picture. My vet trimmed it close to the skin, but cautioned me that it can be an infection risk to have the material going through the skin, and that it was important to watch closely while it continued to heal. If I were you, I'd take her in to the vet and have it checked, or at least call.

I've snipped wayward internal stitches before. But at 13 days I think it should be a little more healed than that in general. I'd want the vet to at least look at a picture and give a professional opinion. Most vets will give a free follow-up after a spay, especially if you say the stitches are poking out.

The wound looks fine, no swelling or redness but that blue thread is strange. Can you send the photos to your vet and ask his advice. As said above, many vets want to see the cats 10/14 days after operation.