It should also be protected with sterile adhesive bandage. How do I know if my dogs spay incision is infected? The Healing Stages of a Dog Wound | Vetericyn There will be mild swelling, causing the incision to appear raised, and perhaps light bruising in the areas around the swelling. Here are some guidelines to consider. After serving its vital purpose, the excess collagen now appears lumpy and disorganized. A healthy and healing spay incision will be a straight line on your dog's stomach with raised edges and visible stitching or invisible suturing holding the raw edges together. If the wound is healing well and there is no infection, the cells will naturally begin to grow and rebuild the damaged or removed tissues. Theres a fine line between the anticipated symptoms and unexpected side effects that indicate more serious underlying problems. Some amount of swelling during the dog spay healing process is normal. There are a few things you can look for to gauge whether or not your dogs spay incision is healing properly. It should become less noticeable as the incision heals and will eventually go away. A seroma can consist of fluid and scar tissue. Over time, the repair cells and proteins diminish and a scar is formed. As the incision heals, it should appear smaller and lighter in color. These could be signs of an infection. The tissue is more fragile and prone to tearing and bleeding. It can smell like anything, from a sudden medical smell to something rotting. As the wound progresses, swelling should subside after about a week. What Is the Typical Postoperative Care? There are several benefits to spaying your dog. Monitor your dogs surgical site daily for swelling, redness, or discharge. Biologically speaking, the first phase of healing revolves around slowing the blood flow and activating the immune system. Share this article with them to help them find helpful information! Stitches may also be placed in the skin to close the belly, and these will require removal. Yes, it is normal. However, some factors can influence how long it takes for your dog to heal completely. As long as it isn't open, there is no discharge and she is acting. This response happens almost immediately and its the first stage of healing. . Similarly, if the swelling just stays at angry red and doesnt fade, this is where you will want to get in touch with your vet to see if something is going on beneath the surface. The body deposited plenty of collagen at the site of the injury during the repair phase. Carefully monitor your dogs activities, especially those that could affect the wounded area. All rights reserved. We will make every reasonable effort to treat complications resulting from your pet's surgery. Allowing them to rest uninterrupted will result in longer recovery and potential complications. This includes sponge baths unless otherwise directed by your vet. With that said, you can absolutely spot clean the incision with saline or tap water and brush the fur nearby, but do not get the stitching wet or you may loosen or break the stitches and risk infection. A harmless lump called a seroma may also appear on the incision. Incision healing is a gradual process where the incision heals by forming a scar that gradually decreases in size. The area may be slightly red and there may be some scabbing, but this is normal. Lacey is acting normal, eating, drinking, peeing, and pooping. If your dog is licking or biting at the incision, this can also cause problems. Good as new, right? Most dogs will heal from a spay surgery within two to three weeks. How to Monitor a Surgical Incision During Healing 2. Your dog recently came home after having surgery and now its up to you to make sure the incision heals properly. However, it is important to keep an eye on the incision and make sure it is healing properly. To prevent irritating the incision, we recommend you purchase an Elizabethan collar (E-collar) to keep your pet from being able to reach the area with their mouth. When outside, the movement of air can also cause pets to itch. Please keep a close eye on your pet. A small amount of blood is normal immediately after surgery. Gastropexy | VCA Animal Hospitals Here are some pictures of healed spay incisions to give you an idea of what to expect. 2. Once the fire has been put out and the lot cleared, the process of rebuilding can begin. One week after your dogs spay surgery, you may notice that the incision is healing well. Laser Therapy For Dogs - What You Need To Know - Advanced Animal Care Perhaps theyre guarding their incision site more. A dog spay recovery time generally takes between 10 to 14 days. . Dog Advisory Council is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Animals returning from the clinic may also smell different to other animals in the household. Privacy Policy. There are a variety of devices you can use to prevent a dog licking its stitches. Privacy Policy Legal Info, Underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company. During surgery, the veterinarian may remove damaged or unhealthy tissues based on specific visible characteristics. 6 Tips to Help Your Dog's Surgical Wound Heal Faster The swelling will appear to make the incision (part of it) larger than ever, and there will be a lot of heat discharged from it, which you will be able to feel if you place your hand on it or hover it over the incision site. Some incisions may have slight clear or pinkish discharge in the first few days of healing. Blood vessels in the area of the cut begin to form clots that keep you from losing too much blood. How Do You Know If You Ripped Internal Stitches After Spay? Licking can lead to serious complications like the incision opening or becoming infected. Look for a 2- to 4-inch straight cut with edges raised and closed in addition to some redness. While this could be from licking the wound, the most common cause is being too active. Male dogs and cats can still impregnate an unsterilized female up to one month after surgery. The ovaries and uterus are removed, and stitches are placed internally. How Long Does It Take For A Spay Incision To Heal? Male dogs have an incision on the scrotum, and male cats have two incisions, one on each side of the scrotum. This will taper off as the incision heals and the skin starts to close at the line of the incision. Watch the wound for signs of infection, dont let your dog disturb it, and communicate with the vet regarding a treatment plan tailored to your pet. Most vets prefer not to do this if possible. This includes looking at the incision carefully for signs like we mentioned above. You May Also Like: Should Your Bulldog Be Spayed or Neutered? Once the wound has closed and nearly healed, bandages may no longer be necessary. However, there are other easier signs to watch for as far as actual healing versus supposed healing. All Animal Humane Society adoption centers are temporarily closed due to an outbreak of canine influenza. They will be able to assess your dogs individual needs and make a recommendation based on their professional experience.