When to remove stitches after sterilizing a cat. Proper care of a cat after sterilization surgery

For teenagers
06.08.2019

How does a cat behave after the sterilization procedure and what should be done? ready to the owner pet? Adaptation of an animal to an unusual position is associated with difficulties. The understanding of the owner, as well as his adequate care for a four-legged friend after surgery.

Modern medicine makes it possible to carry out this procedure both in the veterinary clinic and at home. In any case, a cat may exhibit unusual behavior after surgery.

If the pet remains in the veterinary hospital, rehabilitation measures fall on the shoulders of the doctors. But a person taking a cat home should prepare for the force majeure that often accompanies caring for a cat after sterilization.

Recovery after sterilization is a complex and unpredictable process. Not all owners can afford to keep a mustachioed pet for the entire period of rehabilitation in the hospital. At home, a person needs to stay close to the animal all this time in order to avoid incidents.

The pet is returned to the owner either still in a state of anesthesia shock, or already beginning to make conscious movements. Drowsiness and lethargy are typical for the cat during this period, but its behavior may become more active on the second day.

After surgery, your pet is usually put on a special blanket or collar for safety reasons. It is imperative to ask the veterinarian whether anesthesia was performed and what to do otherwise.

What is required from the owner?

Caring for a cat after sterilization involves following basic simple rules:

1. Keep your furry friend safe

During the first time after surgery, the cat's coordination of movements is seriously impaired. the main task during this period – to prevent unnecessary injuries. Get everything out of the way sharp objects and make sure that Murka does not trip or fall from a height.

2. Follow natural functions

Sometimes a cat becomes constipated after sterilization. This is due to impaired intestinal motility. In order to correct this problem, you should give the animal a laxative, after consulting with your veterinarian first.

Quite a lot of owners are faced with the need for surgery in cats. Basically, surgical intervention is or. However, sometimes surgery is the only way to cure a cat or improve its living conditions.

Everyone knows that before any operation the animal must be examined: heart screening. However, few people think that proper care caring for the cat after surgery is also important. The recovery of a cat depends not only on veterinarians, but also on the owners, who will properly care for the cat after surgery and perform all prescribed manipulations. Anything is always a strong stress for the body. So how can you help your beloved cat after surgery?

Arranging a place for a cat after surgery

You can start caring for a cat who has undergone surgery by setting up a place for him. This could be a special bed for cats. It is better to place such a crib on the floor. This way the cat will not be able to fall out and will not have to make an effort to get out.

It is important that the bed is in a place where there are no drafts. Put it in the cat's bed warm blanket or a small blanket. It is necessary to provide the cat with easy access to water and food.

Caring for your cat's stitches after surgery

Caring for a cat's suture after surgery is one of the main conditions for the rapid rehabilitation of a cat. After abdominal surgery, the animal is given a blanket that will prevent it from licking the seam. If the operation was performed on a limb or on a place that the blanket does not protect, then the animal is put on a special collar. The duration of wearing such a collar or blanket is determined by the attending physician. On average this period is 10 days.

You should not let a cat wearing a blanket or collar outside, as it will not be able to defend itself if it is attacked by other animals. After surgery, do not let your cat go outside until the attending physician allows it. Also, do not remove the collar or blanket, as the cat will lick the seam, which will lead to severe inflammation, leading to repeated surgery.

A very important point is the treatment of the suture after surgery. The drug for treatment and the frequency of its use are prescribed.

It is important to approach the treatment of sutures with all responsibility, since the speed of their healing depends on its quality. The formation of crusts on the sutures after surgery in cats should not be allowed, since the healing process does not occur under the crusts. If crusts have formed, you need to soak them and carefully remove them, or contact a veterinarian for this.

If you see severe redness around the suture, discharge of fluid or pus from the suture, or smell an unpleasant odor from it, contact your veterinarian immediately!

Measuring a cat's temperature after surgery

After surgery, your cat's temperature will need to be measured every 3-6 hours. Normally, a cat's temperature is 38-39.5 degrees. After anesthesia it may be slightly reduced. An electronic thermometer is suitable for measuring temperature. Lubricate its tip with baby cream or Vaseline oil and take your temperature rectally.

If the temperature drops below 37.5 degrees or rises above 39.9, contact your veterinarian immediately!

A warm blanket that you put in a bed prepared in advance for her will help keep your cat warm.

Feeding a cat after surgery

After surgery, it is very important to approach the issue of feeding correctly. For the first three hours after surgery, it is recommended not to feed or water the animal, as it may vomit. During the first 24 hours, your cat's appetite may be reduced. However, it should then recover. If this does not happen, then you must urgently contact a veterinarian. Water should be freely available to the cat.

If the cat has undergone surgery on the intestines or stomach, then it is necessary to strictly follow the doctor’s recommendations for feeding. After castration, the cat can be offered wet food or pate for sterilized cats from the line of complete industrial food, then it will quickly get stronger and recover. If you feed your cat natural food, then grind the food pieces with a blender so that they are easier for a fragile cat to digest.

On the first day after surgery, you should feed only half daily value diet. Then you can restore the usual portion of food.

For critically ill cats following surgery, force feeding via syringe or tube is often prescribed. For this purpose, special dietary foods of liquid consistency are used.

After sterilization, a cat may not have bowel movements for three days, since after anesthesia is given, intestinal motility decreases. If bowel movements have not returned after the specified time, you should contact your doctor.

Changes in cat behavior after surgery

Owners often notice noticeable changes in their cats' behavior after anesthesia. For example, on the first day after surgery, the cat may be more aggressive than usual; biting herself, the owner, being afraid of extraneous noises to which she had not previously paid attention.

For the first 12 hours after anesthesia, the cat may be lethargic and sleep all day. Cats also sometimes react very unusually to a protective collar or blanket. They can:

  • move backwards;
  • shake your head at different sides trying to throw off the collar;
  • walk sideways;
  • jump on walls;
  • go to the toilet in places not intended for this purpose.

There is no need to be afraid of this. We must try to calm the cat and provide care. If she tries to bite you, then this moment She's more comfortable alone.

If your cat has undergone castration, then her behavior will be calmer over time - she will lie down more than move, and will have a greater appetite than before the operation. So that such an animal does not begin to gain excess weight, you need to feed him according to the norm and play with him regularly.

Often cat owners ask the question: “When will he stop marking?” If you have a young cat that is not yet accustomed to leaving marks, then weaning it off does not take long. If this is an adult cat, then the weaning process takes several months (sometimes up to six months or more). Therefore, it is more advisable to castrate cats at a young age.

Khomutinnik Ekaterina Igorevna Chief veterinarian. Specialization: soft tissue surgery, abdominal and thoracic surgery, endosurgery.

When to call the doctor?

Cats are living organisms, each of which has individual characteristics its physiology, so sometimes complications after surgery cannot be avoided in a cat, even if its care was the most thorough. You should urgently contact a veterinarian if:

  • You are concerned about the appearance of the suture (redness around the suture, discharge of fluid or pus, unpleasant odor);
  • The cat's body temperature dropped below 37 degrees or rose above 39.9;
  • Appetite after surgery does not appear on the second day;
  • Three days after the operation, the cat had not recovered from defecation;
  • The cat does not urinate for 12 hours after surgery;
  • Lethargy persists on the second day after surgery;
  • The cat started vomiting;
  • Any other deterioration in your cat’s health that you have noticed.

Complications that are promptly taken under control by a veterinary specialist can most often be eliminated quickly. Responsible implementation of the doctor’s recommendations after surgery on a cat is the key to its rapid recovery, and this article is your help in recognizing the first signs of trouble. Let your animals be healthy!

Sterilization involves removing sutures after surgery on a cat, unless it is laparoscopy. Sutures are usually placed using two methods - internal and external. The internal connects the cut tissues inside (muscles, subcutaneous fat, etc.), and the vessels are also ligated. It is performed with special self-absorbing threads that do not require removal. Experienced Veterinarian greatest attention pays particular attention to the quality of internal sutures, since the condition of the animal after surgery directly depends on this. External sutures are usually performed with surgical sutures, in which case it will be necessary to remove the sutures after a certain time. In addition to removing stitches immediately after surgery, the cat will also need rehabilitation.

Rules for rehabilitation after sterilization

After sterilization of the cat, during the normal healing process, the sutures are removed on days 10-14. Until this time, you need to take care of your pet. careful care. The rules differ slightly depending on the options for the post-rehabilitation period. The veterinary clinic offers several such options:

  • the owner takes the animal home immediately after sterilization and carries out the necessary manipulations there;
  • the cat remains in the veterinary clinic for a day;
  • the pet remains in the hospital for a period of about 10 days to fully recover after the operation.

Of course, it is more convenient for the owner and safer for the animal when the postoperative period takes place under the supervision of a veterinarian in the clinic. If you decide to pick up your cat right away, you will need a spacious carrier with a hard floor. It is better to have one with an open top so that the pet can be carefully placed instead of being pushed inside. You need to lay it on its side so that in case of vomiting the animal does not choke. Cover with something warm. However, do not rush to leave the clinic right away! It is better to stay for at least half an hour to be able to receive veterinary help in unexpected situations. in case of emergency(for example, if bleeding begins).

At home, it is necessary to provide the animal with complete peace in a secluded, safe place. After anesthesia, the body temperature usually drops, and the cat may freeze. In this case, it must be covered. Be sure to put water nearby. Until the cat recovers from anesthesia, it should be turned from side to side. And just as often, close your eyelids to prevent the cornea from drying out, since cats have open eyelids during anesthesia (this is their feature). You can also instill eye drops with a special solution. The next important point is the condition of the seam. A little blood is normal, as is copious discharge ichor. In other cases, it is better to consult a veterinarian.

When the cat begins to recover from anesthesia, you should take care of its safety - close balconies, vents, windows, because behavior may be inappropriate. How the pet will behave depends on its character traits - some may bite and behave aggressively, while others may hardly move and sleep most of the time. During this period, you should carefully monitor the animal and prevent it from harming itself. The blanket should not be removed under any circumstances to prevent licking of the seam! The cat will be able to move normally after some time (from 4 to 12 hours). It is necessary to give water on the first day after surgery; feeding can be postponed, especially if after trying to eat the pet starts vomiting.

In the first three days after surgery, the cat is given antibiotics and painkillers. After stopping pain medications, behavior may change due to pain in the suture area. If it is too strong, the animal may lie motionless, moan, behave aggressively, and the pupils may be dilated. In this case, the help of a veterinarian is urgently needed.

Throughout the postoperative period, you need to monitor the blanket - how it is tied, whether it is clean or not. It is important to adjust your diet, monitor drinking regime. You can carefully pick up the cat in your arms, making sure there is no pressure on the stomach. You can take her for walks, but only if the animal does not experience stress from possible encounters with other animals. Or take a walk somewhere nearby in a very calm place. You definitely shouldn’t let your pet warm the incision site on a radiator or heater, sharply lift you up by the front paws, or hold active games.

If you stick to everyone necessary rules postoperative period, as well as the veterinarian’s recommendations, the cat’s rehabilitation will be successful.

Features of processing and removal of seams

When the scar heals, the wound is very itchy. Therefore, the cat tries to rid itself of discomfort with its claws and teeth. Sometimes it can even lead to the need for repeated surgery. Therefore, the seam is protected with a special blanket. It should not be removed, even if the owner thinks that the cat is uncomfortable and cannot move. You just need to make sure that the blanket is put on correctly.

It is important to ensure that the seam is clean and dry; any deviation (inflammation, suppuration, etc.) requires immediate appeal to the doctor. Usually the seams are treated every day with special disinfecting solutions. The main thing is that they do not contain alcohol, because... it may cause skin burns. Another option is when the incision site is treated with a special spray immediately after the operation, then the veterinarian usually reports that additional treatment is no longer required. In this case, all that remains is to monitor the pet’s condition and the healing process.

It happens that the seam comes apart after sterilization. The reasons may vary. One of them is that the wound got infected, despite all the precautions. Or, due to careless handling of the animal, excessive pressure was placed on the operated area (this problem can also arise due to a bandage that is too tight or an incorrectly applied blanket). Another one of possible reasons is general state body - weakened immunity, lack of vitamins, or some hidden disease that was not identified before surgery (for example, kidney disease, cough, malignant neoplasms, etc.). If the seam breaks, it is necessary to treat it with antiseptic drugs and urgently go to the veterinary clinic! Self-medication in in this case It’s not worth doing, it’s detrimental to your pet!

Removal of sutures after sterilization of a cat during the normal healing process is carried out on the 10-14th day. If this process is delayed, they begin to grow into the skin, which leads to additional unpleasant procedures. It is best for this manipulation to be performed by a veterinarian in the clinic. Or you can also call him at home. But you can do this yourself if, for example, your animal calmly accepts from you medical care. If the pet behaves aggressively, it is better to remove the stitches in a veterinary hospital, since it is easier to fix it there and, if necessary, administer sedatives.

If you decide to remove the stitches yourself, you need to make sure that the wound has completely healed. The scar should be dry, without redness, without bloody spots, crusts, and the edges of the wound should not be visible. You should also pay attention to ensure that there is no swelling. In the case when at least something in appearance wounds are alarming to you - it is better to show the animal to a veterinarian. Only a specialist can determine exactly how things are going with healing. If everything is in order, you should prepare the following necessary items:

  • paper towel (or clean damp rag), dressings;
  • good tweezers (to make it easy to grab threads), sharp scissors, preferably manicure scissors, with very thin edges;
  • take care of good lighting;
  • means for treating the wound after the procedure;
  • a piece of something tasty to relieve your pet of the stress from the withdrawal process.

The first step before the procedure is to disinfect all instruments. Then soak the scar with saline solution (chlorhexidine can be used) so that the threads become soft. Another tip is to smear the seam several times with a greasy ointment the day before the removal procedure - this will make the threads smoother and easier to slide.

Now you need to secure the cat. It’s better to call someone else to help her so that she can hold her paws. Manipulations should be carried out quietly; the animal may be frightened even by the sight of tools in your hands. The seam consists of 2 parts - external and internal. On the outside it is a knot with the ends of the thread sticking out. The inner part is under the skin and is not visible to you. To remove a seam, you need to pick up either a tendril or a knot and lightly pull up so that a clean part of the thread from the seam appears. Then cut off one (and only one!) thread that comes out of the skin. Cut so that the dirty outer edge of the thread does not pass through when pulled out through the wound. Otherwise, an infection can be introduced there. So, you have cut, now you should carefully and gently pull out the thread. That's it, one seam was removed. We do this with everyone in turn. After removing the latter, treat the scar and give the cat a tasty treat.

The procedure for removing sutures is not that complicated, but it is responsible. If something suddenly goes wrong, you are not sure about something, leave everything and contact your veterinarian immediately! There is no point in risking the health of your pet, especially since the procedure for removing sutures in a clinic is more than affordable. It is also possible to call a veterinarian at home, which is convenient for the owner and less stressful for the cat.

Dr. Shauna O'Meara

Previous chapter of the article about possible complications during sterilization of cats - Inflammatory swelling, scars and thickening.

Seam divergence- a common complication. After sterilization, complete or partial rupture of the surgical suture quite often occurs. This usually occurs for several days (up to a week) after surgery. As a result, an open wound appears on the skin of the cat’s abdomen, looking like a purulent and fleshy wound.

In most cases, suture ruptures occur due to poor postoperative care. The most common cause is the cat licking the seams. Too active cat behavior, large physical exercise also lead to the disruption of the normal tightening of the sutures, and the wound may open. In some cases, the wound opens due to bacterial infections (an infected wound does not heal), which again is a consequence of poor cat care. Bacteria enter the wound more easily if in the first two weeks the incision site is exposed to moisture (the cat has the opportunity to lick the seam, it is washed, it has access to damp places). Infection is also facilitated by contamination of the wound, the ingress of urine and feces from the cat itself.

It is extremely rare for sutures to come apart due to poor quality of the operation (sutures were placed incorrectly, threads from irritating material). The reason may be that an already infected cat was sterilized, or she had skin diseases (cats with allergies or rashes cannot be operated on). Removing stitches too early (when the skin has not yet completely healed) can also lead to an opening of the wound. It is possible for the seam to diverge due to inflammatory processes.

Suture dehiscence sometimes occurs after surgery in pregnant women. long term or nursing cats, if the incision runs along the line between the mammary glands. In such cats, during surgery it is difficult to avoid damage to the mammary glands, since they are significantly enlarged. As a result of the incision of the glands, the milk enters the fatty layer under the skin. Because milk is a foreign substance under the skin and is an irritant, the body often responds to the presence of milk with an aggressive inflammatory response that can cause pain, swelling and even open a wound.

In some cases, seam separation may be a sign that your cat has some kind of health problem, although this is rare. For example, in cats with Cushing's disease (Hyperadrenocorticism) or diabetes, wounds and sutures tend to heal more slowly, so it may be necessary to keep the sutures in place longer than usual (to prevent the wound from opening). In cats with collagen diseases (connective tissue and vascular disorders, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome), inflammatory cell response disorders, and other disorders that affect tissue healing, wounds may also heal slowly and are more likely to dehisce. .

If your cat's stitch breaks, you should contact your veterinarian. If the suture has not completely ruptured, the veterinarian may limit itself to prescribing antibiotics. Elizabethan collar and good care will provide a solution to this problem. If the wound is completely open, a second operation may be required to debride the wound and repair the suture. It will take another 10-14 days for complete recovery.

The picture shows a wound caused by a cat pulling threads from a seam in the skin. The cat needs to be seen by a doctor; most likely, the wound will need treatment and medications will be prescribed to relieve irritation.

Such wounds are much more dangerous. All seams, including those on the muscle walls abdominal cavity The cat's intestines were separated, part of the intestines came out! Urgent need surgical intervention. If you encounter something similar, you need to cover the hernia with a damp one (preferably with saline solution, but it will also work pure water) gauze pad, clean cloth or paper towel and take your cat to the vet as soon as possible. Do not try to repair the hernia - any dirt that gets on it will end up inside the abdominal cavity. Just keep the wound moist and covered until you get to the clinic. If the hernia tissue dries out, dies, becomes dirty, or bacteria gets into the wound, this can lead to peritonitis. If a cat licks a wound and damages the intestines, the consequences will be extremely severe.

11.11.2010, 20:30

Hello, dear members of the forum!!! I have a problem: My cat (1 year old, name is Milka) had a sterilization operation on November 2, 2010 (at the Clinic of Dr. Tikhanin, on Engels.) The doctor said to walk in a blanket for 10 days and under no circumstances climb there There is no need to treat it with anything and do not untie the blanket at all. When I took the cat, its abdomen was splashed with a silvery (gray) substance (as far as I understand, this is something for disinfection). Everything was done according to the doctor’s recommendations. But tonight (from 11/10 to 11/11) she somehow took off the blanket (maybe the bandage had loosened over these days...). And in the morning I discovered this whole picture! I examined her stomach and the seam. I found a wet, I don’t even know how to say it, wound or something... Round, about a centimeter in diameter... in the center something white and yellow can be seen... No swelling, no blood or any... then there are no other discharges... Please help me with advice on what this could be!!! I am very worried... But otherwise, Milka feels great - she eats with appetite, drinks, goes to the toilet regularly and regularly. If not for this stitch... The doctor told me to come for an appointment 10 days after the operation, the stitches he said there is no need to take it off!!! Help, please: 005:

11.11.2010, 20:42

I would consult a doctor, first by phone, advice is advice and it’s calmer.

Pig Lady

11.11.2010, 20:57

You never know what the doctor said - go to the appointment, let them examine you and take action.

11.11.2010, 21:34

Tomorrow we will definitely take her to the vet. This doctor is generally strange... he spoke dismissively like that... - “10 days will pass, then we’ll talk”... Has anyone had similar situation? How, what to treat? And in general, what could it be (the diameter is about 1 cm and there is something white and yellow inside... I didn’t touch it... I sniffed it and it didn’t smell like anything at all)? Maybe it seemed to me and that’s how it should be? Or maybe she licked it overnight. ..In general, in the morning we treated the whole thing with brilliant green and somehow put the blanket back on her...: support: I calm myself down with the thought that if she has an appetite and goes to the toilet normally, then everything is fine.: 043: True her nose is dry, cracked and peeling... and she often fluffs up her tail. I think because this blanket has rubbed her (you can see how the fur has rubbed)...:010:

Sorry, goodbye...

11.11.2010, 22:11

I really am a human doctor... I think that the skin suture there has partially come apart, otherwise the yellowish thing you see is subcutaneous fatty tissue. In principle, if there is no swelling, redness or any purulent discharge, and the cat behaves normally, the situation is not criminal. A few rules. Rule one: Wounds are not treated with alcohol solutions (i.e., neither iodine nor alcoholic brilliantine can be poured into the wound); they burn the tissue and slow down healing. The SKIN AROUND THE WOUND is treated with alcohol solutions. The wound can be washed with peroxide or chlorhexidine. Second rule - ointments do not put into wounds (ointments with oil solutions cannot be placed inside the wound - only when the wound heals) - you can put SOLCOSERYL GEL inside the wound, namely GEL, because It has a water base. Well, we process it in this way until it heals. Well, we don’t let you lick it!
And be sure to go to the doctor, because... Without seeing the wound, one can only make assumptions.

Pig Lady

11.11.2010, 22:20

I'm not a doctor at all - but I have had several operations on dogs. I believe that your seam has come apart there.
It’s strange that they sprayed you with this silvery thing - it just dries it out. We smeared the seam on the knee exactly as described above - iodine around the seam and gel on the seam itself. And during abdominal surgery recently - just iodine twice a day. It healed without problems.
Go to the doctor - no matter how your inflammation starts.

11.11.2010, 22:31

(We also treated the seam with silver spray after castration of the cat.) It’s very bad that the cat took off the blanket, she licked her skin seam and it partially came apart. I wouldn't wait a minute and go to the vet. No matter how the cat feels now... Everything can change. t-t-t...
The doctor who answered your phone is kind of strange... he just doesn’t seem to care.
(Our cat also took off her blanket ahead of schedule, licked the seam, as a result the seam festered a little, we immediately went to the vet, the seam was treated and the blanket was worn for another week).

11.11.2010, 22:51

11.11.2010, 22:56

“Our cat also took off her blanket ahead of schedule, licked the seam, as a result the seam festered a little, we immediately went to the vet, the seam was treated and the blanket was worn for another week.”

She'll probably also have to wear THIS blanket for another week after they sew it up again!!! alternative to a blanket???:(I'm afraid the cat won't last that long in a blanket!

Sorry, goodbye...

11.11.2010, 23:31

Thank you very much for the advice!!! Of course, we’ll definitely go to the doctor tomorrow!!! I’ll stick to your advice! I have solcoseryl, but in my opinion it’s a cream. I’ll definitely buy the gel! What do you think about a dry and cracked nose? It is not normal? Something to do with this seam?... damn it! :wife:
The doctor said that there is no need to remove the sutures, which means the threads are soluble? Maybe that’s why the suture came apart?:005: I’m surprised why this happened? The cat is young, everything should have healed, as they say, “like a dog.”...:( And if you sew it up (and, probably, the only way to sew it up) then again under general anesthesia, right?:(I wouldn’t want it, Milka had such a hard time recovering from anesthesia after the operation!!! I feel sorry for the cat ((((

99% of the time they won’t sew anything up for you (I wouldn’t), the fact is that a ruptured seam is considered initiated and should heal by secondary intention, i.e. on one's own. If the volume is small, everything will be fine as is. It’s just that in order to re-sew this suture, you need to at least surgically excise its edges (well, roughly speaking, cut off the edges again and fold the wound surfaces) - for this, of course, you need anesthesia. Well, if the sutures are not removable, it means that absorbable suture material was used, everyone now uses it in both people and animals....

Surgical intervention for an animal is stress that needs to be mitigated by any in an accessible way, otherwise it will lead to the development of secondary pathological processes. In addition, the operation implies a violation of the integrity of the skin and muscle tissue, and this requires long-term and attentive care, a long period of rehabilitation and careful treatment of the surgical suture.

Methods for suturing after sterilizing a cat

The suture method is of great importance.

The method of suture placement after sterilization is of great importance.

There are two of them - an internal seam and an external one.

  1. applied with silk threads, which tend to dissolve on their own. Stitches are made on the inside of the cut.
  2. The second method involves applying external stitches, the ends of which are brought to the edge of the wound and left free so that later the stitches can be easily removed.

As practice shows, it is not the only safety measure to prevent complications.

A number of rules after surgery


After surgery, the cat needs to be kept at rest.

There is a set of rules that must be followed in the postoperative period.

  1. The first rule is to ensure rest for the operated animal. Active games and contact with other animals and household members should be excluded.
  2. Long journeys should not be undertaken, as the stress received during transportation will intensify the recently experienced operational stress and negatively affect general health pet and can lead to complications.

How durable they will be largely depends on the professionalism of the surgeon.

Why might a seam come apart?

Despite the doctor’s efforts, there are still a number of reasons due to which a discrepancy in the section site may occur.

  1. One possible factor may be non-compliance asepsis rules , as a result of which an infection could get into the wound.
  2. The presence of hidden diseases in the body, due to which they may be weakened soft fabrics and muscles at the edges of the wound.
  3. Possible excessive pressure on the operated area – tight bandage or careless handling of the cat after surgery.
  4. Possible causes may be excessively tight suture stitches, violation of the section closure technique, or abdominal trauma. A weakened body due to a lack of vitamins and microelements - hypovitaminosis.
  5. Long-term use of corticosteroid drugs before the procedure.


The seam may come apart if the bandage is too tight.

Additional factors may also be the reasons:

  • obesity;
  • presence of diabetes mellitus;
  • unbalanced diet;
  • malignant formations;
  • presence of cough.

Symptoms of a seam coming apart

Dehiscence may occur before the sutures are removed if external method, and after removal.


Suture dehiscence in a cat.

Cat pain

The main sign before the threads are removed will be manifestation of pain in a pet . The pain can be so severe that the pet will exhibit severe anxiety, meow loudly and pitifully, and break free from the owner’s hands.


The manifestation of pain in a cat is the main sign of suture dehiscence.

Redness of the incision site


Redness of the incision site after surgery is a symptom that the suture may come apart.

The next symptom is redness of the incision site, and possible swelling of the surrounding tissues. When palpated, the skin will be hot. The edges of the section may move away from each other, and bloody fluid, the so-called ichor, may be released. Dangerous symptom there will be discharge of pus through the edges of the wound. This phenomenon may indicate a strong inflammatory process.

The cat licked the seam


If a cat's blanket is removed, it may lick the seam.

If a cat's blanket is removed, it may lick the seam. It's instinct. It is necessary to monitor the quality of the blanket tightening and prevent it from loosening.

What to do if the seam comes apart after sterilization?

If you suspect suture dehiscence, you need to soak the stuck bandage with hydrogen peroxide and carefully remove it.


To remove a stuck bandage, soak it in hydrogen peroxide.

  • It is recommended to treat the damaged area antiseptic solution or powder . This will reduce infection and inflammation.
  • Treatment with brilliant green, fucorcin, iodinol, and ethyl alcohol is acceptable.
  • After cleaning the wound, it is recommended to apply a bandage soaked in a solution of dimexide mixed with saline. If there is pus in the wound, your veterinarian may apply drainage.
  • When the inflammation goes away, it is permissible to tighten the edges with an adhesive plaster.
  • Recommended as a wound healing agent levomekolev ointment , also ointments containing sea ​​buckthorn oil and panthenol. Good recommendations Milk thistle oil has an anti-inflammatory effect that resolves scars and promotes healing.
  • To improve healing, it is recommended to keep the inflamed section open for some time after treatment with antiseptics.

What is important for a pet owner to know about cat stitches?

It is important for the owner of an animal to know one thing - there are two types of seams - external seams and internal seams. Let's start our story with internal seams, as the most important. They are not visible to the owner and are located under the skin of the animal. With the help of these sutures, cut tissues are connected to each other - muscles, subcutaneous tissue, fabrics gastrointestinal tract, vessels are ligated (ligated) - during abdominal operations, during sterilization of cats and dogs. Therefore, the quality of internal seams is much more important - if there are problems with them, complications may arise - bleeding, loss internal organs- hernias. Don't worry about the quality of the internal seams - you won't be able to help yourself anyway - that's the concern of the veterinarian. A good veterinarian-surgeon during an operation pays the main attention not to the beauty of the external sutures, but to the internal sutures, which helps to avoid postoperative complications.

How long does it take for sutures to dissolve in cats?

In modern veterinary medicine, 90% of internal sutures are made with absorbable suture material. The only question is the time of resorption. As practice shows, not all dissolvable sutures dissolve, excuse the pun. If the operation is repeated after a year or two, they can be found in an encapsulated state in the animal’s body. As a rule, they do not cause any inconvenience to the animal. These sutures do not require removal and therefore are of no interest to animal owners.

When should a cat's stitches be removed after sterilization? And is it even necessary?

External sutures are also often made with absorbable suture material, but we repeat that they can take a long time to dissolve and should not be left in place for longer than recommended by a veterinarian. In a standard operation, such as sterilization of cats at home, optimal time Removal of sutures is 10-12 days after surgery. There is one more important point- when the surgical wound has already healed and it’s time to remove the stitches, they begin to cause discomfort to your cat or dog and itching occurs. Animals will try to remove the stitches, and they do this not with special tools, but with their teeth and tongue. One can imagine the consequences of such removal of stitches. It happens that dogs or cats lick the suture area so much that the question of repeat surgery arises. Of course, there are protective collars and blankets to prevent licking, but you won't keep your cat or dog in them forever. Therefore, it is absolutely clear that the external sutures should be removed. You can do this yourself, without a veterinarian visiting your home.

Self-removal of sutures in cats without a visit from a veterinarian

Here we will look at the process of removing external interrupted interrupted sutures. We do not use any other sutures in standard operations, such as sterilization of cats and dogs, due to their impracticality and less reliability. First, if your dog or cat removes one broken suture on its own, the whole thing can be easily corrected, even under local anesthesia. Continuous sutures (cosmetic intradermal) have one significant drawback - if any part of the suture is damaged, it is often necessary to re-sew everything again - the amount of work is significantly greater. Secondly, there is no particular point in cosmetic stitches after sterilization - in animals the postoperative scar is not as noticeable as in a person after surgery - in animals everything heals much better. In addition, the seam area will still be overgrown with hair, unless of course it is a Sphynx or Chinese crested dogs. In general, interrupted knotted seams are simple, strong, reliable.

Is it painful to remove stitches for cats after sterilization?

Removing such stitches is very simple, the main thing is not to worry. You can do this yourself, avoiding a veterinarian visiting your home. The main difficulty can only be fixation of the animal. Cats do not like, for example, to lie on their backs; this is against their nature. Particularly impressionable animals may growl or whine as soon as you touch the suture area, but do not succumb to provocation - nothing hurts there, certainly by the time it is removed. Remember that cats and dogs have a slightly lower pain threshold compared to humans. They scream and break out not from pain, but from principle and love of freedom!

Before removing stitches from a cat, be careful!

Before removing stitches, you need to make sure that the stitches have healed. The suture area should be dry, there should be no extra bloody crusts, and the edges of the wound should not be visible. Those. you need to be sure that nothing will come apart once you remove the stitches. Here you don’t have to be a highly qualified specialist, everything is visible to the naked eye, the main thing is to look closely. It is better to show sutures on which blood crusts or any other deposits are visible to a specialist.

How to remove stitches from a cat? Very simple!

We repeat, the main thing is not to be afraid. Everything is extremely simple. Look carefully. Speaking conventionally, the seam has 2 parts - outer and inner. The outer one is a nodule and two antennae. You can't see the inside, it's under the skin. Now you need to grab these two antennae (you can grab the knot, it doesn’t matter) and lightly pull up. You will see that there are TWO threads coming from the knot under the skin - you need to cut ONE and then pull it up. You should have a knot with two tendrils in your hands and the inner part of the seam under the knot - a cut ring. You need to do the same with the remaining seams. The main thing is not to cut two threads. Then part of the suture will remain under the skin and it will be difficult to get it out, but don’t worry, this won’t be necessary - the rest of the suture under the skin will most likely be encapsulated and should not cause any trouble. When the first seam is removed, repeat the same with the rest. It should be much easier with them.

Sutures are cosmetic, continuous, after extensive operations, such as a total mastectomy, it is better to entrust them to a specialist. Well, if after reading our article your hands are still shaking and you get a headache... cold sweat at the mere thought of the upcoming manipulation, it is better to call us and arrange for a veterinarian to come to your home to remove the stitches.