Spay stitches infected?

Re: Spay stitches infected?

Steph Phillips — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 17:15:51 GMT

[quote user="Phrin Vernon"]

Can you imagine if a vet or nurse discharged an op with abdo sutures, forgot to mention collars cause it wasn't routine to give them out, and said animal then presented with its guts hanging out? And the owner was of the type to complain to the RCVS?

[/quote]

We never used to send aniamls home with a collar routinely.. but this reason is why every op now goes home with a collar - a previous nurse discharged an animal without mentioning a collar ((this was years ago)) .. then the next day.. the poor dog had her spay wound open and guts hanging out.. the client was livid that she was never offered a collar as she would of taken one.. the nurse got one hell of a telling off - then left!.. and the client complained.. so since then... we send them home with one! not worth the fuss!

you do get some clients though that are like "does she really need it?" and I stress that if they get to the stitches, might cost them £££ to repair the wound as suppose to £3 - £5 for a collar - they tend to say yes to a collar then

I think providing you offer them a collar, thats good .. but if they decline, then I think it is best to write it in the records "client declined collar" cause if something does happen, you got proof that they were offered!

Sorry - I totally rambled on there

Re: Spay stitches infected?

Phrin Vernon RVN — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 21:34:38 GMT

[quote user="Laura James"]

We don't send every animal home with a buster collar unless we've seen them interfering or are in an area they will easily scratch them out. Although we do ask owners and stress that the take one home anyway. We very rarely have any in for re-sutures except for those that refuse collars or the ones that take the collars off once they get home!

[/quote]

We are the same. AlthoughI've always been taught send them home with one.

Personally, despite having seen lots of cats, dogs etc go home with no probs without a collar, if it was up to me I'd include the price of a cheapo collar in the price of the op - for a quid or so extra, I think its worth it.

Ain't worth the risk - I always try to sell one at discharge! I must admit that I don't note on the records if its declined tho - must start doing that!

Should be included in the price of surgery IMHO - even if its one of those cheapo opaque ones (Ours are custom collars and quite pricey!)

Re: Spay stitches infected?

Laura James — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 20:37:20 GMT

Re: Spay stitches infected?

Vicky RVN — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 19:54:59 GMT

We don't send every animal home with a buster collar post op, and *touch wood* we've not had one animal that needs to be re-sutured (been here 3 and a half years). If an animal shows any sign of interfering with wounds then we put a collar on before home. If they've been fine we inform owners of this but stress the fact they must come back in to pick up a collar if they show interest in the wound, and offer for them to take one away with them if they like.

Our cat spays have subcuticular sutures so no bits for them to play with!

Re: Spay stitches infected?

Steph Phillips — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 18:11:06 GMT

Aw bless her :( . I would of INSISTED on a collar! esp as she started tugging at them when she got home.. In my opinion, all animals with a healing wound needs a collar (obviously depending on the location of the site!)

[quote user="Jade_26"]Vet said there is no need for a collar because cats don't notice the stitches! She was tugging at them within 5 mins of getting home![/quote]

Exactly why I would be insisting on a collar

[quote user="Jade_26"]

No post-op appointment arranged, just the removal 10 days later, which is tomorrow.

[/quote]

I find that very odd.. we routinly see post op patients 2-3 days after op to make sure all is ok etc..

[quote user="Jade_26"]

The stitches didn't look very neat though. I don't know a lot about them, but is there supposed to be threads hanging out all over the place?! There were threads sticking out when she got home, which must have been annoying for her.

[/quote]

Depending if they were buried or not... if not, then yes.. if buried then no..

The nurse or vet (whoever discharged her) should of explained everything to you? (or your mum?)

end of the day.. it's their ar*e on the line if things go wrong.. and for that reason which is why I always recommend collars, give post op info sheets, see back after 2/3 days and more importantly.. make sure the client understands completely what to expect and contacts us if they are at all worried.

Hope your mums cat get better asap.. keep us posted xx

Re: Spay stitches infected?

Nikki Graef — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 16:59:00 GMT

If she has skin sutures which sounds like she has then yes there will be threads sticking out as there needs to be something to get hold of in order to remove the stitches. Some stitches are buried under the skin and disolve so nothing to see on the outside and nothing to remove, much better in my opinion, this is what we use routinely in practice.

Im surprised that the vet didnt ask for a post op check, ours are 2 days post op, some do 3 days some 5 depending on the practice.

Its very dangerous to leave a wound 10 days without checking whether its healing ok, also to check the cat is eating, doesnt have a temperature, isnt in pain etc etc.

I wouldnt be happy leaving my animals or myself with no check up after any operation!

Re: Spay stitches infected?

Jade_26 — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 11:51:36 GMT

I went with his Mum to take the cat when she had it done, and the Vet said there is no need for a collar because cats don't notice the stitches! She was tugging at them within 5 mins of getting home! It just annoys me that they couldn't be bothered to take her back down and ask for a collar.

No post-op appointment arranged, just the removal 10 days later, which is tomorrow.

Re: Spay stitches infected?

Sal the 1st — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 10:23:31 GMT

well I was taught to always use a buster collar as any animal undergoing surgery is going to mess around with the wound afterwards. So for years I have worked on the principle the cat/dog must go home with a collar and owners are chastised if they dont use them

However, I now work in a practice where we do not routinely offer a collar unless the owner feels an animal is particularly likely to bother with a wound or the surgery/injury is near an eye or an ear which may be prone to be rubbed or scratched - and guess what in the year I have been there there hasnt been the need for a single resuture (and we neuter quite a few).It seemed a bit alien to me at the time but I agree with the previous poster subcut sutures and comfortable ones at that and most cats dont bother with them. I had more problems at a previous practice where the sutures always seemed a bit tight (I know because I had to take them out).

Thinking about it when I did an extended stint on a spay trip the cats we were neutering there had no buster collars and although they were feral we were able to see them every day - and we certainly had no resutures there either.

Re: Spay stitches infected?

molladog — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 09:30:21 GMT

Been nursing for 30yrs now and only ever had cats remove their stitches when the vet,(usually a new one to the practice insisting on using single interupted or cruciate stitches as they look neater !! ) , didn't use a mattres suture with the knot at the back of the skin fold. After they got fed up re-stitching they finally listened to us and used mattress or subcuticular and hey presto, no more problems and no collars needed and happy cats!

Re: Spay stitches infected?

Juliet Drummond DAVN (med) RVN D32/33 — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 02:54:15 GMT

[quote user="Bizzy McClure"]

Our spays include the price of a buster collar and a tin/pouch of i/d. The owners have no excuse then!

[/quote]

same here bizzy.

re the vet not giving the buster collar- i'm sure this is a form of negligence(correct me if i'am wrong), we always give collars out, and record on the notes if the client refuses the collar.

also all our spay wounds have subcutaneous sutures, does not solve the problem of patient interference but at least the sutures are not removed.

Re: Spay stitches infected?

BengalcatRVN — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:44:49 GMT

[quote user="Bizzy McClure"]

[quote user="Lesley Stinson"]

We routinelly do not sent a patient home with a buster collar and i have only every had 3 cats interfer with their sutures ( in my 11 years as a nursse). I would question if any pain medication was administered with the original op. This could be the reason as to why she started to interfer with the sutures.

[/quote]

Wow! I have seen many many cats pull their sutures out! We give vetergesic and metacam in premend and they still have a go at them.

[/quote]

Cats groom, cat finds sutures cat thinks "that shouldn't be there" cat removes sutures.

You've just had your insides ripped out, been sutured up and someone gave you a short acting shot of morphine which has now worn off. ATTACK THE HURTY BITS!

as well as

Personal experiance: sutures feel really funny. I removed my own in 2 days just by playing with them in my mouth (I had had dental surgery, several(!) teeth removed, no pain killers, no pain)

Most cats might not, and only 3, your very lucky. Most of ours have a buster collar as I won't take a risk. To improve animal compliance they wake up with them on (my own cat will wear one providing he wakes up with it on. Try when he is awake, he wall-of-deaths it around the livingroom and I look like a self harmer)

Anyway....going back to original poster, get the cat to the vet, maybe your boss will see it and can advise them on it, rather than it wait till thursday when the in-laws can take it. I often see Battersea dogs home/other vet clients for post op chks and suture removels, we don't charge for the check up, just any antibiotics etc, or refer them back to the charity/original vets as required.

Re: Spay stitches infected?

Honeybadger — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:23:01 GMT

[quote user="Lesley Stinson"]

[/quote]

Wow! I have seen many many cats pull their sutures out! We give vetergesic and metacam in premend and they still have a go at them.

Re: Spay stitches infected?

Lesley Stinson — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:15:17 GMT

This wound sounds like it is infected and what is worse is that the cat was allowed to have continous pain from it. Was there no post op appointment set up. I work in a practise in ireland and an unsure how things are over the water so to speak but all the practises that i have worked have for always had a patient back 3 days post op so that wounds and stitches could be checked at nurse clinic's.

I am curious to know how many stitches is normal for a cat spay as i have always only every had a single stitch wound unless there was a complication and then it became a 2 stitch wound.

I do agree that the owners were neglient in not bringing her back and allowing her to suffer but sometimes owners don't want to pay more added to the inconviences of returning to the vet. Cats get such a bum deal because they will just simple sit there and try to ignore the pain. Owners are not quick to realise that there cat is suffering where a dog will more openly show there pain.

Hopefully they will bring her soon and ease her pain and discomfort.

Re: Spay stitches infected?

Honeybadger — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:14:56 GMT

Our spays include the price of a buster collar and a tin/pouch of i/d. The owners have no excuse then!

Re: Spay stitches infected?

littlehays — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 19:33:59 GMT

[quote user="BengalcatRVN"]

When I do the estimates, I put it on regardless, even when people call to price check, I give them a full breakdown and clients seem happy with it. I even suggest they hold on to a buster collar for future use, you never know!

Buster collars - the investment for the future

[/quote]

haha so true!!

Re: Spay stitches infected?

BengalcatRVN — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 19:32:31 GMT

Buster collars - the investment for the future

Re: Spay stitches infected?

littlehays — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 19:14:39 GMT

we used to find owners would decline the offer of a buster collar a lot, even after explaining all the reasons for using them, some clients just didn't want to pay the extra few quid...really strange, even when you explicitly state the worst case scenario which could come about from not using a collar. we suggested increasing the op fees slightly to allow buster collars to be sent home with every animal regardless, but partners didn't want to do this and i suppose even if they go home with one it doesn't mean the owner will keep the collar on the pet....

Re: Spay stitches infected?

BengalcatRVN — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 18:32:12 GMT

[quote user="niknoks"]

Sounds like the vets need a good telling off for telling her a buster collar isnt necessary!! All our neuters go home with a collar and get told off at the 2 day check if the pet isnt wearing it!

It sounds like you need to get the cat to the vets asap, hopefully then just a course of antibiotics will sort it out but if the cat continues to mess with the wound then a debride and resuture may be needed and will probably be fairly expensive.

[/quote]

was going to say the same! Although it sounds odd for a vets to say that. Even our under-the-skin suture spay's and our non suture cat castrations have a hat on, and we do 3 day post op chks, give the client a post op letter of what to watch out for and insist that if they are worried at ANY time, to call us. You boyfriend's parents could have just got a buster collar without the cat. Another surgery I know calls the day after the operation to see if the animals are ok, but I can't find the time to do this yet.

Re: Spay stitches infected?

Nikki Graef — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 18:25:45 GMT

Sounds like the vets need a good telling off for telling her a buster collar isnt necessary!! All our neuters go home with a collar and get told off at the 2 day check if the pet isnt wearing it!

Re: Spay stitches infected?

Jade_26 — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:43:17 GMT

It really doesn't look right, and when I gently touched close to it (not on the wound, just around the swelling), she growled and went for me, so she's clearly in pain. It's just annoying me how his parents aren't bothered at all. I hope the Vet gives them a good telling off when they take her! Sounds mean, but I think they're being cruel by not even getting it checked out.

If it is infected, what would be the treatment then? Antibiotics and a resuture? And is it likely to be costly?

Re: Spay stitches infected?

Vicky RVN — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:37:46 GMT

I totally agree with bunny. It could be pus that you're seeing? Hope kitty is ok.

Re: Spay stitches infected?

Bunny1 — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 14:53:33 GMT

Doesn't sound like its healing very well and especially not if the cat has been seen having a go at the sutures etc. If a client phoned up strong advice would be to get it checked out asap and not wait till thurs, if she really won't/ can't get cat there until then, then should get collar to prevent further damage till then..