[Lilly]

I am such a bad mommy! Why did I ever take Lilly to the low cost vet to get her spayed? I have heard such good things about how the vets help so many cats. Everyone who was there said the vet loves animals and does a wonderful job. I thought I was doing the right thing, considering my husband has been laid off and we are so short of money. I just wanted to make sure Lilly did not get pregnant like Minnie did.

Well as you all know Lilly developed a hernia after her surgery in November. So she went back last monday (i think it was the 9th) to have her hernia repaired. I took her back to the same traveling low cost vet, because she would look at Lilly for free. She repaired Lilly's hernia ans stiched her up.

Now Lilly has what appears to be an infection on the bottom of the incision. It is red around just a small portion at the bottom. (the rest looks really good, almost all healed up) Also it has oozey stuff a little bit coming out of it.
I know it sounds awfull!!!! I dont want to call the traveling vet back agian. They have done enough. I dont have a dime to my name right now, my checkbook is negitive 2.00!!! My husband just went back to work on Monday, and we have backed up bills as well as Christmas presents to buy.
I am sorry that I am whineing. I am just so upset. I am going to call my regular vet and see if I can get some advice over the phone in the morning. I hope he can just give her a antibiotic shot, or pill or something without needing an office visit. We will see.
HAs anyone ever had the area around the incision get infected before? Also it appears she may have pulled out her bottom stitch, because the rest of the wound is almost healed and this part still looks like it is open....

 

[Padunk]

Both of my cats wouldn't leave their stitches alone... both of them irritated their stitches so much that they pussed a little bit. When I took them in, the stitches were in long enough so they just removed them and everything quickly went to normal. If it was too soon to remove the stitches, they would've been given an Elizabethian collar.

And Lilly, you're not a bad pet parent at all. You've been wonderful to those cats and have done everything you can for them given your budget... and I think you're incredible and wonderful for doing it.

 

[shlanon]

When Stormy got spayed, her incision turned a bit red and she actually pulled out one of her stitches. She only had a few days before she went back to get them out so it ended up being okay.
Of course I was freaked out about it. But it really wasn't too bad, it didn't look really infected or anything, just kind of red with maybe a tiny bit of pus. I put some neosporin on her and tried to keep her from licking it (although that was hard) and mostly just watched her to make sure it wasn't getting any worse. It was a Sunday that this happened and I didn't want to take her to the emergency vet. By Monday it already was looking better.
It is really a judgement call for you on how bad it looks, it may very well just heal up on its own. Of course, to be safe it may need a visit or antibiotics.
I don't know if I did the right thing by putting neosporin on Stormy. I think at the time I found something online that said it was okay, but I have no idea if it really was. Anyone know?

 

[Rayona]

My kitty just pulled out the last little bit of her dissolving stiches and left a ***** little hole. I freaked out and called the emergency vet who laughed at me (nicely) and said if I was very worried I could dab a little hydrogen peroxide on the wound.

My girls definitely were pretty red around their incisions for a week or so. If you can touch the incision check to see if it feels hot. Can you push out lots of pus, or does it just ooze a little on its own?

 

[Lilly]

That makes me feel so much better! Last time after her spay surgery her wound healed right away with no red or puss. Although last time they only put stitches on the inside and this time they put them on the outside as well. They are disolving stitches though, so she had no follow up appointment.

It is not alot of puss, just kinda oozey. There is like a little hole and it is red aroung the edges. I touched it last night, and it doesnt feel very hot. I also put some triple antibiotic on the area. She seems healthy and active, and is eating and all.

I never had thease problems with Jerry's surgery! Is it really just easyier for males than females? Minnie goes for her surgey in a little less than a month...so I suppose I will have all these problems agian.

 

[kitkat]

I think you are doing a wonderful job with Lilly, hopefully it is nothing serious but my Sugar was a bit sore and red after her spaying too but it went away. She loves to lick at it though but anyways I think girls are more problematic than males because they have the incisions on the outside or something and boys its the opposite. :wink:

 

[shlanon]

I forgot, I put hydrogen peroxide on Stormy's incision also. Had to hold her down, but I think it was good because she didn't try to lick afterwards or anything.

 

[Lilly]

Thanks Shlannon! I will try that, I am nervous to put any more antibiotic cream because she keeps licking it off. She seems to be doing much better though. I am just such a worrier :wink:

 

[Jeanie]

When one of my cats had a terrible abcess operation, the vet said I could take him home if I would REALLY clean the wound thoroughly, even if he cried. I had to pour peroxide in the opening and clean it with a Q tip, then apply an antibiotic. (It was an open hole that had to heal from the inside and not scab over with infection under the scab.) He said sometimes owners are so afraid of hurting the cat they don't clean the wound well. Blacky purred and his paws were sweating. That type of purr is because of pain and fear. Poor baby! But he lived to be 16.

 

[Bean]

I would doctor it as much as possible yourself and keep a close eye on her. I probably would be good to make sure the house is extra clean too. Maybe if she lays in a certain spot put a towel down and change it daily.

I had to care for a kitty who had an infection from a cat fight. The doctor ended up having to do a minor operation to help it heal, which included a straw for fluid drainage (VERY weird looking - looked like you could take a sip of him).

Not saying it will come down to the above, but just keep an eye on the redness/inflamation/puss.