Should I worry about a bulge near my recently spayed cat's incision?

This sounds like it is likely a seroma (a fluid pocket under the skin), or a tissue reaction to the suture material - both of these are quite common in cats after spay surgery, and should not cause any serious problems. Less commonly, the swelling could be caused by an infection or even a hernia. If Leia is acting normal (eating and drinking fine, playful, etc.), you can monitor the bump until it's time for her stitches to be removed. Applying a warm compress like a warm wet washcloth to the area 2-3 times a day can help the swelling to resolve faster, as well as restricting her activity as much as possible. If Leia is acting very lethargic or not eating, or if there is any bleeding or yellow-green discharge from the bump, these may be signs of infection - in that case, I would take her to the vet today for an exam and antibiotics or other medication if needed.

I would keep an eye on Mayla's incision for now. If the swelling increases or you see more blood, then yes take her into the vet. I would also put the cone back on her. It seems to help keep her less active, which is vital for her healing. Best of luck.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Monitor for an redness, drainage, increase in swelling or pain along the incision. Not eating or lethargy are also signs to watch for. This may be a suture reaction, an inflammatory reaction to the sutures used. If concerned you may want to call the shelter to find out if their vet or technician offers rechecks of their surgical patients.

Yes it looks like healing normally. I would just monitor that small bump in case it gets bigger. Otherwise it looks like dry and not inflamed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Hello there! There are a couple of things that come to mind with a hardened area at the spay site. The first and most common issue I can think of may be inflammation from a localized suture reaction at the incision site. When Soy was spayed, the vet most likely used a layer of absorbable stitches in her abdominal muscles below the skin. These stitches are meant to absorb over time (anywhere from 90-220 days, depending on the type of suture) and don't usually cause any problem, but sometimes the body's immune system reacts against this foreign material and causes swelling. This is not usually a medical concern unless the swelling is hot, red, or appears to be bothering Soy. If you see any of these symptoms, you should bring her to the vet as this may indicate an infection. It may take many weeks to go away - if you are at all concerned about Soy's well-being, feel free to give the vet that spayed her a call. If Soy will let you, placing a warm compress against the area for 10 minutes a day can also help reduce the swelling. There is also the possibility that this lump is a cyst or tumor, but this is much less likely considering Soy's young age. Good luck, and I hope Soy's lump goes away soon!

The incision looks like it’s opened up a little, perhaps from her licking it. I would get a cone on her so she can’t lick and the incision should heal fine in a week or so. The incision on a female has layers and goes into the abdomen so often there is more swelling and puckering than a male who just has a skin incision into the scrotum. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Remi.

I would guess that this lump might be scar tissue or a suture reaction, however sometimes a lump can form when there is an infection or even a problem with the internal incision. I would recommend having your vet examine Neyro's incision. If there is discharge tonight or if Neyro is painful it would be a good idea to have her examined by an emergency vet.