My cat is trying to pull out spay stitches. What happens if she does?

Hi there. No, we definitely don't want Leia to pull her stitches out! If your veterinarian did not provide you with an e-collar (plastic cone) to prevent this, you need to get one ASAP from a pet store and put it on her. You could also use a snugly fitting T-shirt or something similar to cover the incision so that she can't get to it.

Hi there. Often, losing a single suture a few days after surgery isn't a huge deal, especially if the incision still appears to be closed and there is no bleeding or drainage. But it's hard to say if this is a problem or not without being able to see it. If you want to, you can post a photo of the incision for us to look at - we may be able to give you a better idea of whether it needs any treatment.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There could be an infection developing or even inflammation that will make healing more difficult. I recommend having them evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment which will likely include the use of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications. Good luck and have a good day!

It looks like Mordred may have been pulling out her sutures. In 2 pictures there are 3 while in the third picture there are only two. I would recommend taking her back to the veterinarian to have them evaluate her and also recommend getting her an elizabethan collar. Typically after this procedure, it is best to keep them quiet for about 10 days but cats are hard to keep quiet so we do the best we can to help them recover. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Gita. Six days is quite early to have her sutures removed. However, maybe it was suspected that she was having a reaction to the suture material or that they were contributing to the infection. It is possible for her wound to heal, but it will be more difficult without the sutures. She must be kept from licking the surgical site and her movements need to limited. No running, jumping or playing. I hope this information helps!

I would leave the remaining suture alone unless it seems to be bothering Kloe. Depending on what type of suture your veterinarian uses, it may disintegrate and come out on its own over the next few weeks, or it may be a type of non-absorbable suture that is designed to stay in place permanently. If the area around the suture looks red or irritated, or if it seems to be bothering her, I would suggest taking her back to your vet to have this checked - he/she can safely remove it if needed.

Thank you for the picture, it really helps with my answer. The incision still looks like it's together, so you don't need to rush Ella into a vet immediately. Just keep her quiet, and monitor it daily. If the incision comes apart, there is excessive bleeding, it appears infected, or that stitch falls out, have her seen by a vet. I hope this helps.