My cat's knee surgery wound is open after stitches removed. Is this normal?

Unfortunately, at least 10 days with stitches on are required for complete healing. I recommend to bring your cat to the vet to replace the missing suture asap. In the meantime and after replacing the sutures, avoid licking or scratching by using a buster or a postoperative body (https://www.amazon.com/Kruuse-Buster-Body-Black-3X-Small/dp/B00Z0U6EH8). Please post again on the forum if you would like to discuss it further. I hope my answer was helpful.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Neptune. Poor kitty! That does look open and irritated, and think he needs to see a vet now to have this restitched. Please take him into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. Best of luck.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I think that area should have had stitches, so I’m assuming Buddy licked them out. It only takes a few seconds for a dog to remove them. He should be wearing an E-collar or a donut at all times. He shouldn’t lick that open area either. Clean it well with soap and water and apply a triple antibiotic ointment. It likely will heal on its own as long as he doesn’t continue to lick. I wish Buddy a speedy recovery!

Hi there, and thank you for including the picture as it is helpful. I see the area in question and it looks like a large scab from the incision may have come off. Of course a picture is not as helpful as seeing the wound in person but the underlying tissue looks healthy. This may take several weeks to completely heal and seal closed. I would encourage you to have a follow up appointment with your veterinarian in the next few days to make sure they don’t have any other concerns. In the meantime keep the area clean by using a clean but moist wash rag to compress the area a few times a day. Best of luck and I hope William continues to heal quickly! Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Using dissolvable or non-dissolvable sutures would not cause an incision to open. Other factors like movement and infection would. It sounds like Kane had a surgical complication that can happen with any surgery. I’m sorry he’s going through this but continue the treatment the doctor recommended and it should heal with time. Kisses to Kane!

A little bit of blood/tinged fluid is not uncommon but I would schedule a post surgery recheck with the operating vet as soon as possible just to be sure, especially as one end of the wound has loosened a little. An emergency visit would be recommended if any swelling develops behind the wound, it starts to gape open more than 0.5cm or if it is persistently dropping blood.

That could be quite a common situation, especially with certain kind of tumors (mast cell tumors). Depending on what the wound looks like(a picture would help to define it more specifically), a revision surgery may be needed. Tissue glue or metal staples could be valid options as well. 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.