Why are my kitten's stitches swollen and lumpy after a vet visit?

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Tombo and for providing a picture, it's very helpful. I suspect that she has an abscess. Typically outdoor cats fight with other cats, and cat bites frequently lead to abscesses. I do think you should take her into the vet to get this treated. I hope this helps!

Hi and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I cannot tell where the lump is on the photo but most if not all lumps needs to be evaluated by a vet. Especially in Simba's case since the lump has gotten swollen. Your vet will perform a full physical exam and determine if the lump needs to be aspirated. Lumps can be anything from an abscess, mass/growth, hernia etc. Your vet will determine after an exam what the next best steps and treatments are. Good 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.

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is hard to say exactly what the lump may be. It could be an abscess, a reaction to an injection given, or a tumor. I would recommend Nugget see his veterinarian soon to have this evaluated. Your veterinarian may take a sample of the material or tissue from the lump to help determine what it is so it can be appropriately treated. If Nugget is otherwise normal, I do not think this is an emergency. I would just be sure to have this evaluated soon within the next few days. I hope this helps and thanks again for posting!

This looks swollen but it can be a normal reaction to the dissolvable sutures under the skin. If the hernia opened up the swelling would be able to be pushed into the abdomen. If the swelling is firm it’s most likely a suture reaction. Be patient. This should go down a little every day and it may take a week or two to get flat. If it’s not going down or you can push the swelling into the abdomen then please take her for a recheck. If she was too active the inside stitches may have broken and the inside incision opened up. Then it would need to be closed again. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Symphony.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Bo! I swelling below the wound can be from inflamed and thickened tissues, from the bandage being too tight, from fluid build up under the skin (seroma) or infection (abscess). Ideally Bo should be seen by your Vet. If you can't do that then warm compress the area twice daily and if it doesn't resolve in a few days have him seen. I wish Bo the best!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Judging from the picture, this could be a ruptured abscess or secondary to self trauma from him scratching at the area. I would recommend having him examined by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate treatment recommendations can be made. He will need the hair clipped from around the wound and the wound cleaned. I would also recommend an antibiotic and anti-inflammatory. I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.