My dog's internal dissolvable stitches: incision opened. Is it normal?

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!

Although a picture of it would help to determine the severity of the problem, your description is compatible with a wound breakdown. Nothing to be worried about right now (so I do not think an emergency consult is needed) but a buster collar would be helpful to avoid any licking (if any) and I would recommend to keep the area clean with water. Tomorrow a vet check up would be needed to confirm this suspicion and treat appropriately. Antibiotics will be required.

The wound margins still look normal and the wound seems still ok at this stage. I would recommend to have the collar back on and keep it on. At this stage a vet check up is not strictly needed. 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. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! No, non-dissolving stitches aren’t used UNDER the skin and always dissolve. What is likely happening is that Rocky is reacting to the suture as it breaks down. It happens somewhat often. It takes several months for the suture to dissolve completely. I would warm compress the area and give it time. Watch for secondary infection and any protruding suture. You can always send us a picture as well in another post. Good luck!

Hi ! The areas where the arrows are drawn are where some subcutaneous, ( under the skin ), sutures are. It is normal for them to cause a little reaction and a lumpy “feeling”. These sutures are dissolvable as well as the intradermal ones that are present on the wound edges. The scab will gradually become drier and eventually fall off. It will take around 10 days ! Hope all goes well and that results bring some good news !

Thank you for the picture of his incision, it's very helpful. After 12 days, the incision should be fully healed, and in the picture, it doesn't look red, swollen, or infected. There is an area in the middle that looks a little open, and that may be from him pulling at the stitches, but it doesn't look fully open. I would put a cone back on him to keep him from pulling at the stitches more, and take him to a regular vet if you can on Monday to get the rest of them removed. There isn't a need for an emergency vet at this point in time. If you cannot get him into another vet on Monday, you can wait until Tuesday to see his normal vet as long his incision doesn't become infected or open up more. Again, keep a cone on him to keep him for getting at the stitches. I hope this helps!

Hello. I can assure you that there are internal sutures holding the incision closed, but I assume you are worried about the small opening visible at the base of the incision. Two things you can do, the first is to make sure Rhett can not get to the incision to lick or chew at it. He may need to wear a collar or cone of shame to protect the incision. Then you can put a dab of Neosporin on the raw area, but if Rhett is leaving the incision alone, this is probably not necessary. Everything looks good to me based on your pictures. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.