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My puppy's spay stitches are scabbing. Is a small gap normal?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 5 months and 28 days old | 7.2 lbs

My puppy was spayed on Monday & her stitches are starting to scab over slightly. There's no sign of infection *knock on wood* but I wanted to be sure that the scabbing is normal? It almost looks like there's a little gap at the top but I'm pretty sure it's just a black scab and not actually open We ended up taking her to get her cone readjusted and the vet tech glanced at it & said she should be fine but it wasn't a good enough look. She's very active I try to stop her but it's tough

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Rebeccah Wood

Answered By Rebeccah Wood

Licensed Veterinary Technician, Registered Laboratory Animal Technologist

Published on July 29th, 2017

Hello there! Scabbing over the stitches is pretty normal, however a gap at the top might be a stitch from under the skin poking out. The stitches that go into the muscle layer after a spay are absorbable, but sometimes the body treats them like any other foreign substance (think splinters) and tries to reject them before they get a chance to absorb (which can take 90-200 days). If you truly see a hole in her incision line, I recommend bringing her back to the vet to see if a subcutaneous stitch needs to be removed. This would not likely require anesthesia, but it's not something that you should do at home.

Good luck, and I hope that Snowball continues to do well! :)
Vote Icon1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Claudia Fioravanti

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 22nd, 2017

    That wound looks absolutely fine ! I see what you mean about the stitches but the important is that the wound is coming together nicely ! There are some subcutaneous stitches which are holding the wound together, the ones that you see are the skin ones and they are sometimes loose in case the wound becomes swollen. Nothing to worry about.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Health & Wellness
Is a tiny hole in my puppy's spay incision normal after 5 days?
Hi and thanks for your request. The skin seems healing normally, the small gap is not concerning at this stage. the redness is due to mild inflammation. there are no indications of delayed or abnormal healing or infection. Please rest her as much as possible for the next 4-5 days and discourage any licking.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
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My dog's spay incision healed, but a stitch is poking out. Normal?
It takes several months for dissolvable sutures to fully break down. While this happens, it's not uncommon for a suture end to poke through the skin. Since Willow's incision has healed fully a month after surgery, it's perfectly fine to trim the end of suture that's sticking out. Obviously, take care not to accidentally cut Willow!
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My dog's spay stitches look like they could pull out. Is that normal?
Thank you for submitting your question regarding Minnie. The stitches are not very tight, but that can be to accommodate any swelling of the skin post-surgically. As long as she is prevented from licking the incision, it should be fine. If however, the stitches come out or the incision opens up, then she will need to see her veterinarian. I hope this information helps!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
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Why is my dog's spay incision still scabbing after 6 months?
The wound appears very superficial in the picture and I would leave it open to the air without dressing. Manuka honey and saline washes once daily may help if it becomes crusted. It is possibly due to a reaction to suture material which although rare can occur (surgical repair is a last resort as healing can be slow!)
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Vet Q & A
My dog's spay stitches bled after playing. Should I see a vet?
Hello, and thank you for your question. It looks like Sydney's incision is still mostly apposed. I would keep her very quiet for the next week, and keep an e-collar on her at all times. With strict rest, the small gap may start to scab up and start healing on its own. Over the next few days, if you notice any further redness, swelling or discharge, I would take her back to the vet to see if she may need a few stitches or tissue glue to re-appose the edges again. I hope this helps, and that Sydney continues to heal well!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
Why is there a gap in my kitten's spay incision 8 days after surgery?
This incision is fine. It is healing from the inside out. Over the next few weeks thie skin will fill in and the fur will grow back. You may still feel the absorbable sutures under the skin for another month. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Chai.
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Why does my dog's spay incision feel like stitches years later?
Actually, it could be stitches, depending on what kind of material they used for that layer (we close abdominal incisions in 3 individual layers). Or it could be scar tissue. Either way, if it isn’t causing any issues, just let it be! :) If it seems to be causing discomfort or swelling, then it needs to be examined by a vet.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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