My dog had spay surgery. How to care for non-dissolving stitches?

Astra needs to stay inside until the incision is fully healed which is typically 10 to 14 days. During that time she cannot do any running or jumping. She should also only be allowed short leash walks just to use the bathroom. You don’t want her to tear her her stitches. Also, she should wear an Elizabethan collar at all times to prevent any licking which could also tear the stitches or cause an infection. If she seems overly active, you may call the veterinarian and ask about a sedative. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Wow, that's great! Awesome job talking to your mom about it :-) After surgery, it's extremely important to keep her quiet and rested, and to keep an Ecollar on her to prevent her from licking at her sutures. She has to stay quiet in order for her incision to heal correctly, and she has to stay quiet with the Ecollar on until her sutures are removed 10-14 days after surgery. Licking at her sutures can cause them to break down and open the incision, and it can introduce infection into the area. You will have to check the incision twice a day for signs of infection which include redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, or excessive discharge. If you see any of those signs, Bella will have to go back into the vet for an exam and antibiotics. Again, great job talking to your mom!

Hi there. Thank you for using PetCoach. So sorry you had this experience at your vet. The number one thing you need to do is make sure to limit her activity. No running around free in the yard. No playing with other dogs or running up/down stairs. No jumping up on beds or couches. She should only be leash walked only and kept as calm and quiet as possible for about 7-10 days. Also, make sure she cannot lick the incision - this is the number one problem we see post-operatively - dogs lick the incision and get it open. So be sure to use an E-collar (cone) for at least 10 days. If they did not give you one, you can buy one at any large pet store or online. You can apply this fly repellant ointment AROUND the incision but not on it. It is recommended that you not put anything on the incision directly. ( https://www.amazon.com/Farnam-Products-100532971-Repellent-Ointment/dp/B07D1M6LSB/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=farnam+flys-off+repellent&qid=1570893908&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-1 ) Hope this helps. If you have more questions feel free to post again. Best wishes!

The incision looks ok at this point but water can potentially introduce infection into the incision. Miley should be confined and leash walked only for at least 10 days after surgery. No jumping, no swimming, no running off leash. Monitor the incision for redness, swelling or discharge and let her vet know if you notice any of this.

Great question! Absorbable sutures vary widely in both strength and how long they take to dissolve, but some will dissolve within two weeks. In terms of a spay, it is recommended that activity is restricted for two weeks, so yes that is enough time for Precious to not be active. I hope this helps!

Recovery will take approximately two weeks in most dogs. During this time, it is recommended to prevent or avoid excessive running, jumping or rough play. An e-collar (cone) is typically work until sutures (stitches) are removed 10-14 days after surgery. It should be left on at all times to prevent licking or chewing at the spay site. There is no reason Daisy cannot be left alone as long as she has someone to let her out to use the bathroom.

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!