spay incision?

Question

We had our seven month old Boston Terrier spayed on Thursday. She came out of it really well, and since Friday has been her normal self. The vet said to try to keep her quiet and calm, but she has been scampering around the house and getting up and down on furniture (sort of hard to stop her, since she's a little imp about that!)
She's acting fine, obviously not in any pain and not licking her wound. I'm not even sure she knows it's there right now.. However, the incision site is alittle red and weepy, and it is pink and swollen looking. She doesn't mind us touching it and doesn't seem bothered. Is this normal? We'd planned to call the vet tomorrow (it's Sunday and they're closed.)

We have been following the vet instructions as closely as possible, by the way. We were told to limit activity for the first few days, which we did. I mentioned that she scampers around, but we attempt to limit her activity (no "fetch", no walks and runs, etc. We do confine her when we are not with her, and she wears an ecollar and is confined to a crate. We allowed her on the furniture before the surgery, so it is difficult to get her before she climbs on, although we do make every attempt to get her off and on without her jumping. So, in effect, we are not bad "parents", as the veternarian pointed out, only concerned about our puppy. Thank you to everyone with constructive comments.

Answer 1

It's only "normal" when owners don't follow the postop instructions they are given. :-(

You are that dog's "parent" and as such, responsible for KEEPING her calm and quiet....not LETTING her run around all over the house and jump up and down on furniture. Doing that causes inflammation of the subcutaneous (under the skin) sutures and pulls the skin apart, letting bacteria in and causing it to weep. When we say to keep them from doing that, we mean by restricting them to a small bathroom, utility room, or (best bet) crate.....where they CANNOT hurt themselves. You can tell a person who has just had surgery to 'take it easy'....but dogs don't understand that running around too soon after a major surgery is bad for them. Your DVM gave you those instructions for a REASON.

Do NOT clean the incision site with peroxide...that will only make it worse. Don't put any sort of antibiotic ointment on it, either...as the oil will hinder healing of that type of wound. If you have any Betadine, that's the only thing you should clean it with, but it can easily wait until tomorrow. Your DVM will likely give her an injection, then send you home with oral antibiotics for 7-10 days. It needs to be treated from the inside.

Then, you must FIGURE OUT A WAY to keep her from doing all that activity for at least another week so that she can properly heal. If she ruptures her internal sutures, she could herniate out her abdominal organs, necessitating another surgery to save her life.


ETA: You've totally missed the point....she shouldn't have been given the OPTION of getting up and down from the furniture for the first week after surgery. You have to remove the OPPORTUNITY for her to do that. It has only been 3 days so far, and you admitted you've been letting her run around the house, which is a HUGE no-no. Whatever restrictions you placed on her were not adequate....obviously. An E-collar is not needed for 99% of spays. She should have been confined to her crate all the time, and taken out only to go potty on a short leash....then right back inside. She should not be ALLOWED to 'scamper' around. *sigh*
That's the most constructive advice that can possibly be given, should you choose to follow it. Your choice. What you're doing is not working.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
spay incision?
We had our seven month old Boston Terrier spayed on Thursday. She came out of it really well, and since Friday has been her normal self. The vet said to try to keep her quiet and calm, but she has been scampering around the house and getting up and down on furniture (sort of hard to stop her,...

Answer 3

hey I was a vet tech for a number of years and you definitely need to go to the vet. Do not get the site wet, if it is actually producing any type of liquid and or weeping it is already or will shortly be infected. The color of the material also tells lots. If it is yellow thick ooze this is infected. The vet may need to clean, staple or glue it as well as betadine and probably put her on clavamox or some other antibiotic. Dogs just do not get the stay still and calm thing, a crate or a small bathroom can be used to contain until vet is available. Also, you can leash your pooch even indoors just for the containment help. good luck. hope it's not to expensive.

Answer 4

The answer is to keep her crated all the time except for elimination time. She may howl and complain, but a little disappointment for your dog is worth it's weight in health. Your dog doesn't just have stitches on the outside, she's stitched from the inside as well. Don't take any chances.. just make the little lady love her crate for the next week.

Crate training when you're home AND when you're away is also a great way to teach your dog to respect you as their pack leader by your controlling their EVERY move.

Answer 5

Definitely keep an eye on it. Red and weepy mean infection is starting in. You may want to try a cotton ball with some hydrogen peroxide on it to wipe it off. And if you think she won't lick at it, put a little bit of neosporin on the incision itself until you can get her to the vet.

Answer 6

This could be a suture reaction or see getting to much exercise. If it a suture reaction this should go away in a few days. Limit her exercise.

Answer 7

i have two male dogs that have been neutered, and they both had a little bit of redness due to them licking themselves. Probaly shouldnt worry too much unless there is puss or discharge coming out.

Answer 8

It's just because the skin is trying to heal but the sutures are there. She'll be fine

Answer 9

try some neosporin in the mean time