Infection on spay site?

Question

My dog was spayed 6-8 weeks ago. For some reason it never seemed to completely heal, but I wasn't too worried because she wasn't bothered by it; I thought she was just healing slowly. However, over the last couple of days it has started bothering her and looks like it is getting infected.
I called the place that spayed her, but they won't help because it has been so long. They said I can take her to a vet, but I don't have the money right now... is there anything I can do to help her? Is it okay to use neosporin or something similar?

Also, it seems like there is a tight knot or like something hard bulging under where she was stitched: is that normal? It has been like that since I got her back, but others with dogs have said it was fine.

It isn't warm to the touch, but it was leaking a little bit of pus. I've been cleaning it and putting neosporin on it, and it looks a bit better.
I found a place that will help with vet expenses, so I'm taking her in tomorrow morning.

To the person who commented about the money- I do know that, and I take good care of my dog. This month was a fluke because I was in the hospital and ended up with my over $500 in prescriptions and things for myself. She is up to date on all of her shots, and is always well taken care of. If you feel you're perfect enough to be comfortable making judgements on people, I'd advise at least getting all the information first; ideas about what can be done to fix the situation are much better than lectures on what should or shouldn't have happened in the past.

Answer 1

HI, I'm a Vet Tech and this problem is actually more common than people think. Many dogs can have a reaction to the suture and this causes swelling and puss-like discharge. As long as your puppy is eating, drinking, and acting normal I would not get too excited. Use neosporine on the site to help with the swelling and puss. (your dog will probably lick this off, but it won't hurt it her) The knots you are feeling are the absorbable suture under the skin. You can usually feel these scars many years down the road after your dog has been spayed. Keep your dog from licking the site and messing with it, it will only irritate it more. If she stops acting normal or quits eating then she probably needs anti-biotics so go to the vet. You can use bennadryl to help if it itches or bothers her too much. I can't tell you how much because I don't know what kind of a dog she is or how much she weighs It will make her tired but that is normal. If you call your local vet most of them can tell you how much to administer.

Just try to keep it clean. Use a cool damp cloth to clean the site. Put the neosporine on 3-4 x daily. and keep a close eye on her behavior. If she's abnormal... go to the vet!! I wouldn't use peroxide because if she licks it, it will make her vomit (vets use peroxide all the time to make dogs vomit up things they shouldn't have ate aka rat poison)

Take her in for a check up when you get the money to be sure there isn't anything serious wrong.

Answer 2

All of those people who are sying to just take her to the vet no matter what the money situation is must be well off. If the site isn't leaking pus or warm ot the touch she probably ahs a small infection and the best thing to do is to put some antibiotic on it and keep it clean. Also putting a warm damp washcloth on it will help. I have a really good friend who is a doctor and her husband is a vet and she has told me numerous times that anything you can use yourself you can use on a dog. Such as antibiotic. Just keep an eye on it and if it gets looking to bad then I would advise going to the vet. When I got both of my girls fixed they both had a decent size bump under where the stitches were and the vet said it was totally normal. Good luck!

Answer 3

I've got to tell you, I too am amazed at the judgemental attitudes of people. I am a strong advocate of spay/neuter, of being able to "afford" to have a dog, and the overall responsibility of having a 4 legged friend. I also know that times can get rough, money tight, and the fact that you are seeking help is a possitive thing and you should not be judged poorly because you have sought help. She needs to see a vet, check with your local rescue groups see if they can offer any suggestions as to local help. Talk to your local shelter - and if all else fails, maybe try an ad on craigslist for help with the vet bill - its a stretch but you never know. Here you went and did the right thing - got her spayed - don't give up now. I would most certainly file a complaint with the BBB on the people that spayed her only because they are turning you away now, you would think that they would want to follow through on their work - Good Luck, hope it all works out.

Answer 4

Some dogs are allergic to the kind of suture material the vets use to close the abdomen . Swelling of the the spay site is normal for a week or so not 6 weeks. The bulging should not be there after this long. Needs to be on some sort of antibiotics for infection. Very serious......Keep trying with what you are doing. Your vet should help you out! Try a e-collar to prevent her from licking the site.

Answer 5

I would use neosporin after I had poured peroxide on it . peroxide will "get in there" to get the infection if there is one. I'm sure you will get to the Vet soon as your able. Here the vet does the spayeding and stands behind his work . I would call one and ask about the "knot". It may be normal. To bad you had a bad experience. I keep a can of Bagbalm on hand . It's good for everything for animals or people. Don't laugh, it's a New England legendary cure for everything and it works!

Answer 6

Money or no money she needs to go to a vet. If it's infected she will become very ill or worse if not treated.

See if you can find a vet that will do a payment plan or put it on a credit card. If no other option is avaliable she will have to be surrendered to a no kill shelter. This could become serious. It should have been taken care of as soon as you noticed a problem. Neosporin won;t fix it. She will need oral antibiotics.

Answer 7

In my experience almost all females get that during the healing process. The knotty prescence is the incision healing from the inside out. It will feel that way until the stitches completely dissolve. And, dunno if you've ever had a deep cut or tattoo but when skin heals it ITCHES. You can apply a light layer of neosporin if she won't lick it off. Or some benadryl spray to ease the itchy feeling. I'd just leave it alone but just make sure she doesn't bother it.

Answer 8

That doesn't sound good - call the vet who spayed your dog and tell him about all this and insist her look at her stitches.
This is part of the spaying and should not cost extra.

You can use neosporin, but she really needs to be seen by the vet who did the stitching - insist on it.

Answer 9

hi, I honestly have not had this difficulty with my cats nor am I a vet or vet assistant. i understand that pus coming from an incision shows there is an infection and antibiotics can effectively manage it. I honestly have seen this take place to horses while a wound gets contaminated. Checking which incorporate your vet is to make beneficial the antibiotics are working. From my analyze and different analyzing, i think that it is the right direction of action. additionally, while we people could bypass to the ER with an infection, we are counseled to maintain on with up with our healthcare expert. i think it is an identical for animals. I even have self assurance your cat would be nice.

Answer 10

Is it hot and pink to the touch? oozing anything? Does she have a fever? or just knotted up feeling? the scar tissue can do that.

Ticks me off that the spay and neuter nazis are always there to tell you to fix your pet, but when there is a problem, they run for the hills.

you can get antibiotics for her ~ without the vet visit if necessary