Is it safe to delay my cat's stitches removal from 10 to 14 days?

Unfortunately, at least 10 days with stitches on are required for complete healing. I recommend to bring your cat to the vet to replace the missing suture asap. In the meantime and after replacing the sutures, avoid licking or scratching by using a buster or a postoperative body (https://www.amazon.com/Kruuse-Buster-Body-Black-3X-Small/dp/B00Z0U6EH8). Please post again on the forum if you would like to discuss it further. I hope my answer was helpful.

Hi there. Often, losing a single suture a few days after surgery isn't a huge deal, especially if the incision still appears to be closed and there is no bleeding or drainage. But it's hard to say if this is a problem or not without being able to see it. If you want to, you can post a photo of the incision for us to look at - we may be able to give you a better idea of whether it needs any treatment.

I would leave the remaining suture alone unless it seems to be bothering Kloe. Depending on what type of suture your veterinarian uses, it may disintegrate and come out on its own over the next few weeks, or it may be a type of non-absorbable suture that is designed to stay in place permanently. If the area around the suture looks red or irritated, or if it seems to be bothering her, I would suggest taking her back to your vet to have this checked - he/she can safely remove it if needed.

It depends... Stitches usually dissolve or are removed after about two weeks. If Peanut had absorbable stitches but part of the stitch material poked through her skin, it wouldn't absorb because it was too dry. I would recommend giving the vet who did her surgery a call to see if she can go in tomorrow to have the area looked at. If it's been long enough and the area is healed, they can remove any remaining stitches. They may not even charge for this! I don't recommend trying this at home because if you cut her, she'll need surgery again to fix it (and that definitely will have a charge!). Good luck and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach

From what I can see in your picture I think everything looks good, but it can sometimes be difficult to evaluate from a picture alone. I typically recommend waiting at least 10 days until removing the e-collar but some vets might recommend more or less time. I think it would be best to follow your vet's instructions. If they didn't specify you should wait to remove the e-collar until you can contact them.

That stitch will not dissolve for a long time. It needs to be removed. It looks a bit irritated around the suture but I think overall it looks OK (from what I can tell from the photo). I suggest you take Harley to your vet so they can remove the stitch and check the incision. Usually a post-op examine and suture removal are free. Best wishes.

Cat neuters are one of the few surgeries that do not require stitches and most vets do not place stitches. If your vet did not give any special instructions about stitches, then I wouldn't worry about it; it's expected that a cat will be a cat. If the vet did give some special instructions, then follow them as best as you can, but stitches are often placed assuming that there will be some tension due to running, jumping and licking; so I wouldn't be too worried about him causing major damage. It's good to have a look at his scrotum every day for the next 10 days. If you happen to notice excessive swelling (some swelling is expected in the first few days), pus, or any other abnormalities, then I'd recommend taking him in for an exam by your vet. The chances of a serious complication is very small, so I wouldn't worry about leaving him for the day. They usually recover quickly after this procedure and rarely have complications. I hope that helps and all is well with Lemur.