My cat's spay incision looks inflamed 9 days post-op. Is it normal?

The incisions do not appear to be infected in the images supplied. Confirm all three cats have e-collars (cones) in place to prevent licking. The cones should stay on for at least 10-14 days post op. Monitor for lethargy, loss of appetite, odor, excessive bruising, active bleeding or discharge.

It does not appear wide open, is not red and is not bleeding or draining. It looks good for 6 days post op. Monitor for redness,swelling, discharge, bleeding or for dehiscence (opening). Monitor also for lethargy, loss of appetite or fever. These are all symptoms that should be addressed by your veterinarian.

All in all, I think that Tokyo's incision looks perfectly normal for being about 10 days post-op. I can see that she's likely been licking the center part a bit more than she should have been since the tissue is still slightly red. However, it's still healing nicely. Since this area is a bit red, I would try to put an e-collar (cone) or baby onesie on Tokyo for the next few days to prevent her from licking at it. The white areas that you're seeing look like normal fibrin-rich tissues, which are normal in the healing process and will fall off shortly. I hope that she continues to heal well!

I agree with you, it does look like Zara's incision is opening a bit but the rest of it looks great. I do think this is something that needs to be seen by your vet to be safe, but it does not need an emergency visit. You can wait until Monday to have her seen. If the incision opens wider, she starts bleeding from the incision, you notice the area becoming red, swollen, or warm to the touch, or you notice internal tissue coming out of the incision, then that is an emergency and I would rush her into a vet right away. I'm not sure if she has an Ecollar or not, but if she does, keep it on her to keep her from licking at the incision. If you don't have one, I can put a link below on how to make one at home. Best of luck, I hope this helps! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ffR-LzyW1M

A little inflammation is common at the surgery site with cats. This may last (but slowly reduce) over the next several weeks. However, I can not tell with a picture if there is a hernia at all. A follow up appointment with your veterinarian would be a good idea if you have any concerns. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hello. It does look like the incision is opening a bit, but just the skin. The underlying muscle looks intact. You may have to put an E-collar ( cone of shame ) on her to prevent her from licking the incision open more. Most of the big pet retailers have them & one of the soft ones made for kitties should not be too stressful for her. I would also pick up some betadine at any pharmacy & gently clean the skin twice daily. No need to scrub. It is not necessary, but it would not hurt to put a dab on Neosporin on the incision, but only if she is wearing the collar. You do not want her to try cleaning the incision with her rough tongue. If the incision reddens much more, or begins to discharge at all, you will need to have her seen over the weekend. She will not fall apart on you, but keep a good eye on things & if it really worries you, have her seen quickly. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Given the red and irritated appearance of Nellie’s skin, I’m concerned that she either has a skin infection (usually from excessive licking with underlying allergies) or an allergic reaction (contact dermatitis) to something in her environment. The white plaques appear to be skin crusts, which can occur with either of these situations. At this point, your best bet is to take Nellie to her vet for evaluation. She may need a course of antibiotics or topical medications to get this issue under control. Until her appointment, be sure to keep an e-collar (cone) on her so that she doesn’t lick herself and make matters worse. I hope that everything goes well!