Is it very bad not to go back to the vet after spaying?

[EachandEveryone]

I was told to go back five days after it's been more than A week now she's fine and neither of them bothered with the wound. Is it worth the stress of putting her into the carrier and getting on the bus?

You need to go back or ring the vet at least.

I didn't bother. My kitten gets very stressed in the carrier and poos in it every single time so I thought that would probably increase the chance of the wound getting infected. She was running, climbing and jumping as normal within a couple of days after the spay so I phoned the vets and they said if she was recovering well and leaving the stitches alone not to bring her in.

If the stitches are not the dissolving type you should definitely take her back.

I'd ring the vet and have a chat. My elderly rabbit was supposed to go back for a check up, but I had similar concerns regarding stress. Vet was happy that I was happy with how DRabbit was.

We never go back for a follow up unless there is still an issue. It costs us £27 just for them to say 'yep everything fine!' I usually ring up and explain.

Mines had to go back to have stitches removed.

I had mine spayed in the 90's.

Even back then my vet said a routine spay shouldn't need stitches. Small incision, fish out the uterus with something like a crochet hook, cut and tie off, job done.

I asked as she literally had a tiny hole in the middle of a shaved patch, and i'd never had a female cat spayed before, always had males. Had my boy done at the same time and their recovery time was exactly the same, practically nil. No collars, no fuss.

So reading on here about wounds requiring stitches and follow ups for stitch removal has me puzzled. If it could be done 20 years ago why are some vets still not doing it the micro surgical way?

My kitten had one small stitch which needed removing.

And we weren't charged.

We never go back for a follow up unless there is still an issue. It costs us £27 just for them to say 'yep everything fine!'

Bloody hell,it's all included at our vet. 3 post op check ups for when a dog is done!

I agree with calling and speaking to the vet and see what they say.

Phone the vet and explain that you don't want to cause unnecessary stress. I wouldn't just not go.

We don't go back unless it's necessary. Like a PP we get charged per check up and it's not worth it for us - it's a 20 minute car journey with a stressed out cat (who will likely soil the carrier if it's the male) just for the vet to look him over and say "he's fine".

no point going back if everything looks fine and the animal is well and looks to be healing normally. That said, if youre not sure about it, then go back

Even back then my vet said a routine spay shouldn't need stitches. Small incision, fish out the uterus with something like a crochet hook, cut and tie off, job done

So reading on here about wounds requiring stitches and follow ups for stitch removal has me puzzled. If it could be done 20 years ago why are some vets still not doing it the micro surgical way?

Because what you describe isn't microsurgery reallyanotherone it's medical negligence.

Your vets left an open incision into the abdominal cavity with no closure? Really? No dissolving stitches? No glue? Possible consequences include peritonitis, herniation of abdominal organs, organ failure and death. That's probably why most vets think it's worth the 30 seconds it's takes to put a stitch in. It's not about the size of the incision, it's about the fact that it inadvisable for any creature to wander about with an open hole to their insides.

Stitches don't necessarily have to be removed - most vets use soluble suture material now.

I honestly don't know the medical details, i am not a vet. I have no idea whether they used glue, or somehow managed to close the abdominal cavity with stitches then glue the skin. Like i said, just a tiny tiny wound.

But like i said that was in the 90's, and in the subsequent 20 years i have got to know them well and they are absolutely amazing vets and i'd trust them with any animal. I am a human medical professional so not ignorant, just no knowledge of surgical technique. I do know i have had abdominal and gynae surgery and not had skin sutures, so saw no reason why animals weren't the same. I know human sterilization can be carried out leaving only a tiny hole that doesn't require stitches.

I've been known to take stitches out myself in the past, I never do the follow up unless I have concerns. I've had 3 animals neutered in the past few years and all except the dog spay had dissolvable stitches. If you're happy with her OP and there's no stitches to come out I really wouldn't worry.

I'm on the coach now so we won't be going. I stopped the morphine yesterday and she's been fine. As you can see there's nothing there. There's a lump but my other girl had a lump. I rang them the vet was busy but the nurse said fine as long as it's dry and she's pooing and eating. I pay a monthly plan which includes a six monthly examination I'm thinking of cancelling that as well as I know it will cone and go and I'll forget.

Ps do yours all get a massive shaven area like that on the front?

Ps do yours all get a massive shaven area like that on the front?

My kitten's was smaller and on the side, I've never seen one done underneath like that but I've only seen 2 cats after recent spaying so not a huge wealth of experience.

Yes my friends where shocked and one was most put out as she has a posh cat and had to pay more for it at the front. I wonder why?

No, like i said our cat had a shaven bit about 2cm diameter, with a circular hole (much like my laparoscopy incision). On her left side just in front of the pelvis.

I've had several cats in my time. Most of them have been spayed with the shaved area/wound on the side, but the most recently spayed cat had it done the same way as yours.

Hi as a vet no you don't need to bother.

Our vets offer either the "normal" spay at the side, or a midline spay at the front which costs a fair bit more. Usually it tends to be the "posh" cats that go for it as it leaves a less visible scar. I'm not really sure on the ins and outs of it, though.

Ours also do keyhole surgery, although they close the wound. This is quite a bit more expensive, I think because they need specialist equipment for it, and only 3 of the vets are qualified to do it (of which 2 are "specialists" who don't normally do spays) as opposed to around 10 who can do normal spays.

For your original question - you need to make sure the stitches are definitely dissolvable. (Most are nowadays). Otherwise if there's no sign of infection etc she should be fine, though I'd still recommend a post op check to be on the safe side.