What Does an Infected Neuter Incision Look Like?
It is recommended that pets be neutered when they are 8 months old. Why? It helps to avoid having unwanted pets. The pet should heal 14 days after attending this surgery. However, some pets take long to heal. They suffer from infections which prolong the healing process.
For this reasons, you should learn what causes it, how it looks like and how it can be prevented. It is up to you to take care of the dog properly after the surgery. Check out for any signs of infection and act immediately.
Causes of an Infected Neuter Incision
The main cause of this infection is the presence of bacteria in the incision site. Although it is not common, it does happen sometimes. The bacteria damages tissues at the point of incision and thus prevent it from healing.
It leads to a buildup of discharge and inflammation. The main cause of the infection is poor aftercare of the wound. How does a neuter incision heal?
Neuter Incision Healing
Injury to the dog's skin such as wounds, incisions, and lacerations stimulate the immune system. As a result, it tries to close the wound or incision so that it can heal. White Blood cells and anti-inflammatory cells accumulate at the point of incision. The skin then swells and reddens.
After some time, the repair cells dwindle and a scar is formed. If the incision is not infected, the scar should start forming after 14 days. A permanent scar is then formed between 14 to 21 days. There are signs to check to know if the incision is healing well. Here they are.
The Healing signs
After the incision surgery is done, the edges of the incision swell and turn red. For active dogs, the swelling will be firm because of the response of the immune system to the dog being hyperactive.
The swellings are however not painful. The wound might appear bruised and it could have a mild discharge. A gap between the edges could also appear because they do not heal at the same time.
After some days, the swelling, bruising and redness associated with the incision will disappear. Scabs may then be formed around the stitches. However, the dog should not feel pain when you touch the incision. If the dog is healing correctly the stitches used should be removed after 7 days. There should be no pain or discharge.
What Does An Infected Neuter Incision Look Like?
To know if the incision has an infection, you need to conduct an inspection of the site after the dog has been neutered. Inspect the wound two times in a day. It helps to notice any signs of infection. Below is the procedure to check if a neuter incision is infected.
- First, wash your hands with an antibacterial soap.
- Turn the dog on its back if it is smaller, cradle her up.
- While holding the dog in this position, check for any infection signs at the incision site Check to see if it is swollen or it has turned red. Also, check for any inflammation.
- Gauge the temperature of the dog. It should be normal.
- Place your arm at the point of incision and check if the dog flinches or gasps. If yes, it shows that the dog feels pain.
- Check for any foul odor.
- Repeat this procedure until the dog is completely healed.
The procedure helps to notice any signs or symptoms of an infection. From the signs and symptoms, you will have an answer to, “What does an infected neuter incision look like in dogs?” The signs and symptoms of an infection include:
- Severe swelling. The swelling increases on a daily basis instead of diminishing.
- The presence of discharge.
- Foul odor.
- The incision site feels hot and the dog's temperature is high too.
Severe symptoms include, the dog refusing to eat or drink, the dog having a difficulty in passing out waste and restlessness. Seek the services of a vet if your dog exhibits any of these signs. Other severe signs and symptoms to check include diarrhea and vomiting.
Incision Openings
It is normal for a small incision opening to appear. However, if the incision is bigger, call your veterinarian to have a look at it. This is especially if it appears before the 14 healing days elapse.
If the openings appear after the 14 days there is no bigger risk because the sutures will have healed. Always talk to your vet if you are in doubt. The vet will tell if the dog needs to be given antibiotics or not.
Causes Infected Neuter Incision
Neuter incisions should heal properly if done by a professional and if the dog receives the necessary post surgery care. The causes of an infected incision include.
Using Unsterilized Surgical Equipment
Your dog could suffer infection if the tools used are not sterilized.Conducting the surgery poorly could also lead to an infection. These include not using gloves, preparing the skin poorly, and conducting the surgery in an infected place.
Soiled and Wet Satures
The dog could get an infection if it is exposed to wetness and dirt before it heals. The dog should not get in contact with feces, urine, dirt or even water. They could predispose the dog to an infection.
Exposure to Bacteria
You should take good care of the dog to prevent opportunistic infections. Failure to which the site could get an infection and prolong the healing process.
Licking
Dogs like licking and chewing wounds. Licking opens up the wound and could lead to a secondary infection. It allows infection causing microorganisms to get in. Use a collar to prevent the dog from licking the wound.
Hyperactivity
Hyper active dog ( moves up and down etc) put pressure and tension on the wound. The sutures could pull out and prolong the healing process. You can prevent this by putting the dog in a quiet place where it cannot play.
How To Treat an Infected Incision
When you realize that your dog's incision is infected, contact your vet for advice on what treatment to give to your dog. Most of the time, they prescribe an antibiotic. Give it to the dog as prescribed. Keep your dog inside while it is still under treatment. It helps to protect it from other animals that could injure it further.
