Fiona's incission popped open?! Again

[Pixie]

Fiona was spayed this past Monday and everything appeared to be healing fine, until this morning. I took her out for her usual play time, and check her incision site to see that a small area about the width of my pinkie finger has opened up. It doesn't appear to be inflamed,or red and there is no discharge. I plan on taking tomorrow off work, so that I can get her in to see the vet as soon as possible. Not sure if they will want to put in a few more stitches.

Has this happened to anyone else who has had a spay done? I tried to take a picture but she refuses to just dangle and I don't think all the struggling is good for the incision.

 

[jorats]

The incision opening is very common and usually not cause for concern. Most vets use internal sutures and glue on the outside. Just be sure to keep the area clean, I bet by tomorrow or even tonight, it will be closed up again.

 

[Pixie]

Good to know Jorats. I will keep and eye on, and if tomorrow it is still open I will make a trip to the vets.

 

[Pixie]

So I called in sick to work and took Fiona to the vets this morning. My vet Jessica glued the incision closed and gave me some bitter cream to put around the incision site and gave us Enrofloxacin to prevent any infection. She said I should be keeping her by herself and in a single level cage, so that she isn't climbing a lot. Which I haven't done. I just feel so bad leaving her by herself and no where to play or climb.

Do you think I should keep her in her cat carrier, so she can't climb or jump? Or should I put her and Norman in my small rat home cage that Logan is in and put Logan into the larger cage? Norman really doesn't seem to bother with Fiona, and he only uses the bottom of that cage now that he has HED.

Not sure what to do.

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

I'm glad you didn't separate her. I would think she is fine in her normal cage but if you are concerned that she is climbing too much then you could always switch Fiona and Norman to the smaller cage for your peace of mind. My little girl Lily (who I had spayed about a month ago) is insane so of course she had minor opening of the incision which caused the incision to heal in a funny line but now that her fur has grown back you can't see it at all.

 

[lj]

One of my girls ripped open her entire inscision. The vet glued it up again and within days, she ripped it open again. Nothing to be too worried about. I'd just watch it for blood.

 

[Pixie]

Thanks everyone for your comforting words. I decided to switch Norman and Fiona into the smaller cage, until her incision is healed completely. Fiona is insane as well, and climbs and jumps on everything, so I am not surprised her incision opened up. Luckily she didn't appear to bother it herself, so it wasn't infected or bleeding. I will keep putting the bitter cream around the incision just incase thou. The vet said if it opens again not to worry and the antibiotic should prevent infection until it naturally closes on its own.

Thankfully the vet only charged me for the antibiotics and cream :dance: $38 was a lot less then what I was expecting.

 

[lj]

:thumbup: Usually post-op visits are free. I'd just leave it if she rips it open again. :wallbang:

 

[Ollie]

Hopefully everything says good for here on in.

 

[Godmother]

Whew! It is always a scare when that happens. I have had girls chew some of their stitches out.

 

[Moon]

Fiona is insane as well, and climbs and jumps on everything, so I am not surprised her incision opened up.

That's the key sometimes, just knowing your rat. A lot of rats wouldn't need to be moved into a new cage post spay, but someone as crazy as Fiona? LOL... She and Norman will be fine in something smaller.

You probably don't need to have her in there until she is COMPLETELY healed, just until she's reasonably closed up.

 

[Pixie]

Thanks again to everyone for their support and advice! :hugs:

Fiona is doing good in the smaller cage, maybe a little stir crazy but she will survive. And so far she is gladly licking up the antibiotic off a spoon, so I don't have to force it on her with a syringe.

 

[Pixie]

Grrrr it has opened up again :gaah: . It doesn't appear to be bleeding or leaking any discharge, so I am just going to keep an eye on it, and continue giving her the antibiotics. She doesn't seem to be obsessively licking it, so I'm not sure why it keeps opening.

 

[jorats]

Just keep an eye on it. I bet all will be fine.

 

[Pixie]

So far so good. It is slowly closing, and she seems to be leaving it alone. It certainly hasn't slowed her down any.

 

[henry's_mum]

why does this NOT suprise me....

she's one crazy girl!
You're doing an awesome job hun!
((hugs))

 

[Pixie]

It is almost closed, and there is no redness and no discharge. :dance:

Thanks Lyndsy for all your support :hugs:

 

[mamarat]

:joy: Fantastic!