The Patient
Allie, a 6 month old intact female domestic shorthair cat, came to see me for a routine spay procedure. The term "spay" is another word for ovariohysterectomy and involves surgically removing the ovaries and uterus to prevent heat cycles, pregnancy, and other reproductive diseases such as infection and cancer. Allie's surgery was a success and she was discharged the same day with instructions to have her wear an Elizabethan collar (E-collar) for 10 days while her incision was healing. During a spay, the abdomen is opened to remove the reproductive tract and the incision is closed in 3 layers: the deep muscle layer, the middle fatty layer, and the most superficial skin layer. All of these stitches are dissolvable and there is no need to remove them post-operatively. Unfortunately, 4 days post-op the owner removed the E-collar and Allie was able to lick her incision open. Her owner brought her right in when he realized what had happened.
The Case
On examination, Allie had licked open the skin layer to expose the underlying fatty and muscle layer. The edges of the wound were thickened and some necrotic tissue was present. Necrotic tissue is tissue that is dying without normal blood flow and appears grey or tan in color. After taking this picture, I carefully used a sterile swab to obtain a culture of the wound to help me know what antibiotic she would need. I then cleaned it carefully with an antiseptic and trimmed away some of the necrotic tissue.
The Treatment Plan
I gave her an injection of a long acting antibiotic (it would take a few days for the culture results) and instructed the owner to use the E-collar at all times. He also purchased a surgical onesie recovery suite to keep the wound covered.
The Outcome
I rechecked Allie 2 days later and confirmed that the wound was healing nicely. The culture grew 3 different bacteria all of which were sensitive to the injection I had given her, thankfully. I rechecked her one more time on day 14 post-op and confirmed that the incision was fully healed and Allie was doing great! This case is a good reminder of how vital E-collars are for our pets who don't know how to follow post-op instructions! Cat tongues are extremely rough and can cause major damage to incisions and wounds. Our #1 rule following surgery: NO LICKING ALLOWED!
The Drake Center for Veterinary Care is an AAHA-accredited animal hospital located in Encinitas, CA. The Drake Center loves being a source of information for all pet owners across the country however if you have any questions regarding pet care and do not live in Encinitas, CA or surrounding cities, we encourage you to contact your local veterinarian. The Drake Center may use AI to assist in sharing knowledge; the Drake Center doctors verify any medical information shared in our blogs or website.
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