BS: Kitten spaying infection

Subject: BS: Kitten spaying infection
From: pixieofdoom
Date: 01 Dec 06 - 10:04 AM

Hi guys,

I had my 6 month old kitten spayed three weeks ago, no problems with check ups or having the stiches removed. However over the last couple of days the scar has swollen up and become infected for no apparent reason. Vet has drained it, given her an anti-inflammatory shot and a week of antibiotics. I'm cleaning the wound twice a day and she's back to the vet in the morning. She's happy and playful as always and eating fine so it doesn't look like it's spread but I just wondered if anyone else had had a similar experience as internet research doesn't come up with much.

Over anxious parent Pixie

Subject: RE: BS: Kitten spaying infection
From: MMario
Date: 01 Dec 06 - 10:07 AM

The life of a parent is never easy, Pixie. Probably a small pocket of infection in the site of the incision, if it was more then that she would be in sad shape

Subject: RE: BS: Kitten spaying infection
From: Becca72
Date: 01 Dec 06 - 10:34 AM

Could have been a litterbox issue, too...they are not the cleanest places to pee after all. But sounds like you've got it very much under control. Just keep your eye on it and let the vet know if anything changes.

Subject: RE: BS: Kitten spaying infection
From: SINSULL
Date: 01 Dec 06 - 10:39 AM

Never had the problem, Pixie, but I too suspect the litter box is the source. Dust must have gotten into the incision. SOunds as if she will be fine as long as you keep it drained and continue antibiotics.
So sorry. But if she were seriously ill she would be listless. Playing is a good sign.
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: Kitten spaying infection
From: Scoville
Date: 01 Dec 06 - 10:45 AM

Make sure she's not licking it, too. Hard to prevent but cats actually have very dirty mouths (dirtier than dogs' or humans').

OHE-incision infections are quite rare but of course nothing, even in medicine, is 100% perfect. As long as kitty seems to be feeling well and is getting treatment, she ought to come out fine. I was a vet tech for four years and only saw a handful of these, if that, but none of them had any serious consequences.

Subject: RE: BS: Kitten spaying infection
From: pixieofdoom
Date: 01 Dec 06 - 10:51 AM

She's had to have her lampshade collar back on so she can't lick it. I guess it could have been the litter tray although the scar looked like it was completely closed, there's a tiny hole now that needs to stay open for anything else icky to drain. The vet suggested it might be some sort of reaction to breaking down the internal sutures but her body is containing it so it hasn't spread to her abdomen. I figured as long as she seems well and happy there probably wasn't too much to be concerned about as long as a close eye is kept but it's always nice to know!

Subject: RE: BS: Kitten spaying infection
From: Scoville
Date: 01 Dec 06 - 11:53 AM

That's a very good possibility, in which case if nothing else it will subside once the internal sutures have dissolved.

Poor kitty. Nothing sadder than a kitty with an "lampshade".

Subject: RE: BS: Kitten spaying infection
From: Becca72
Date: 01 Dec 06 - 01:26 PM

How humiliating for her. Such an undignified state for a cat to be caught in.

Subject: RE: BS: Kitten spaying infection
From: pixieofdoom
Date: 01 Dec 06 - 02:05 PM

she does feel pretty sorry for herself. Makes it trickier to get the antibiotic into her mouth too!

Subject: RE: BS: Kitten spaying infection
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Dec 06 - 02:37 PM

Are you going to keep the collar for Phot when he returns?

Hope all is well.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Kitten spaying infection
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 01 Dec 06 - 05:37 PM

Hi Fiona

I had a problem with Merlyn when I had her spayed. She got a bad infection in the wound but this was before the stitches were taken out. The vet drained it and gave her a course of antibiotics and as you know she is fine now.

Hope your little one is feeling better soon

Love Khatt x

Subject: RE: BS: Kitten spaying infection
From: jacqui.c
Date: 02 Dec 06 - 07:55 AM

Thread creep here, but this just reminded me of when Seamus had to wear the lamoshade. Trust me, kittens with these are NO problem next to a 90lb Lab barrelling through the house banging into everything on the way through and getting scared of the noise being made by his collisions!

I hope your kitten recovers fast Pixie, and from what you say it sounds as if she's well on the way now.

Subject: RE: BS: Kitten spaying infection
From: pixieofdoom
Date: 02 Dec 06 - 07:57 AM

That does sound exciting Jacqui! Persephone went back to the vet this morning and is doing much better, she'll be on antibiotics for a couple of weeks but her temperature is now normal and the infection isn't spreading.

Thanks everyone!

Subject: RE: BS: Kitten spaying infection
From: Bee
Date: 02 Dec 06 - 12:52 PM

Glad she's recovering. Cats are resilient furry things.

My own 11 week old kitten is trying to give me a stroke, I think. Last night, in the middle of a power failure, he did one of those runasfastasyoucaneverywhere kitten things, up the spiral stair, and straight off the open back of the top step, eight feet to the hard floor. Knocked the wind out of himself, plus a little vomit. Checked him over with a flashlight: no apparent broken bones or teeth, worried all night about internal injuries, husband's away, wondering who I could get to take me to the vet. Fell asleep 5 a.m., woke at 8 to Mister gnawing on my toes (must've twitched) and leaping about like a mad thing. He's eating normally, by which I mean voraciously but only if it's the expensive stuff, and doing all the normal kitty things. Seems fine. I, on the other hand, am exhausted.

Subject: RE: BS: Kitten spaying infection
From: Becca72
Date: 02 Dec 06 - 01:07 PM

They are wonderful little creatures, aren't they, Bee?

I have 2 almost all black 10 month old brothers whom I refer to as "the Matrix twins" as they will run at each other from opposite ends of the apartment, colliding in the center, slow-motion and in mid-air whilst twisting around each other trying to be the top man on the pile once they hit the floor. It's quite a sight to see!

Subject: RE: BS: Kitten spaying infection
From: Bee
Date: 02 Dec 06 - 02:51 PM

That's a wonderful visual, Becca. Mine's colour pattern is gradually evolving into a pretty black and grey (and a little white) classic (blotched) tabby, with all kinds of interesting stripes and spots and 'necklaces' and blotches. He has grey ears and the top of his head is black, and he's the wildest kitten I've ever raised (out of five total over 30 years - my cats usually have long lives). Serves me right, I turned down a raised outdoors by a stray kitten, thinking it would be too wild, for this son of a grey mackeral tabby housecat. I'm beginning to think his unknown father was a bobcat!