Over the weekend (always) I noticed that where PJ's healed neutering stitches were, there appeared a nasty, red pustule or pimple. He began to lick and by yesterday the whole area was red although I did my best to keep him from it. Went to the vet after work, she said he was having an allergic reaction to the absorbable suture material which usually doesn't show up for 3-4 weeks after surgery. She said it could be treated with antibiotics but often came back. Best treatment was to remove suture material that was not absorbed, replace with nylon stitches which would be removed in 10 days so I had to leave him there overnight because he would have to be sedated, etc. and would have to stay about 5 hours and I live 45 minutes away and obviously had to go to work. I will pick him up tonight after work. Has anyone else had this happen?
Leslie, This happened to both my King and Nikolas. They both had to have their stitches replaced, and poor Nik had to wear an Elizabethan collar for a few days to keep him from licking the wound. It only takes a few days to heal and the antibiotics work pretty fast. The hard part was keeping the wound clean with hydrogen peroxide and putting Neosporin on it. Dena