3 weeks post op spay infected incision

[Cayla714]

My cat Chicago is 1.5 years old. We just had her spayed 3 weeks ago and found out yesterday her incision is infected. She is a Russian Blue weighing 7.5 pounds. She only has had one vaccine prior to us getting her and eats a raw diet. Her BEAM seems good she's acting normal unless you touch the incision.

Chicago has an internal stitch that is trying to come out which created an open wound. She doesn’t have a fever nor is she acting any different, just a noticeable smell and some discharge coming out of the incision. We took her to the vet yesterday, he suggested Fluoroquinolone but then told us she could have retina issues from it so we opted not to do that. They also wanted to do blood work but we opted against that for now. They sent us home with Animax ointment and suggested honey on top of that under a bandage and to change and clean 1x a day. She is taking Clavacillin 2x a day as well as a probiotic with her food.

It has almost been 24 hours since we started this and her wound still has a foul smell. I’m just wondering if there’s anything we could be doing either along side of or instead of some of these things to help her body heal quicker. I was thinking of using Sovereign Silver on incision sight instead of the Animax but not sure if that's ok. Also wondering if using some natural herbs (although she can be picky), maybe a drop or two of goldenseal on her food would be helpful?

The vet basically said he doesn't think the Clavacillin will be strong enough and that we will ultimately have to use to Fluoroquinolone. I am against antibiotics in general however I do understand this is a serious situation and that they can help, I certainly don't want to give her anything strong enough that could create other issues.

@Dr. Christina @Dr. Jean Hofve @Dr. Jeff

 

[Dr. Christina]

Good for you to be thinking, responding and not reacting.
Most important is that her BEAM is great. If the body is trying to push the stitch out, this is a local, topical problem.

1. Focus your mind and intention (lots of webinars on that) on building her health and vitality, not worrying about the local problem (odor or not). Feed the very best possible food she will eat for a few weeks. I do not recommend ever putting "treatments" on their meal food as cats can become finicky. Put the goldenseal on whatever her favorite treat food is, and give when she is hungry, but a bit before feeding her main meal.
2. Soothing the pain at the incision: energy healing (reiki, intention, etc) is the best. Maybe flower essence for pain like stress stopper or rescue remedy, diluted and gently rubbed or sprayed in the area (OK if gets onto the incision). Observe her reaction to see what works the best. Silver would be fine.
3. Do you have a homeopathic veterinarian on your team? They may suggest one of several homeopathic medicines that will help her naturally resolve this issue.

Dr. Christina

 

[Dr. Jeff]

Chicago's incision should be mostly healed at this point.

Hot compresses of the area should be all that her body needs to heal.

The vet basically said he doesn't think the Clavacillin will be strong enough and that we will ultimately have to use to Fluoroquinolone.

Do you know the rationale for why he said that? Especially since her BEAM is fine.

Do you have any pics of the incisional area?

I wonder if we're treating the symptom and not Chicago's healing process which has produced a symptom.

I do understand this is a serious situation

No worries. She'll heal just fine.

 

[Dr. Jeff]

They may suggest one of several homeopathic medicines that will help her naturally resolve this issue.

Yes, and this will depend on her individuality, not on the symptom.

And it will depend on:

1. Did you already dose Arnica?
2. Specifics of the symptom beyond the smell. For example, is the area red, swollen? And what exactly is the nature of the discharge?
3. Is there anything else, at any level, that is different (vomiting, stools, itching, ears, etc.). Is she isolating or clingy, drinking more or less, etc.

 

[Cayla714]

@Dr. Jeff @Dr. Christina

Thank you both for your quick responses. I'm going to switch to Sovereign Silver if you think that would help it more than the prescription ointment? With the goldenseal, is it ok to do that and the antibiotic or do we not need to antibiotic? I have stress stopper so we can start adding that when we change her bandage.

Dr. Jeff - I'll respond in here if thats easier than my emails.

We can start arnica again. We did it once the night before surgery and once when she came home. Everything was going fine, we took her recovery suit off at 14 days but she still had a small scab which apparently was the suture coming through. Yesterday my husband noticed the smell and then when he touched it she flinched.

I will include pictures from yesterday taken before we brought her in. This morning when we cleaned and covered the incision again it looks like the stitch came out and now theres just a small hole on that top part.

We couldn't see the discharge today because the incision is covered in ointment so its hard to tell. Yesterday the vet said he saw it, he never said what color it was. Nothing red, she is clearly swollen with a lump under incision but she's had that since day one of surgery and the vet said its normal and just fat, it hasn't gotten any bigger since surgery. The also gave her an anti inflammatory shot yesterday.

No difference in stool no excess itching, no vomiting, not abnormally thirsty. I would say she's got a little less energy, not playing as much but still playing. Isolating a bit this morning but it's because she's mad at us for cleaning the wound, it was quite a struggle.

 

[Dr. Jeff]

help it more than the prescription ointment?

Very possibly. And FYI-the Animax ointment also has a steroid and anti-fungal in it (as well as the anti-biotics).

With the goldenseal, is it ok to do that and the antibiotic or do we not need to antibiotic?

You need to do what you feel is best for Chicago, under the guidance of a local vet.

In general, and specifically regarding what to do and holistic decision-making, the Path to Pet Wellness does not working against any rhythm of life (anti=against). However, your local vet advises that you use it.

Did your vet also advise you to snip off the tissue flap that I think I see on the pic?

We did it once the night before surgery and once when she came home.

What was the potency of the Arnica?

If you still have the cup, please succuss and redose.

What (and when) was she dosed in the weeks prior to surgery?

quite a struggle.

Have you tried hot compressing?

 

[Cayla714]

@Dr. Jeff

We have arnica 10m. Is that ok or should I give her something stronger?
We gave her arnica the night before and the day of surgery once she came home. In the weeks prior she got 2 doses of Silicia 1 week apart. Last one was probably 5 days before surgery. Her pickiness and stress has seemed to be much better post surgery. She's eating whatever we put down and not so jumpy.

So it would be safe to stop antibiotics, stop cream and just use a few drops of goldenseal daily plus silver? As of now she's had 3 doses of the antibiotics and 2 times with the ointment.

There is no tissue flap. That top piece was the stitch but it came out this morning when we were cleaning so its just a small open wound. I can take a picture tomorrow when we clean it again.

I have not tried the hot compress yet, the wound is covered right now so we would have to take the dressing off as well as her recovery suit. Would it be ok to try that tomorrow when we change the dressing? How long would we need to hold it on her? I just don't see her sitting still to let us do that for more than 30 seconds.

 

[Dr. Jean Hofve]

This happened to me with the incision for my knee replacement--a suture popped through and the thing got infected. Hot compresses and a honey bandage worked perfectly. Honey has amazing healing properties and will draw the nasties out from the incision. Sometimes less is more!

You'd be surprised about the hot compress... often within a few seconds the cat realizes, "hey, this feels good!" and they settle down. A few minutes (3-5 is plenty), 2 or 3 times a day, is fine.