exposed stitch in spey wound

Hi there,

I just wanted to know if this was normal considering I am a first time staffy owner...

My staff bitch was speyed when she was just over 6 months old, about a month ago now. We opted for the traditional procedure (not keyhole surgury), the operation went well. I took her home in a protective T-shirt from the vet (which she hated).The healing process took some time, and a month on the scar still doesnt look quite right...

Being an active dog I found it difficult make her take it easy, so she would still run up and down the stairs. one of the stiches started protruding through the wound but she didnt seem to be in any discomfort. It was a thick black nylon type stitch, I wasnt too worried at first as I thought that this was one of the removabe/disolvable stitches. Her medical report said that they 'may' have used disolvable stitches.

Eventually the wound began to weep, she would lick at it and it eventually got angry and infected. I took her back to the vet ASAP. The vet trimmed the stitching that was poking through and disinfected it, he confirmed that it was not a disolveable stitch, this was one of the tissue layer stitches and that they had tried a new method with the type of stitch used. I asked if they were going to remove it and he said no... We went home with a course of antibiotics and a lampshade for her to wear (which she hated even more!).

To help things along I was bathing the wound in salt water which really seemed to help, and she didnt seem to mind me doing this at all.

The course of antibiotics was now complete, and things finnaly started to improove, untill the the stitching started to poke through once again!, it was rough and sharp this time and would catch on fabric;
this sometimes caused it to bleed, it would then scab over, get knocked off, bleed again..and so on, all with the stitch still poking out of the wound...

We went back to the vet again,the vet had a look, picked the scab off and squeezed it to see if anything * came out, as nothing happened she seemed satified that this wound would take care of itself and told me not to worry, I said what about the stitch??, but she said it will take care of itself. This time we didnt go home with anything. I really felt like they were just trying to get rid of us..

Today the stitch is still poking through the wound, the scar has healed nicely but there are lumps and bumps where I can feel the stitching under the skin (almost like it has come loose bunched up and is just floating about in there) which is paper thin. Im hoping someone can tell me whether this is right? I wasnt expecting this procedure to have so many complications afterwards, maybe we have just been unlucky?

not something i've come across, i know my Lola busted a stitch after her op, but all healed well in a couple of weeks. if i were you i'd be getting a second opinion from another vet, i'm not one to fly in the face of trained professionals, but if you are concerned about your dog you need to do whats best, and if you arn't satisfied with your vets, take your business elsewhere. what area are you in? maybe there is another local member who could recommend a vets for you

Have you had a second opinion as this doesn't sound normal to me?!

Maybe you could come and introduce yourself

https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/f7-new-member-introductions

gosh you sound like you hand a bad time with this and i always believe in going with you gut instinct.

I would again go back to the vets and explain something needs to be done, IMO when it comes to things like this you can never be too cautious. If you vet is unwilling to help or you feel dissatisfied i would may be try another vets opinion.

It must be hard to try keep her calm

p.s welcome to the forum if you follow the link janey sent we love to hear about you all when you have chance

Welcome to the forum. Let us know how you get on!

I see that you are in Bedfordshire, so are we. Are you anywhere near Bedford as we go to Scott Veterinary Surgery in Goldington Road and I cannot fault them.

I'd get a second opinion. It really doesn't sound right.

Is she insured?

Any further news on Marley ??

Go for a 2nd opinion