Returning Users Sign In
Forgot Your Password?

Televets

Click here for details »

Still bleeding neutered 7 days ago

Rating: 9
Maurice
Maurice

We had our kittens (born April 6) neutered a week ago. One is fine. The other looked red, raw, and literally a little inside out as soon as we got him home. I called the clinic right away and asked about it - they said he had been checked before discharge and that likely anything we were noticing was because he is light coloured. I was not so sure, but the next he had a scab (albeit large) where the incision had been and so we thought all was well (he was also totally himself, playing, eating, drinking etc.). Sunday he started to bleed a bit - we called the clinic who said to watch for a few hours and see if it stopped - they thought he likely pulled the incision open because of his playing. Indeed it stopped. Nothing for the next few days BUT, yesterday he started bleeding a bit again and the wound is the size of Canadian dime - sometimes scabbed over, sometimes a bit bloody. We brought him back to the vet this morning who said it was 'within the range of normal' but gave him an antibiotic shot just in case. He's bleeding again tonight. To me, a terribly untrained eye, the wound looks like it is just not healing - he's leaving little red patches around everywhere he sits. He's still in a fine mood - too playful if anything, eating, drinking, using the litter. Do we need to be concerned?

Symptoms: Wounds

Two Response(s) to “Still bleeding neutered 7 days ago”:

  •   Sami Mieir says:

    August 29th, 2008 at 06:19 AM

    I would be concerned. Bleeding is rather uncommon in male cats who have been neutered, especially if they are babies. What you were probably seeing "hanging out" would be part of the scrotal tunic. Some vets don't "tuck everything back in" once they've removed the part they're after. I had this happen with my sphynx (hairless) kitten...and it was VERY noticeable and very concerning. However, it won't cause any issues by itself save maybe a localized infection.

    As far as the bleeding goes, it sounds to me like your vet isn't concerned enough. Your vet's plan should match your concern. If I had met a client with the same concerns as your own, I would have given the pet an antibiotic injection, started him on oral antibiotics, examined the wound and kept the pet (at least) overnight for observation. Hard to tell what people are seeing at home with their pets...when you do a 10 minute exam.

    A week after surgery you shouldn't even notice that your baby had been neutered. Everything should be closing up nicely and, if they were placed, now would be the time we'd be looking at taking sutures out (most vets prefer surgical glue or using nothing at all).

    I would get a second veterinary opinion from another location. It never hurts to make doubly sure that your baby will be okay. Oral antibiotics would be a second measure I would pursue and an answer to why your guy is still bleeding.

    Sami

    Current Rating: Rating: 10
    Rate This Answer:
    Sami Mieir
  • User says:

    August 29th, 2008 at 01:32 PM

    I had a really good look last night. I have a feeling that they actually nicked the skin off beside the incision. There is a wound there that reminds of the cuts I used to get with disposable razors on my ankle bones - like a piece of the poor little guy was literally sliced off. I think this was what I saw that initially looked like he was a bit inside out. It's a very hard thing I guess for the wound to heal since it isn't like a traditional incision in which the skin is healing to either side of the cut - this is just an open slice of exposed skin. Last night the scab had completely bled off and he was quite purple under it. Anyway - we'll see what vet #2 has to say tonight. Thank you for your input.

    Current Rating: Rating: 8
    Rate This Answer:

Do you know the answer this question? Are you a pet professional? Become an advisor today!

Not a pet professional? Register here to comment on this question and help fellow pet owners.

Do you have a pet question you need answering? Ask our caring pet advisors here: