I was wondering how you go about cleaning the area where the c-section was, or do you clean it? My girl is reacting to the stitches I think she may be allergic to them, and I will be calling my vet tomorrow. Its not red so thats good, just a little bubble in one spot. Rather than that it all still looks nice. Should I be worried and just leave alone till I get a hold of my vet and take her in for a recheck?

Doll

I would take her back to the vet, she might have a slight infection. With regard to cleaning., we always used Iodine at the vets where I worked, but diluted dettol, applied with cotton wool, works just as well.

HTH

Nat :D

Hi, yes I also use iodine well. Over here you can buy it in the chemist & it`s called Betadine.
Christine,Spain

Stiches should not need attention of any kind, take her back to the vets. If there is infection it needs to be delt with, if it the dog wanting to lick she will have to have a collar to stop her doing herself damage. Ja:)kie

I was always told that Dettol or anything with phenol in was poisonous to dogs

Phenol is toxic to cats but is I think ok for dogs, when I built an outside run for my Siamese I had to change the disinfectant I used for the dogs run as it contained phenol.
Anne

On the sheet from my vet after an op it says not to clean the wound - so if you think it needs cleaning - apart from dried blood - then contact vet. If by air-bubbles you mean under the skin then this is quite normal. The skin sort of crackles when you stroke it, this will eventually disappear

Christine

Can't call till later they are not open yet, but will leave them and let her (vet) look at them. She doesn't lick them at all, she is really good for that. The stitches are all in the inside so the pups can't snag on them. Thanks. :) Looked at her again, nope not air bubbles, they are like a bubble, little and puffy, and a little purple. Defently taking her to the vet. I think she is allergic to the stitch, but maybe not since its all not like that. I'll take her back and have the vet look and clean. Hopefully nothing serious.

When I had my youngest daughter by c-section I had some rippling under the scar line. The consultant said it was just fluid collecting under the skin and internal bruising and as long as it wasn't red and shiny or hot then it would be fine.

I don't know if it's the same in animals or not but it does sound to be fairly normal. I hope everythings ok,

fiona
x x x

Called the vet, can't get in till monday. Told her what is up, and its not an angry red so that is good. Let you know monday. Thankyou all.

I always find that the stitches are best removed after 1 week instead of leaving for 10 days. Usually the stitchs look worse than the cut after this time, i think its something to do with the actual stitch material being a foriegn body.

You can't remove them. They are disolvable and all in the inside so the pups wouldn't snag on them. She had a c-section/spay and its the same type you would use I'm guessing to sew everything together inside her. Will find out monday though.

Hi, I would not reccomend using iodine to clean suture areas where pups are trying to feed, it tastes disgusting and may put them off. Vets have a duty to provide a 24hr emergancy cover so if the area is very red and angry(bearing in mind little claws do scratch) and the bitch is unwell in herself you should go back. However suture areas do somtimes look a lot worse than they actually are. Signs of infection are inflamation and a pussy discharge, a small amount of clear discharge may somtimes be normal in the case of a caesar as the pups agitate the wound. If you feel it is very mucky bathe in warm salty water. 1 teaspoon to a pint. DO NOT REMOVE SUTURE TO EARLY. This is a serious op and your vet knows best. Hope i can be of some help. We specialize in Newfoundland caesars and have never had any probs.

Thanks.
She has little purplish pink bubbles is this normal? Not angry red at all. I was thinking on putting a warm cloth on them would that be ok?. She doesn't have any puss coming out at all. Still eating, nursing and still the same. She hasn't changed, so very relieved she is still herself. It will take about 2 to 3 months for the stitches to dissolve I believe, so there are no stitches to remove. I clip the pups nails, one week old on 24. They were getting long, always cliped them once a week, this way they can't hurt her and scratch to much, and keeps them short as well.

Hi,
I have seen you mention several times that she has disolvable stitiches, and thatthe vet wants to see her in 10 days.

What you probably will find is that she has disolkvable stitiches inside and permanent ones outcider whcih he will then remove. sometimes as the wound heals the stitches pull a bit causing a bit of puckering, which might be what you are seeing.

It would me most unusual to have all disolvable stitches on the outside, just in case they didn't hold long enough.

Nope all stitches are in the inside, none to remove. The vet told me that she put them all in the inside so the pups could not snag their nails on them and they will disolve. You can't see any stitches at all (but will ask again on monday to make sure). Iam taking her back for a recheck, to have her looked at just to be safe. (I never said that the vet wanted to see her in 10 days).
But these replies have been helpful, thanks everyone, one more day, just wish tomorrow would hurry up and come (not for work though :( )

It is posible that the stiches are all desolvable but the stich in the skin are usualy not, but it may be a single runing stich under the skin with just a knot at each end. Anyway the sort of stich she has does not matter what matters is that you take her in for the vet to see if you are worried and that you dont mess with the wound except to bath in salin if it is sticky, pat dry after. Ja:)kie

Yes maybe, will ask, that makes sence. Will do what you suggested, and won't mess with it, thanks. ( boy am I a worry wart, I'm always calling my vet, they know who I am when the phone rings there). :)

We went to the vet, and yes all the stitches are disolvable, she doesn't have to remove any. She was a little infected in one spot, all clean now. She told me to just keep it clean/to keep an eye on it. Its healing nicely. She is allergic to the stitches, but so far so good. She wants me to keep her posted, and if anything that worries me to call her. She did have a little bubble this morning and I put a warm cloth on it and a little puss came out, then I put peroxide on it (just a dab with cottonballs), told her that and showed her, and its pretty much all dried up and healing good. I was worried about some other spots but they are only bruising (boy that made me feel better). I guess just watch and see. Thank goodness this is the last time I'll go through this. If everything goes well I'll see her when pups are due for shots and Tiva will be due then to, so I'll get everyone checked again. (I even brought the pups with me, they look like little sausages with eyes starting to open, she looked at them all and was very pleased with their weight and very healthy). :) Maybe I was just being a worry wart. O well I do feel better now. Thanks for all your replies, they did make me worry a little less.