How to Care for Your Dog’s Incision Site
If you’ve ever had surgery, you probably remember the directions you were given about keeping your incision site dry (at least for a few days after surgery). The same goes for your dog. That means no baths and not applying creams or disinfectants to the area (unless your vet specifically instructed it).
However, there’s a bit more to do than just keeping your dog’s incision site dry. You’ll also need to ensure your dog isn’t chewing or licking at the site (here’s where the cone of shame comes in handy!). And your pup’s activities will need to be restricted for a week or two; that means no running off-leash, long walks, jumping around, etc. Too much activity could cause the incision site to re-open, and neither of you wants that!
Other than that, if your dog’s stitches aren’t covered, you’ll want to check about twice a day to make sure it hasn’t become infected or started bleeding.
An Important Note About External Stitches
While many surgical procedures today use dissolvable internal stitches, it may be more common for external stitches that cannot dissolve to be used and may need to be removed 10–14 days post-operatively. It can be difficult to tell if stitches are dissolvable just by looking, so make sure to ask your vet when you pick your dog up from surgery whether the stitches need to be taken out.
The suture material used will be chosen by the veterinary surgeon depending on the body part being stitched, reason stitches are needed, suture material handling factors, patient factors such as temperament, and personal preference amongst many other things.
Each clinic and vet will have their own policies with regard to follow-up appointments for routine surgeries, like spays and neuters. They may not request a check-up unless there is a need to remove the stitches. However, many surgeries require follow-up visits, even when there are no stitches that need to be removed, to check the wound has healed properly, no sign of infections and so forth. Most vet clinics will clearly tell you what to expect, but they are human, and it’s possible for it to be forgotten or miscommunicated, so make sure to ask questions for clarification if needed. Keep in mind that even if your vet has historically used stitches that need to be removed, they may switch to dissolvable stitches based on the type of surgery or how friendly and cooperative an animal is.
How Long Do Dissolvable Stitches Last?
According to the Journal of Dairy, Veterinary & Animal Research:
What does this mean? Most absorbable sutures require 60 days to be completely absorbed by the body (hydrolyzed). Not to fear, absorbable stitches lose (dissolve) between 50% of their strength by 7–10 days, meaning the body is well on its way to healing.
How long does it take for stitches to dissolve in a dog?
The purpose of this handout is to provide you with general information about the routine care of your dogs surgical incision. If your dogs incision requires special care, your veterinarian will discuss the details of this care with you.