How do I know if my dogs rash is infected

Infected Incisions in Dogs: Symptoms & Treatment [Vet Info]

This article was updated on May 30th, 2023

Incision infections can occur in dogs after surgery, just as they can in humans. Infections can develop when bacteria enter the incision site, causing inflammation and potentially more serious complications. In this article, we will review what normal and infected incisions look like, most common signs of infection, and how to treat incision infections in dogs.

What normal incisions look like in dogs

Before we delve into what unhealthy incisions look like in dogs, lets explore what a normal incision should look like.

The appearance of a surgical incision on a dog can vary depending on the type of surgery and the surgeons technique. However, a typical surgical incision on a dog is usually a straight line, made with a scalpel or surgical instrument, and may range in length from a few centimeters to several inches.

The incision site will be shaved and cleaned before surgery, so the skin around the incision will be hairless and smooth. The skin may appear slightly red or swollen immediately after surgery, which is normal. Over time, the incision will heal and may form a small scar.

View more pictures of normal incisions.

What an incision infection looks like in dogs

Almost all incisional infections are self-inflicted in dogs. Dogs simply do not know that they should not lick their incisions, and thus are likely to chew and irritate the wound. If unable to lick or chew, they may rub it on the floor instead. This can lead to the incision failing to heal and secondary infection.

7 signs of incision infections

Common signs of an incision infection in dogs include:

1. Swelling: The area around the incision may become swollen and appear inflamed.
2. Redness: The skin around the incision may turn red, indicating inflammation.
3. Discharge: Pus or other types of fluid may be present around the incision site.
4. Odor: The incision may have an unpleasant odor.
5. Heat: The area around the incision may feel warm to the touch.
6. Pain: The dog may appear to be in pain or uncomfortable when the incision is touched.
7. Licking or Chewing: The dog may lick or chew at the incision excessively, which can introduce more bacteria and worsen the infection.

Learn more about the signs of dog wound infections or view more pictures of incision infections.

When to call your veterinarian

If at any point you suspect your dogs incision is abnormal or infected, you should contact your veterinarian right away. Photos are extremely helpful, and your veterinarian may request you email pictures to their clinic for review.

Are incision infections an emergency?

It is always best to be overly cautious because incisional infections can become disastrous if left unattended. If after hours or on the weekend, it is usually best to follow up with the local emergency clinic for veterinary care.

What do veterinarians do when an incision is infected

If an incisional infection is suspected, your veterinarian will want to take a few steps. They will perform a thorough examination of your dog and ensure they are not feeling unwell. Fevers may be an indicator of systemic illness secondary to an infection.

They will examine the incision closely and may consider collecting a culture of the site. A culture is a swab taken of the incision that is sent to a laboratory to assess for bacterial growth that can indicate an infection is brewing. Once bacteria are grown, susceptibility testing should be performed to determine what antibiotic the bacteria can be treated with. Due to the risk of resistant infections in surgical wounds, culture and susceptibility testing should always be performed.

After examination, your veterinarian will discuss antimicrobial treatment with antibiotics. They may start a broad-spectrum medication until culture results return.

Severe infections may need to be surgically addressed and cleaned. Some incisions will need to be re-opened and left to heal by the formation of granulation tissue. This method is called healing by second intention. Some animals will need drains placed or debridement of necrotic tissue.

The cost associated with these treatments is variable. A sensitivity and culture usually cost around $200-300. Depending on the antimicrobial selection, these are generally inexpensive, but large dogs or those requiring prolonged therapy may need hundreds of dollars of medication.

If revision surgery is needed, the cost may range from several hundred to several thousand of dollars. This is why it is so important to follow post-operative instructions as closely as possible. Some infections are inevitable, but most are caused by inappropriate surgery aftercare.

What causes incisional infections?

The most common cause of infection is self-trauma of the incision by licking and chewing. Secondary to that, dogs develop infections due to the following causes:

Existing skin disease: Dogs that have an existing skin infection or chronic skin disease have unhealthy skin that is more likely to become infected or for infection to spread to a new surgical site.

Poor aseptic technique: Dogs that have surgery performed in an unsterile environment can be more prone to infections.

Dirty wounds: Wounds caused by bites, penetrating trauma, or those that become contaminated by the surrounding environment are more likely to become colonized with bacteria.

Immunocompromised animals: Animals with chronic diseases that impair their immune system are more likely to develop infections.

Chronic antibiotic use: Animals that are on long-term antibiotics or multiple types of antibiotics are at risk for developing multi-drug resistant bacteria. These can cause serious infections.

Chronic corticosteroid use: Animals that are on corticosteroids long-term may have delayed wound healing and be more at risk for wound healing failure and infection.

The picture below is a picture of a dog with skin disease. Skin disease should always be treated first before elective surgery is performed, as these dogs are at increased risk of incisional infections.

How to prevent incision infections after a surgery

Here are some steps that dog owners can take at home to help prevent infection of an incision on a dog after surgery:

1. Keep the incision site clean and dry: Use a clean, damp cloth to gently clean around the incision site, and avoid getting it wet for at least the first week after surgery.

2. Monitor the incision: Check the incision site regularly for signs of redness, swelling, discharge, or odor. If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian right away.

3. Prevent licking and chewing: It is important to prevent your dog from licking or chewing at the incision site, as this can introduce bacteria and worsen the infection. You may need to use an Elizabethan collar (also known as a cone) to prevent your dog from accessing the area.

4. Follow post-surgery instructions: Your veterinarian will likely provide you with post-surgical care instructions, including how to administer any medications and how to limit your dogs activity level. It is important to follow these instructions carefully to help prevent infection.

5. Provide proper nutrition and hydration: A healthy diet and plenty of water can help support your dogs immune system and promote healing after surgery.

6. Avoid exposing your dog to other animals: During the healing process, it is best to keep your dog away from other animals to reduce the risk of infection.

By following these steps, dog owners can help prevent infection of an incision on their pet after surgery.

Related posts:

• Dr. Paula Simons is an emergency veterinarian at Cornell University Veterinary Specialists (CUVS), a leading 24/7 Emergency and Critical Care Hospital (CUVS is affiliated with the renowned Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, a world leader in veterinary care). She graduated with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2019.

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Disclaimer: This website's content is not a substitute for veterinary care. Always consult with your veterinarian for healthcare decisions. Read More.

Is My Dogs Incision Infected? (How to Tell)

In this dog incision infection guide, youll learn whether or not your dogs incision might have an infection, and what signs and symptoms to look for.

You dont want to wait until he has full-blown mange when you could have prevented that from happening.

How do I know if my dogs incision is infected?

Infection is a serious concern following surgery. It can occur when bacteria from the skin or from the intestines enter the wound.

The most common bacterial cause of surgical wound infections is Staphylococcus aureus (Staph).

Other species of Staph, such as Staph epidermis and Staphylococcus intermedius, have been found to be less virulent than Staph aureus.

Signs of infection include:

Redness around the incision site

redness extending into surrounding tissues (cellulitis).

Redness at the edges of an incision may indicate that the incision was made too long or too deep or that it was stitched too close to healthy tissue.

The increased temperature at the site of infection (fever)

Your dogs normal body temperature ranges from 100F to 102F (37.8C to 39C) for dogs younger than two years, and 100F to 103F (37.8C to 39.4C) for dogs older than two years.

A fever indicates inflammation in your pets body and can be an indicator of infection in his surgical area.

What does an infected incision look like on a dog?

Infected incisions are red, swollen, and painful. If your dog has an infected incision, you will see a dark-colored discharge coming from the wound or pimple.

If your dog has an infected incision, he may also be lethargic and have a fever.

If your dog has an infected incision, you should take him to the veterinarian immediately for treatment.

What to do if my dogs incision is infected?

If your dog has an infected incision, it is important to call your veterinarian as soon as possible.

The earlier you can get treatment for the infection, the better your dogs chances are of recovering from it.

The first thing your vet will do is examine your dog and take a culture of the wound.

This allows him or her to determine what type of bacteria is causing the infection and also helps them decide which antibiotics might be most effective in treating it.

If the wound has started to drain pus or blood, this is a sign that it may be infected.

Your vet will likely prescribe an antibiotic pill for you to give your dog every day until he or she has healed completely (usually two weeks).

If the incision is swollen or painful, there are some things you can do at home to help relieve these symptoms:

• Wipe down the wound with warm water and antibacterial soap daily until it heals completely
• Apply an antibiotic ointment on top of each bandage change (every other day) until complete healing occurs.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this helps you out (and your dog) in case of infection.

We are no vets but based on this research and past experience, the hunch is that the skin around a wound can become irritated, red, and/or itchy after an incision.

If theres no swelling/discharge of puss and/or if your dog is still eating/drinking then he should be okay.

If any of these indicators become positive though youll probably want to contact your vet and get his opinion. Happy pups!

See Also

My Dog's Stitches Are Infected

The convalescence period for a dog after surgery will depend on various factors which will be best determined by your veterinarian. The most routine surgical procedure for dogs is neutering, usually castration for males and spaying for females. Although invasive, it is a common operation which rarely has complications. While neutering wounds usually heal within 10-14 days, it is possible for infections to occur. It is for this reason postoperative care is so important and guardians need to meet their responsibility of care as best as possible. The same applies to any type of invasive surgery in dogs.

At AnimalWised, we look at what happens if my dog's stitches are infected. We find out how to treat this problem and what we can do to prevent it.

How to know if my dog's suture is infected

Only qualified veterinary surgeons should be allowed to perform surgery on a dog. As invasive surgeries, spaying and neutering require an incision in the dog's skin and the subsequent removal of sexual organs. Once the relevant ligations have been carried out, the incision will be sutured. This requires stitches to close the wound. This incision site will be on the abdomen or scrotum, for females and males respectively.

Other veterinary surgeries may be located in other areas of the dog's body, but the same basic principles apply. After a successful suture of an incision, you should be able to see:

• A clean incision can be seen.
• The edges of the wound are perfectly in contact.
• The edges of the wound may be slightly thickened.
• There may be a light, fluid, clear discharge.
• The skin color around the wound is pinkish or slightly reddish.

Although the sutures should close up the incision, the site will be vulnerable until it heals. When the stitches become infected, we will likely see the following:

• Redness and swelling around the wound which doesn't improve after time
• Fever or heat around the wound
• Pain when the incision site is touched
• Swollen regional lymph nodes
• Abnormal discharge
• Foul odor
• Delayed healing
• Wound dehiscence (wound breaks open)

It is normal for there to be a light, fluid and transparent discharge after surgery. When this discharge becomes purulent or bloody, it means the stitches have become infected. An infection prevents the correct healing of the tissues, which is why infected surgical wounds take longer than usual to heal. The infection is exacerbated if the wound breaks open. This can penetrate deeper into the tissue and also provides risk of blood poisoning (sepsis).

Why are my dogs stitches infected?

The cause of a dog's suture becoming infected is usually bacterial. Although the stitches close the incision, the wound is still somewhat exposed. It is possible for a fungal infection to affect wound stitches, but it is much less common. When a dog's stitches are infected, it is usually for one of the following reasons:

• Poor asepsis conditions: to avoid post-surgical infections, surgery must be performed under strict asepsis conditions. The operation theater must be rigorously disinfected, sterile materials must be sued and surgical instruments also need to be sterilized. In some cases, new instruments are needed at different stages of a procedure, especially if the surgery involves the gastrointestinal tract. If these conditions are not suitably met, it can result in bacteria being introduced to the wound. Meeting this responsibility is the most basic level of care from a veterinarian.
• Existence of dead spaces: surgical wounds must be closed by stitches from the inside out. This will help to avoid dead spaces in the tissue. These are spaces remaining in the wound after surgical closure and they can promote infection.
• Use of inadequate suture materials: multifilament or braided sutures are both easier to use and cheaper, but they also have a higher risk of infection. They should not be used on infected wounds, nor when there is suspicion of infection.
• Lack of antibiotic prophylaxis: although it is not always necessary, there are certain situations in which antibiotic treatment should be administered during and/or after surgery to prevent infections. Antibiotic therapy should be established in procedures that are associated with a high probability of postoperative infection of the wound. An example is when surgical intervention is required for a wound which has already been exposed to bacteria, when the animal is immunosuppressed for some reason or if they have a metabolic disease.
• Inadequate postoperative care: various types of postoperative care are required to minimize the risk of the stitches becoming infected. Properly dressing the wound and redressing when necessary are some of the most important aspects, but we also need to maintain proper hygiene. Since dogs often want to lick the wound site to reduce irritation, we may need to use an Elizabethan collar to prevent this. Maintaining general hygiene is important.

Take a look at our related article on the complications after neutering a dog to know some of the other reasons a dog's stitches may become infected.

What to do if my dog's stitches are infected

If you suspect that your dog's stitches have become infected due to the presence of the symptoms detailed above, it is important you take your dog to the veterinary center. They will be able to both determine whether an infection is present, as well as the extent of its severity. Ideally, you should take them to the clinic which performed the surgery.

Treatment of the dog's infected stitches will depend on factors such as the degree of healing, whether the sutures remain intact and the presence of purulent discharge. Based on an initial examination, treatment will likely be one of the following:

• Antibiotic treatment: in the event of mild clinical signs and wounds in which the suture has not been opened, the establishment of systemic antibiotic therapy may be sufficient.
• Surgical treatment: in more serious cases or when the suture has failed, it is necessary to complement the antibiotic treatment with a new surgical intervention. This will be used to thoroughly clean the wound and remove dead and infected tissue.

Caring for a dog's infected stitches

In addition to complying with the treatment established by the veterinarian, it is necessary to manage the infected wound. In very severe cases, the dog will be hospitalized to stabilize their system. In the vast majority of cases, we will need to treat the wound infection at home.

There are various products which can be used to disinfect and clean the stitches, but not all are advisable for your dog. Betadine (povidone-iodine) for dogs or chlorhexidine for dogs are the best canine antiseptic products. Betadine must be diluted to a 10% solution and chlorhexidine needs to be diluted to a 40% solution. Higher concentrations can damage the tissue. In no case should alcohol or hydrogen peroxide be used for wound cleaning as they can cause cell death and further delay wound healing.

The stitches should be cleaned gently with a gauze soaked in antiseptic (betadine or chlorhexidine). Exudates, scabs or remains of dead tissue should be removed, so we may need to apply a little more pressure. It is preferable not to use cotton, since it can leave residues in the wound. Cleaning should be repeated 2 or 3 times a day.

Dressings and/or light bandages should be used to prevent the dog from licking or scratching the wound. An Elizabethan collar may also be required to prevent the dog from touching the wound.

How to care for a dog's incision stitches

In the post-operative period, it is important to perform proper wound care until the tissues heal. Generally, the stitches are removed 10-14 days after surgery, although the time can vary depending on several factors.

For proper management of the surgical wound, the following points should be considered:

• Cleaning of the wound: the dressings help reduce the microbial load that is in and around the wound. Cleaning should be done twice a day with a gauze soaked in diluted betadine or chlorhexidine. If small crusts form, it is advisable to gently remove them with a gauze soaked in antiseptic. In no case should products such as alcohol or hydrogen peroxide be used. They are very irritating and cause cell death, delaying wound healing. To clean the stitches in dogs we will follow the steps mentioned in the previous section.
• Apply dressings and/or bandages: dressings help maintain an optimal level of moisture in the wound, which promotes healing. In addition, we must bear in mind that the animals will try to touch and lick the wound, so it is also convenient to place light dressings or bandages to prevent the animal from touching the wound.
• Use an Elizabethan collar: provides a physical barrier to prevent the animal from licking or scratching the wound.
• Comply with the antibiotic treatment: provided that the veterinarian has prescribed an antibiotic treatment in the post-surgical period. This means using the correct antibiotic for the bacteria in the wound. We should never used antibiotics formulated for human medicine.

This article is purely informative. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are suffering from any condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to My Dog's Stitches Are Infected, we recommend you visit our First aid category.

Bibliography

• Sopena, J. (2011). Medical-surgical treatment of wounds, application in dermatology I and II. Tenth Congress of Veterinary Specialties, AVEPA.