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Puppy spay incision looks open. Is it normal after jumping off table?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Female | spayed | 6 months and 17 days old | 10 lbs

What could have causes this to happen to my puppy's spaying incision? Yesterday and earlier today the incision was completely dry and healing and then we left her at home for a couple of hours with her cone on in her crate and now her incision looks like this. We also took her to get her lepto booster shot today and the vet looked at her cut and said it was normal however she did jump off of the vet table. Could that have caused her incision to reopen?

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1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on August 26th, 2017

Yes, too much movement can cause an incision to open up again. Some dogs can also be sneaky and can get around the cone to lick an incision if the collar is too large or not fitted properly. These pictures are more in focus than the pictures you had provided in your previous post, and it looks as if she had some bleeding and a large scab has formed. It also appears as if the incision has opened up a little. Definitely take her into the vet to have this incision examined again.

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IMG_9216.HEIC My dog had spay surgery 9 days ago. The incision looks opened
A photo of the incision would help greatly in assessing the problem. If the incision looks opened you need to 1) keep your dog from licking it as she will open it even more. Best put on an e-collar. 2) take her to a veterinarian to have it resutured.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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My girl dog was spayed 6 days ago. She is in good spirits, eating/drinking normally, peeing/pooping normally, and isn’t bothered by the incision, but it looks like it opened a little. It feels dry to the touch. Should I be worried?
Thank you for providing a picture of Honey's incision, it's very helpful. Yes, I agree it does appear to have opened up, and I'm worried it could get infected since it has opened. She needs to see a vet asap to get this closed, and the vet may likely close it with surgical glue after examining it and cleaning it. The vet may also prescribe antibiotics. Please take her into a vet immediately. I hope this helps!
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I'm concerned my puppy's spaying incision is splitting open. Is this just from the scab falling off or is this a concern? She was spayed last Thursday June 29th
It looks like the skin has healed but a small piece of suture is causing a small infection. I would recommend taking her to a veterinarian for antibiotics. Continue to restrict her activity and keep an e-collar on to prevent licking.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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My dog's spay incision opened up a tiny bit, and there is some redness around the area. Should I take her to the vet or let her heal?
I recommend taking her back to your veterinarian for a post-surgical suture check. Your vet can determine if it is safe to leave the [incision](https://www.petcoach.co/article/incisions-and-healing-in-animals) open or if it will need to be reclosed. Your veterinarian may also prescribe antibiotics (if your dog is not already taking them) to prevent infection. If your dog is opening up the incision by licking or biting at the sutures, your vet may also send her home with an e-collar (cone).
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Hi I was just wondering if this looks like a normal 3 days post op spay incision? My puppy has been very hyper and jumps a lot despite our efforts to keep her calm. We started locking her in her crate, but I just want to make sure her incision is oka
Thank you for contacting Boop by Petco with your question about Kala and for providing pictures, they are very helpful. The incision itself looks ok but I'm wondering if there is some swelling at the end of the incision. I'd keep an eye on it for now and if there is swelling there and it gets bigger, have her seen by a vet. I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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Is the spay incision open? My cat has been jumping on our beds and I'm worried she may have opened her incision. There's no blood or oozing so far. We think she may have licked it as well since the E-collar came off 2 times.
Thank you for using Boop by Petco. From this picture it does not appear to be open, but there may be some swelling around the incision. You may need to keep Nikita and a crate or small room where she cannot run or jump on and off of furniture. Be sure to keep the E collar on. If there’s any gaping of the incision, discharge, redness or she is acting sick in anyway then I recommend taking her back to the veterinarian for a check up.
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My 5 month old puppy was spayed on Wednesday and I picked her up from the shelter on Friday. The incision was okay for the last couple days but a few minutes ago I checked and it was more of a scabby knot. Just now (after she was laying on a dry floo
It's a little difficult to tell, but it looks as if the incision is starting to open a little. If that is the case, then I would recommend having her examined today. It is better to be safe than sorry with surgical incisions. The oozing does not concern me as much as the fact that the incision is starting to open and the fact that is has opened more during the day today. I would also make sure that she wearing an e-collar and not able to lick at the area because that will get it infected. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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My dogs spay incesion opened up a tad bit from the end. Is this sometimes to be worried about?
No as long as it’s not fully opened. The abdomen is closed in layers so even if the skin incision opens a little it will not effect the healing of the inner layers. Do not clean it or put anything on it. If she’s licking please use a cone, and keep her quiet. Being overly active can cause problems with the suture line and result in increased pain and swelling. Thanks for using Boop by Petco to help you care for Lena.
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My dog spay incision opened 3 days later and we got her stitched again. Unfortunately another 3days and her wound opened again. The doc got her stitched again. Now it's been two days and her incision is bleeding, and it hasn't stopped. I'm worried.
I am so sorry to hear about your dog. It sounds like a frustrating situation. If she is actively bleeding (like dripping regularly) this is not normal. A few drops of blood might not worry me, but regular dripping a few days out seems unusual. I would consider testing for a clotting disorder/bleeding disorder if it continues. If the wound is opening up again, I would also consider culturing the wound to see if a resistant bacteria is present and to determine the best antibiotic to put her on. I have seen cases with a very resistant bacteria where we couldn't get the wound to close initially and had to manage these guys as an open wound with bandaging until the tissue became healthy/uninfected again. Also, if your dog doesn't already have an e-collar on (cone-shaped collar) she needs one on at all times and she should be confined to a crate/small area right now while she is healing, and only go outside on a leash to use the bathroom. She should be on a pain medication if she is
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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We recently adopted an 8-week old puppy last Saturday who was spayed 2 days prior. The surgical area (glued) is red and appears to be opening, but we don't see any puss or discomfort from the pup. Does the attached image look normal for a pup healing
Sometimes skin incisions that were closed with glue will pucker at the very ends and open slightly. However, the middle pucker appears a little swollen. I would recommend that you take Chloe to a vet to check the incision. Usually the vet that performed the surgery will do brief incision checks at no charge. Sometimes another spot of glue is all that is needed to get it to heal properly. Sometimes the puckers are left open to heal on their own. If the vet finds signs of infection, oral antibiotics can be prescribed. Make sure that Chloe is not licking the incision. If you see her lick even once she needs to wear an e-collar or cone to prevent further opening of the incision. Also, she needs to still be on moderate activity restriction - even though this can be difficult in young puppies, encourage her to stay flat and not jump around too much. And no bathing for at least 1 week after surgery.
Updated on September 24th, 2025

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