Can non-dissolvable sutures cause infection months after dog surgery?

Question

Had a gastropexy done on my Dane when she got fixed. (Went to a different vet because it was half the cost then my reg vet) ended up 6 months after the surgery she had a lump on her stomach. Went to reg vet and they had to do surgery to find out what it was. Ended up being an infection and 5 draining tracts from 5 non dissolvable nylon sutures that the other vet had placed. I need to know if this is normal using non dissolvable sutures that were infecting my dog for 6 months post surgery? Pet's info: Dog | Great Dane | Female | spayed | 1 year and 1 month old | 95 lbs

Rodrigo Roca, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello, sorry to hear about Lucy. It is difficult to comment on this because it is not detailed where and how this Nylon suture was used. Nylon suture can be and is regularly used to close the skin on surgical sites. These however, need to be removed once the incision has healed. Dissolvable sutures are most often used when closing any organ, body wall, or subcutaneous tissue and skin, and don't need to be removed unless they cause an allergic reaction or if the site becomes infected. Nylon sutures could've been removed after her surgery was healed, and that waiting 6 months was probably too long, however this should've been better assessed by your veterinarian. Having the sutures left there longer may predispose them to developing infections and local reactions. However, this can be seen both with nylon and dissolvable sutures and its one of the risk known with any suture material. Hope Lucy recovers well and best of luck!

Can non-dissolvable sutures cause infection months after dog surgery?

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