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My dog's neuter stitches look bad. Is this normal? Does he need a cone?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Goldendoodle | Male | neutered | 1 year and 11 months old | 71 lbs

Hello my Male goldendoodle was neutered yesterday and I am concerned about his stitches. It just looks like a hack job. Is this normal? Also he was not given a cone, do I need one?

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1 Answer

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Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

Veterinary Technician

Published on November 13th, 2019

The area looks irritated and inflamed, but otherwise the suture site looks OK. This can be normal for a few days after surgery as the tissue heals. I would 100% get an Elizabethan (cone) collar to prevent Louis from licking at the site and ripping out stitches. If the area doesn't heal, oozes debris, is hot to the touch, swells more or stays swollen for more than a few days, bringing him back to your vet is best.

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