Signs of Poor Spaying

Spaying is a surgical procedure in which a female cat's uterus and ovaries are removed. Also referred to as an ovariohysterectomy, spaying is done for genetic disease control, population control, behavioral modification and medical health benefits. This is a very common procedure, but problems can still arise. If a female cat has this procedure and exhibits any signs of poor spaying, a vet should be contacted immediately.

  1. Hernia

    • A hernia is a lump that develops under a cat's skin when sutures in the abdominal wall break down. This then allows the intestines, other internal organs and fat to leave the abdominal cavity and travel to the space underneath the skin. This problem occurs when the veterinarian closes the linea alba line with the wrong sutures or closes it incorrectly, according to Pet Informed. If a cat experiences a hernia after spaying it will require another surgery to repair the hernia.

    Wound Infection

    • A wound infection occurs when bacteria is introduced to the surgical incision. Infections often cause swelling, soreness, warmth and redness at the incision site. This complication most often occurs due to poor home care, but it can also occur due to poor surgical technique, according to Pet Informed. Poor surgical technique includes non-sterile operation area, poor skin preparation prior to surgery, or performing surgery on an animal that is known to have a compromised immune system.

    Excessive Wound Bleeding

    • Although it is uncommon, a cat can bleed excessively at the incision site after being spayed. This can occur for a number of reasons, such as the cat having a blood clotting disorder. However, it can also occur if the veterinarian performed the spaying surgery improperly. This complication requires immediate veterinary treatment.