Incision care is one of the most important parts of recovery. A little planning can prevent infection and help your pet heal faster and more comfortably.
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What a normal incision should look like
Normal healing often includes:
- Mild swelling at first
- Light bruising
- Slight redness along the incision line
- Your pet acting a bit tired the first day
Daily incision checklist (simple)
Once daily, check for:
- Increased redness spreading outward
- Swelling that’s growing
- Discharge (yellow/green/bloody)
- Bad odor
- Gapping or open stitches
- Excessive licking or chewing
The big “don’ts”
- Don’t let your pet lick/chew the incision (use the cone)
- Don’t bathe or let them swim until cleared
- Don’t apply ointments unless instructed
- Don’t allow running/jumping (even if they feel better)
Keep activity restricted (even when they seem fine)
Most complications happen because pets feel better quickly and overdo it.
Ask us about:
- Leash-only potty breaks
- Crate rest or confined spaces
- Safe reintroduction to activity
When to call immediately
Call if you see:
- Bleeding that won’t stop
- Incision opening
- Pus-like discharge or strong odor
- Fever-like behavior (shaking, severe lethargy)
- Your pet won’t eat or is vomiting (beyond expected)
➡️ Contact: https://poplarviewpethospital.com/contact-us/
➡️ Request appointment: https://poplarviewpethospital.com/request-appointment/
