Complete Guide to Choosing Veterinary Surgical Sutures for Your Practice

Veterinary medicine has advanced rapidly over the last three decades, with surgical outcomes improving thanks to innovations in training, technology and innovative materials. Yet, one of the most consistent factors in surgical success remains something deceptively simple i.e. the suture.

Veterinary surgical sutures are more than just threads; they are critical biomaterials that interact directly with tissues, influence wound healing, and determine the strength and reliability of closures. The right choice can mean smooth recovery, reduced complications, and stronger clinical trust.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything veterinary professionals need to know about suture types, suture materials, and surgical applications. From absorbable sutures made of synthetic absorbable polymers to traditional Chromic Catgut, and non-absorbable sutures, this guide will help your practice make confident, informed decisions.

Understanding Veterinary Surgical Sutures

Veterinary surgical sutures are sterile medical threads used to close wounds, ligate blood vessels and support tissues during healing. Designed for animal anatomy, they provide strength, biocompatibility, and precise absorption rates. Available as absorbable or non-absorbable, monofilament or multifilament, they ensure secure closures and promote faster, infection-free recovery in veterinary surgeries.

Why Sutures Matter in Veterinary Surgery

Sutures are more than closure devices, they are medical implants that interact with tissues and influence the healing process. The wrong choice can lead to wound dehiscence, delayed healing, or even postoperative infections, while the right choice ensures optimal tissue approximation and minimizes complications.

Veterinary sutures are designed to deliver safety, performance and biocompatibility. From advanced synthetic absorbable polymers to time-tested Chromic Catgut, these surgical sutures support every specialty in modern animal healthcare.

Suture Types in Veterinary Surgery

1. Absorbable Sutures

Absorbable sutures degrade naturally in the body, either through enzymatic action (e.g., Catgut) or hydrolysis (e.g., synthetic polymers). They are widely used for internal closures where removal is not practical.

Key Materials:

• Polydioxanone (PDO) – Monofilament. Absorbed in 180–210 days, providing long-term tensile support. Often used in fascia, tendons, and orthopedic cases where slow-healing tissues demand extended strength. Equivalent to PDS-class sutures. 
• Polymer of Glycolic Acid (PGA – Assufil®) – Braided and coated multifilament. Mid-term absorption (60–90 days). Excellent handling and knot security, making it suitable for ~80% of standard soft tissue surgeries. 
• PGCL (Poli (Glicolide-co-ε-caprolactone)) – Monofilament. Absorbed in 90–120 days, offering smooth passage, low tissue drag, and minimal tissue reactivity. Useful in soft tissue surgeries where infection risk exists. 
• Chromic Catgut (Assucrom®) – Twisted multifilament made with natural collagen. Absorption varies 60-120 days, with low tensile strength usually lasting 15–20 days. Chromic treatment extends its breakdown time compared to plain catgut. Surgeons appreciate it for blood vessel ligation and soft tissue closures due to its pliability and ease of handling, though it has lower long-term strength than synthetics.

2. Non-Absorbable Sutures

Non-absorbable sutures provide permanent or long-lasting support, particularly in tissues that require extended healing times. They may need to be removed later or remain as permanent implants.

Material Types:

Polyamide 6 / Polyamide 6,6 (Nylon – Assunyl®) – Monofilament; Durable, cost-effective, and low reactivity. Common for skin closures and widely available in many gauges and needle configurations. Considered a “default” nonabsorbable option in vet practice.

 

3. Monofilament vs Multifilament Sutures

• Monofilament Sutures: A single smooth strand with minimal tissue drag. Their smooth surface reduces bacterial wicking and makes them ideal in infected or contamination-prone wounds. However, they have “memory” (retain their packaging shape) and require multiple throws for knot security. Common examples include Polydioxanone (PDO), PGCL, and Polyamide (nylon). 
• Multifilament Sutures: Multifilament sutures are created by braiding or twisting multiple filaments together, providing excellent flexibility, handling and knot security. However, their braided structure can trap bacteria and fluids, increasing infection risks in contaminated wounds. They remain popular in veterinary surgery for their strength and ease of use. Examples: PGA and Chromic Catgut.

4. Specialty Sutures – Barbed Sutures

Barbed sutures (e.g., Filbloc®) are advanced surgical sutures engineered with microscopic barbs along their length, eliminating the need for traditional knot-tying. These barbs anchor securely into tissue, distributing tension evenly and maintaining closure without slippage. Assut Europe’s patented  button-end design eliminates the need for triangulation loops used by other manufacturers. The barbs begin immediately at the button, allowing the surgeon to start securely and avoid tissue gaps. By reducing knot dependency, they significantly cut surgical time, enhance efficiency, and improve consistency. The barbs are cut with precision so tensile strength remains uncompromised. 

They are particularly valuable in laparoscopic, orthopedic, and reconstructive veterinary surgeries, where speed, precision and reduced hand fatigue are critical. This makes barbed sutures a modern, efficiency-driven solution for complex procedures.

Key Factors in Choosing Veterinary Surgical Sutures

Before diving into the types and materials, let’s look at the essential criteria for suture selection:

Tissue Healing Time
Different tissues heal at different rates. Skin and mucosa repair quickly, while tendons, fascia, or ligaments require longer support. Selecting sutures that match the tissue’s healing timeline ensures proper wound stability without premature absorption or prolonged unnecessary presence.

Tensile Strength Requirement
Sutures must provide mechanical support until tissues regain natural strength. Some procedures demand extended tensile retention, while others need only short-term support. Choosing sutures based on required strength duration prevents wound dehiscence, ensuring effective closure throughout the healing process.

Risk of Infection
Suture design influences infection rates. Multifilament sutures, though easy to handle, can trap bacteria between braided strands. Monofilament sutures reduce bacterial colonization by presenting a smooth surface. Selecting the right structure lowers the risk of postoperative infections in patients.

Handling & Knot Security
Surgeons depend on sutures that are easy to manipulate. Certain materials glide smoothly through tissue and tie secure, reliable knots. Knot security reduces slippage, ensuring wound integrity, while pliability helps veterinarians perform efficient closures with minimal surgical complications.

Absorbability
Absorbable sutures gradually degrade within the body, eliminating removal needs, ideal for internal closures. Nonabsorbable sutures remain permanently or require removal, often used for skin. Choosing the correct absorbability ensures balance between wound support, patient comfort, and procedural requirements.

Choosing the Right Suture by Surgical Application

Skin Closures
For external wounds, nonabsorbable monofilament sutures like Polyamide 6 ensure durability, while absorbable monofilaments suit subcuticular closures. Gauge choice, usually 2 USP or 0 USP, depends on animal size and tissue thickness.

Soft Tissue Surgeries
Absorbable sutures such as PGA or PGCL are preferred in soft tissue surgeries, providing reliable tensile strength, smooth handling, and predictable absorption profiles that match healing rates for secure, complication-free closures.

Orthopedic & Tendon Repairs
Polydioxanone (PDO) sutures are ideal for orthopedic and tendon procedures, offering long-term tensile strength and extended absorption over 180–210 days, ensuring robust support during slow-healing, high-tension tissue repairs.

Gastrointestinal Surgery
Monofilament absorbable sutures minimize bacterial migration and infection risk while ensuring consistent tissue approximation in gastrointestinal surgeries, where reliable absorption and smooth passage are essential for delicate, contamination-prone operative fields.

Ligation of Blood Vessels
Chromic Catgut and PGA sutures are trusted for vessel ligation, offering dependable knot security and predictable absorption that maintains hemostasis, reduces risk of slippage, and supports tissue healing during vascular surgical procedures.

Repair of Fistulous Tracts
Absorbable monofilament sutures with low tissue reactivity are preferred for fistulous tract repairs, minimizing infection risk and recurrence while supporting stable healing in sensitive, infection-prone surgical environments.

Comparison of Suture Materials in Veterinary Use

Here’s a quick reference to help guide your choices:

Material	Type	Absorption Time	Key Features
Polydioxanone (PDO)	Monofilament	180–210 days	Long-term support, strong tensile strength, minimal tissue reaction.
PGCL	Monofilament	90–120 days	Smooth passage, low tissue drag, consistent absorption.
PGA (Polymer of Glycolic Acid)	Braided/Coated Multifilament	60–90 days	Excellent knot security, reliable handling, mid-term absorption.
Chromic Catgut	Twisted   Multifilament	90–120 days   (with tensile strength loss in 15-20 days from implantation)	Natural suture, enzymatic absorption, extended with chromic treatment.
Polyamide 6 / 6,6	Non-Absorbable   Monofilament	Permanent	Durable, low tissue reaction, excellent for skin closures.

 

Suture Gauge: Choosing the Right Size

The suture gauge (USP scale) indicates thickness. A suture with more zeros is smaller (e.g., 2-0 is smaller than 0). A suture with no zeros is larger (e.g., 1 is larger than 0). Here is a more detailed table on suture sizes:

 

Suture Gauge (USP Size)	Collagen Metric Size (EP)	Collagen Diameter Range (mm)	Synthetic Metric Size (EP)	Synthetic Diameter Range (mm)	Description
2 USP	6	0.600 – 0.699	5	0.500 – 0.599	Thicker than 0 USP, used for heavy tissue closures or surgeries in large breed animals. Offers superior durability and tensile support, ensuring wound integrity.
0 USP	4	0.400 – 0.499	3.5	0.350 – 0.399	Relatively large, suitable for orthopedic repairs or procedures in large animals. Provides substantial tensile strength but must be placed carefully to minimize trauma.
2-0 USP	3.5	0.400 – 0.399	3	0.300 – 0.399	Versatile, commonly used in small animal surgeries, soft tissue closures, and routine procedures. Balances handling ease with adequate tensile strength.
3-0 USP	3	0.300 – 0.339	2	0.200 – 0.249	Widely used for small to medium tissue closures, especially in delicate procedures where a balance between strength and minimal tissue damage is essential.

 

The Role of Gexfix and Assut Europe — Advancing Veterinary Surgical Excellence

As the official distribution partner of Assut Europe S.P.A., Gexfix International Corp. brings over 30 years of trusted expertise to veterinary professionals across the U.S. and globally. Together, they offer a comprehensive portfolio of absorbable and non-absorbable sutures, monofilament and multifilament materials, Filbloc® barbed sutures for knotless closure, as well as adhesives, staplers, and custom surgical kits. Each product is engineered with precision and certified for safety, performance, and global regulatory compliance, empowering veterinarians to operate with confidence and deliver exceptional surgical outcomes.

Selecting the proper veterinary surgical sutures goes beyond technical selection, it’s a commitment to superior healing, patient comfort, and consistent results. With the advanced technology and craftsmanship behind Assut Europe sutures, distributed exclusively by Gexfix, your clinic can enhance surgical efficiency, reduce complications, and improve post-operative recovery.

If you’re ready to upgrade your surgical inventory with Italian-manufactured sutures, explore our absorbable sutures and non-absorbable sutures collections today, or Become a Distributor to bring these trusted solutions to your market.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What kind of stitches do vets use?

Veterinarians use absorbable and non-absorbable sutures depending on the procedure. Absorbable sutures like PGA or PDO dissolve naturally, while non-absorbable options like nylon (polyamide) are used for external skin closures requiring later removal.

2. What are the four major sutures?

The four major sutures in veterinary practice include: PGA (braided absorbable), PDO (monofilament absorbable), Chromic Catgut (natural absorbable), and Polyamide (non-absorbable). Each serves specific purposes based on required strength, healing time, and tissue type.

3. What is the strongest type of suture?

Polydioxanone (PDO) sutures are considered among the strongest absorbable sutures, retaining tensile strength for 180–210 days. They provide long-term tissue support, making them ideal for orthopedic, tendon, or fascia repairs in large animals.

4. What is the most difficult suture to handle?

Monofilament sutures can be more difficult to handle due to their “memory,” meaning they retain their shape and require multiple knots for security. However, they offer excellent infection resistance and minimal tissue reaction.

5. What is the purpose of barbed sutures in veterinary surgery?

Barbed sutures, like Filbloc®, feature tiny barbs that anchor tissues without knots. They evenly distribute tension, shorten surgical time, and enhance precision in laparoscopic, orthopedic, and reconstructive procedures, improving efficiency and healing outcomes.