Guest Giselle Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 My non-grey had her cyst removed from her front leg a few days ago. She killed her e-collar and ripped off her bandages, and now I've given up. No matter what I do, she's going to lick her sutures, so I decided I should just feed her the antibiotics and properly care for her sutures. The only problem is I'm not sure how I should care for her sutures. I know I shouldn't wipe it down with hydrogen peroxide. Should I even clean it at all? Any advice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burpdog Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 Shouldn't do anything until they come out. Can't you wrap with gauze and vet wrap and put deoderant on the bandage? Will she lick that? Quote Diane & The Senior Gang Burpdog Biscuits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LittleGreys Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 If she chews at the sutures you will end up with a big mess. Believe me, I see it every week. They chew at them, then the wound gets bigger and many times has to be debrided and resutured, or left to heal as a big open wound. Did you try an anti-chew spray, we use ChewGuard, that stuff is nasty. Use a man's tube sock over her leg and spray the sock good with ChewGuard. It can be done, don't give up. It is just going to take great effort on your part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 Gezz--I know it's frustrating but, don't let her lick she'll be right back into surgery. Do you have jammies you could put on her? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sheila Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 you could put her in a muzzle with a stool guard or use duct tape to cover the end to keep her from licking. If she continues to rub at the wound with the muzzle you may need to cover it with something. I used one of my long sleeved shirts and put womens panty liners inside of the sleeve to act as a sterile padding and also as another barrier. If you can't keep her from licking the wound is going to get much worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Giselle Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 The problem is she's a pretty neurotic and persistent gal. This is her e-collar after two days: The first night she ripped the e-collar apart. I just took a bunch of string and tied it all back together. And now it looks like this (if you look closely, she actually ripped a hole in it) We don't have ChewGuard, but I'll go out to the pet store and see what they offer in terms of chew deterrents. I have friends with retrievers and they tell me that Bitter Apple doesn't work, so I'll see if they have something stronger.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest myjazzy Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 I second the muzzle idea. I had to use it with one of mine who totally freaked with the e-collar. It really worked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Giselle Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 The only reason I can't do the muzzle is because her tummy's been a little off lately so she just went through a bout of vomiting. I figure she got into something rancid. Even though she's so big, she's still very much a stupid puppy in the mental/cognitive department She stopped vomiting a few hours ago and is sleeping quietly so I took the chance to rewrap her bandages and put some Yuk-2e gel on her. The store only had Bitter Apple, Bitter Lime, and this Yuk-2e gel, and they said Yuk was the most potent so that's what we ended up getting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GreyFox Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 I have no additional advice to offer ... just wanted to wish you luck and tell you your pup is gorgeous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubcitypam Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 (edited) When poodle was almost disembowled and got a stitch or two out both my vet and Dr. Stacksaid water therapy would make it heal way faster and it did. He was smaller than yours, but flushing the wound a couple of times a day with the shower massager really worked. I know tht doesn't really answer your question... Edited February 17, 2008 by Hubcitypam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tenderhearts Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 (edited) I feel for you as Lori Ann was terrible about leaving 'owies' alone! When she had sutures on her flank from being attacked by a chow, I found that benadryl helped calm her down enough to leave them alone, plus they were starting to itch from healing (1 mg per pound). Your girl is just beautiful! Edited February 17, 2008 by Tenderhearts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovinggreysslp Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 This is going to sound crazy but when I needed to cover an inside thigh area, I put an old pair of tights (with hole cut out for tail) on one of our hounds and then attached a sock onto the tights with safety pins. Its wasn't "pretty" but it kept the wound from getting licked. I hope your beautiful girl heals soon. Quote Cosmo (Fuzz Face Cosmos), Holmes (He's a Dream), Boomer (USS Baby Boomer), Ella and missing our angels Clay (Red Clay), Train (Nite Train), Trip (Bock's Teddy Bear),Larry (Bohemian Frigid) and Jimmy (Bohemian Raw) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sighthounds4me Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 Poor little Ivy-girl! We went through this when Manero injured his foot too. I could not find an E collar to fit him (the ones that had a large enough "dish" could not be made small enough around his neck - dang sighthounds! ). I just sprayed his bandage with icky stuff, and he left it alone for a while. Toward the end of his two weeks sutured, he tore off the bandage, but left the sutures alone. I tried reapplying the bandage, but off it came again. I figured, as long as he leaves the sutures alone, he's fine. We had no further trouble. Give the little cutie a kiss for me! Quote Sarah, the human, Henley, and Armani the Borzoi boys, and Brubeck the Deerhound.Always in our hearts, Gunnar, Naples the Greyhounds, Cooper and Manero, the Borzoi, and King-kitty, at the Rainbow Bridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Giselle Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 Thanks everybody! Yeah, I'm leaving it alone. I literally SOAKED the tube sock in Yuk-2e gel. I taped it down and I doused the tape in the Yuk gel. I even followed the instructions and dabbed a glob of the gel in her mouth to intensify the bad taste (I felt really bad doing that). It lasted all of 12 hours. The next morning, I woke up and she was all nekkid again Cool idea about the water therapy! I wasn't sure if it was okay to wet the sutured area, but I'll try it later tonight. She's not really bothering it, so I'm just keeping a very close eye on her and hoping the area heals asap. Does anybody know if something like skin glue would be okay to use on her? I'm thinking it might help if there's some type of barrier on her sutures or something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sheila Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 Thanks everybody! Yeah, I'm leaving it alone. I literally SOAKED the tube sock in Yuk-2e gel. I taped it down and I doused the tape in the Yuk gel. I even followed the instructions and dabbed a glob of the gel in her mouth to intensify the bad taste (I felt really bad doing that). It lasted all of 12 hours. The next morning, I woke up and she was all nekkid again Cool idea about the water therapy! I wasn't sure if it was okay to wet the sutured area, but I'll try it later tonight. She's not really bothering it, so I'm just keeping a very close eye on her and hoping the area heals asap. Does anybody know if something like skin glue would be okay to use on her? I'm thinking it might help if there's some type of barrier on her sutures or something. If it was me I would stay away from the skin glues. That stuff stings something terrible. Have you looked into a sturdier E-collar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Giselle Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 The e-collar she destroyed is made by the Kong company, so I assumed that they used sturdier plastic (it sure felt a lot sturdier than the ones we have at the vets). At this point, knowing her and her odd quirks, I think I'm just going to watch her like a hawk and maybe try wrapping her leg in another tube sock soaked with the Yuk gel. I know she doesn't like spicy stuff. Maybe Tobasco sauce wouldn't be such a bad idea, either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burpdog Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 Cool idea about the water therapy! I wasn't sure if it was okay to wet the sutured area, but I'll try it later tonight Not until the sutures come out! Have you tried deoderant around the wound? Arid Xtra dry usually works. Quote Diane & The Senior Gang Burpdog Biscuits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackandgrey Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 Please don't wet the sutures. Quote Susan, Jessie and Jordy NORTHERN SKY GREYHOUND ADOPTION ASSOCIATION Jack, in my heart forever March 1999-Nov 21, 2008 My Dancing Queen Jilly with me always and forever Aug 12, 2003-Oct 15, 2010 Joshy I will love you always Aug 1, 2004-Feb 22,2013 Jonah my sweetheart May 2000 - Jan 2015 " You will never need to be alone again. I promise this. As your dog, I will sing this promise to you, and whisper it to you at night, every night, with my breath." Stanley Coren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.