Guest doggiehappiness Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 Is is a usual practice to not stitch up a bite wound due to the possibility of infections/pocketing of fluid? Ernie's was left open to drain and heal -- he is on antibiotics and warm compresses 2-3 x daily. Anyone who is more familiar with bite wounds, could you reassure me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greyaspet Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 Yep they don't close up bite wounds just went to the E vet this morning myself with my dog after my foster bit him 5 times. The vet explained that with a bite wound fluids will build up and cause an infection so he has 2 drains on his head. And a lot of leakage which they told me to expect for the first 24 hours. Sheila Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest longdogs Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 Any deep wound, like a bite, is generally left open. The major risk comes if you seal a deep wound at the top leaving infection inside. It might look worrying but open wounds usually heal well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greysmom Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 I usually tell them not to stitch them up, as the stitches fail more times than they help. Greyhound skin is so thin that the stitches rip right out. It does leave a bit of a scar sometimes where the stitching usually won't. Sounds like it's going to be OK - keep up with the compresses, and maybe add a bit of hydrogen peroxide (I use a 1 part hydrogem=n peroxide to 3 or 4 parts warm water) to help keep it clean depending on where the wound is. greysmom Quote Chris - Mom to: Felicity (DeLand), and Andi (Braska Pandora) siggy by Chris Harper, on Flickr Angels: Libby (Everlast), Dorie (Dog Gone Holly), Dude (TNJ VooDoo), Copper (Kid's Copper), Cash (GSI Payncash), Toni (LPH Cry Baby), Whiskey (KT's Phys Ed), Atom, Lilly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinM Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 When Beau was attacked by Teddy and just missed his jugualar, I was appalled that they had beau sitting in a crate at the vet hours after he was brought there. They explained to me that they did this purposely. Because a bite has a lot of bacteria and bad germs, infections could occur. They sedated him to make him comfy and non knowing and put drains in to get the yucky stuff out, then, they stitched him up. Quote ROBIN ~ Mom to: Beau Think It Aint, Chloe JC Allthewayhome, Teddy ICU Drunk Sailor, Elsie N Fracine , Ollie RG's Travertine, Ponch A's Jupiter~ Yoshi, Zoobie & Belle, the kitties. Waiting at the bridge Angel Polli Bohemian Ocean , Rocky, Blue,Sasha & Zoobie & Bobbi Greyhound Angels Adoption (GAA) The Lexus Project Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BootsyCollins Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 Hmmmm...when Argos was attacked by another dog, they stitched it up. I'll ask about that next time (which there won't be, knock wood). Quote Christie and Bootsy (Turt McGurt and Gil too) Loving and missing Argos & Likky, forever and ever. ~Old age means realizing you will never own all the dogs you wanted to. ~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BlackandBrindle Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 Spud's bites were left open to drain and heal on their own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest longdogs Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 I usually tell them not to stitch them up, as the stitches fail more times than they help. Greyhound skin is so thin that the stitches rip right out. It does leave a bit of a scar sometimes where the stitching usually won't. Sounds like it's going to be OK - keep up with the compresses, and maybe add a bit of hydrogen peroxide (I use a 1 part hydrogem=n peroxide to 3 or 4 parts warm water) to help keep it clean depending on where the wound is. greysmom It's usually not such a good idea to apply hydrogen peroxide or anything similar on a regular basis to a healing wound although OK for the initial clean-up and for fighting any residual infection (I prefer Betadine). It can actually slow the repair and regrowth of tissue. Daily flushing with saline solution is good to keep larger wounds clean and to help them heal, although the latest research shows that any water that is pure enough to drink does as good a job as sterile saline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest CindyMessmore Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 Yep, ditto here. Leave it open, no stitches, and let it drain. That seems to be standard operating procedure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin1017 Posted July 7, 2008 Share Posted July 7, 2008 Hmmmm...when Argos was attacked by another dog, they stitched it up. I'll ask about that next time (which there won't be, knock wood). Yep. Robin got bitten on the side last summer, and the vet (we were out of town) stitched it up completely. We didn't know any better. The wound kept reopening and didn't heal right at first because of the fluid collecting. Once we got back home, our vet flushed it and fixed it up a bit, but I know it wouldn't have lasted as long if it had been left open to drain as I now know it was supposed to. Luckily, the scar's not too bad. Live and learn--hopefully knowledge that won't be needed next time. Quote Cathy & Calvin (DOB 9/18/13). Always missing my angel Robin (Abdo Bullard). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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