Guest cyndae Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 http://www.mypetpages.net/artists/4928/0/b...546545b9229.jpg To lick or not to lick?? My Charlotte got hurt last weekend while running in the woods!!! We ended up at the Vet and needed Stiches... She's Healing well but We are concern about her licking her paw.... The Vet says No but some friends advise that it could help with the healing process... Thanks in advance! cyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josie Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 not much advice here.. just that I saw some articles saying that licking helps healing.. maybe some other GTers have more experience with stitches... big to Charlotte and a Hapy Valentine day from Tuffy Quote Our first greyhound, Tuffy: You will always be there with us my angel! Tuffy greyhound-dataOtis greyhound-data Abbey greyhound-data"When you open your minds to the impossible, sometimes you find the truth." W.Bishop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cyndae Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 Thanks Josie!! You should also be on Facebook! Would be easier to keep intouch... I feel really bad for Charlotte!! Second time she has stiches since she lives with us... She an active girl that cannot stay in the house too long, She gets excited when we got out and gets herself in trouble! cynxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grey14me Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 I don't think it's a good idea to let her lick while the stitches are in...there's a very good chance she'll open it up again. Unfortunately, once they start licking they don't always know when to stop. Once stitches are out and you're sure it will hold together I might allow some supervised licking. I just realized how odd that sounds...supervised licking Quote Michelle...forever missing her girls, Holly 5/22/99-9/13/10 and Bailey 8/1/93-7/11/05 Religion is the smile on a dog...Edie Brickell Wag more, bark less :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cyndae Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 I don't think it's a good idea to let her lick while the stitches are in...there's a very good chance she'll open it up again. Unfortunately, once they start licking they don't always know when to stop. Once stitches are out and you're sure it will hold together I might allow some supervised licking. I just realized how odd that sounds...supervised licking LOL!!! I do supervise the licking but ask her to stop when it's too much! The funny thing is that....She actually listens to me! What I might do is put a sock on her paw when I leave the house, She's a trooper, I'm so proud.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Spencers_Greyt Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 Licking is not good. It keeps the area wet and there's a larger chance of infection. Put a baby sock on her or a bootie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macoduck Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 Put a sock on it and have her wear her muzzle- preferably with the stool cup attached or with the end taped up. We're going through the same thing here with Thane and I have just ordered a leg cover from cleanbreakprotector.com The cover maker is a member here. Quote Freshy (Droopys Fresh), NoAh the podenco orito, Howie the portuguese podengo maneto Angels: Rita the podenco maneta, Lila, the podenco, Mr X aka Denali, Lulu the podenco andaluz, Hada the podenco maneta, Georgie Girl (UMR Cordella), Charlie the iggy, Mazy (CBR Crazy Girl), Potato, my mystery ibizan girl, Allen (M's Pretty Boy), Percy (Fast But True), Mikey (Doray's Patuti), Pudge le mutt, Tessa the iggy, Possum (Apostle), Gracie (Dusty Lady), Harold (Slatex Harold), "Cousin" Simon our step-iggy, Little Dude the iggy ,Bandit (Bb Blue Jay), Niña the galgo, Wally (Allen Hogg), Thane (Pog Mo Thoine), Oliver (JJ Special Agent), Comet, & Rosie our original mutt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirley44 Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 I think I would go for the sock until the stiches are out for Charlotte Quote Miles October 4 2002-Novembre 19 2013 Mommy loves you big boy Tatum December 1 2004-January 23 2015 Love you Miss SiSi Bums Rowdy October 26 2001 -November 5 2015 Miss you Bébé Lou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ChasesMum Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 it itches as it heals... I found a better way to deal with it was to gently scratch around the sutures for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KF_in_Georgia Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 I agree with the folks saying "no licking." She'll pull stitches out and you'll wind up with a mess. (Don't ask me how I know.) A muzzle with a guard will prevent the licking. And if you don't have a guard, you can put duct tape on the bottom of the muzzle, at the place she'd try to lick through. A sock over the wound will help keep her from rubbing her muzzle over the area of the stitches when the wound starts to itch. I know she's listening to you when you tell her to stop, but don't rely on her to leave it alone when you're not there to supervise. (Again--don't ask.) There's a spray called "Bitter Yuck." This is not the same as "Bitter Apple." Bitter Apple is alcohol-based and can't be used on wounds; Bitter Yuck is water based and can be used on wounds without stinging. Bitter Yuck might help, but the problem is that it's only so-so yucky; once the dog has licked it, subsequent licks don't taste as bad. (Really--don't ask.) Good luck. Quote Kathy and Q (CRT Qadeer from Fuzzy's Cannon and CRT Bonnie) and Jane (WW's Aunt Jane from Trent Lee and Aunt M); photos to come. Missing Silver (5.19.2005-10.27.2016), Tigger (4.5.2007-3.18.2016), darling Sam (5.10.2000-8.8.2013), Jacey-Kasey (5.19.2003-8.22.2011), and Oreo (1997-3.30.2006) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greysmom Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Once they pull out the stitches it's very hard to close the wound again. The edges of the skin get all torn and there's no way to pull it together, which can lead to infection. While it might work for dogs in the wild, dogs in the wild are not our thin-skinned greys! I would advise against it. If only to shorten the healing time as much as possible. 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...
Guest cyndae Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Wow!!! Thank you for all these good info!!! I am actually putting Leg Warmers on her! It works and keeps her warm.... I just use a small ribbon to hold it together, She's doing better everyday, All your info has been very useful, Lots of great ideas, THANK YOU, xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gryffenne Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 subsequent licks don't taste as bad. (Really--don't ask.) Guessing it's prolly along the lines of how I can confirm how Bitter Apple tastes? besides socks (I use the ones my son outgrew 2 years ago. Toddler tube socks fit Sammi's feet perfectly! ) I also am well stocked in Vet Wrap Works awesome, and is pretty cheap at a farm store. In fact, I use the same stuff on myself where medical tape/wrap is needed. (Farm store is cheaper than a petstore or a pharmacy and is the same thing... 'cept it comes in a wide variety of colors and is 4" wide, vs the 2" in most pharmacies) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KF_in_Georgia Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 subsequent licks don't taste as bad. (Really--don't ask.) Guessing it's prolly along the lines of how I can confirm how Bitter Apple tastes? Don't you hate it when spray bottles leak on your hands? Quote Kathy and Q (CRT Qadeer from Fuzzy's Cannon and CRT Bonnie) and Jane (WW's Aunt Jane from Trent Lee and Aunt M); photos to come. Missing Silver (5.19.2005-10.27.2016), Tigger (4.5.2007-3.18.2016), darling Sam (5.10.2000-8.8.2013), Jacey-Kasey (5.19.2003-8.22.2011), and Oreo (1997-3.30.2006) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gryffenne Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 subsequent licks don't taste as bad. (Really--don't ask.) Guessing it's prolly along the lines of how I can confirm how Bitter Apple tastes? Don't you hate it when spray bottles leak on your hands? yup I've sadly... itched my eye, not thinking about the fact I was just spraying that stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KF_in_Georgia Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 Well, I was dumb enough to just taste the Bitter Apple to see how bad it was. Plenty bad. Quote Kathy and Q (CRT Qadeer from Fuzzy's Cannon and CRT Bonnie) and Jane (WW's Aunt Jane from Trent Lee and Aunt M); photos to come. Missing Silver (5.19.2005-10.27.2016), Tigger (4.5.2007-3.18.2016), darling Sam (5.10.2000-8.8.2013), Jacey-Kasey (5.19.2003-8.22.2011), and Oreo (1997-3.30.2006) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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