He had 3 stitches and has been wearing a cone at night and while we're out to stop him from scratching at them.
Everything was going well until last night; we didn't notice he was licking and scratching.
The result: all 3 stitches have come out.
We’ve put a dressing on it and used some antiseptic.
The area is swollen, likely from the licking, and the wound is open (about 2mm wide – it doesn't sound like much, but the wound is definitely open). It's also quite swollen, and it looks like it’s weeping (basically it’s shiny, no blood, but looks damp).
I’m thinking of taking him to the vet today.
Is it worth it? (As you can imagine, Meiko hates the journey and gets very stressed, same once we're actually at the surgery).
I don't want to stress my dog out unnecessarily... will the vet have to put him under again to redo the stitches?
Because if they’re just going to tell me to clean it morning and night, I’d rather skip the trip and do it myself.
What do you think?
I've attached a photo.
Thanks for your help.
Translated from French
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You can relax again now! It’s great when people act so quickly! Well done. Try to keep an inflatable collar in your pet’s first aid kit; it’s really useful for whenever your dog shouldn't be scratching or licking, but without the hassle of a cone. Have a lovely day!
I followed your advice.
I've taken Meiko to the vet.
He’s had two staples put in so that the edges of the wound meet, and an anti-inflammatory jab.
I have to clean the wound every morning and evening, and he has to wear the cone all the time (we’ll take it off for him to rest and have a drink).
The vet will remove the staples in 10 days.
Thank you for taking the time to share your stories and give your advice.
The moral of the story: even if they hate it, try to take it off, and bump into things, it’s better to keep the cone on all the time—even when we’re there—rather than having our pets scratch themselves or pull out their stitches.
Well done for acting so quickly; now that it’s sorted, you can have a bit more peace of mind. I remember when my Jack Russell was spayed, for the first few days I only took her cone off at night (otherwise she had it on all the time even when we were around), and when the vet found out, he gave me a proper telling off! "And how do you know your dog isn't getting up in the night to lick or scratch at it? Do you want a secondary infection or a haemorrhage???" Er, so it was the cone 24/7 for 15 days after that...
The staples will be itchy for your dog; he'll find it uncomfortable because it pulls every time he moves, but well, it's the same for us—he'll just have to put up with it for a bit longer...
I followed your advice.
So I took Meiko to the vet.
He’s had 2 staples put in to pull the edges of the wound together and an anti-inflammatory jab.
I have to clean the wound morning and night, and he has to wear a cone all the time (we’ll take it off for naps and so he can drink).
The vet will take the staples out in 10 days.
Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences and advice.
The lesson here: even if they hate it, try to get it off, or keep bumping into things, it’s better to keep the cone on all the time—even when you're there—rather than having them scratch or rip their stitches out.
Brilliant! Well done for acting so quickly and do stick with the cone... They’re a right pain with them and look like walking lampshades, but at least they won't mess with the stitches!
He’s had two staples to close the wound and an anti-inflammatory jab.
I have to clean the wound every morning and evening, and he’s in the cone all the time (we’ll take it off to let him rest and have a drink).
In 10 days, the vet will take the staples out.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences and give your advice.
Moral of the story: even if they hate it, try to get it off, or keep bumping into things, it’s much better to keep the cone on at all times, even when you’re with them, rather than having them scratch or pull out their stitches.
I had the same problem when I got my dog neutered, and he actually started getting a bit of an infection.
Before things get any more worrying, head straight to the vet. They might put him on a course of antibiotics for a few days and suggest a cleaning routine just to be safe.
I know the stress of the car journeys and the vet visits is one thing, but don't neglect the medical side of things for the sake of it. Even if you end up forking out for a consultation that feels like a waste of money, at least you'll have peace of mind and won't have to worry about any complications! :)
It needs staples! See your vet or an out-of-hours vet—it'll only take a few minutes, and you'll avoid any issues further down the line! As for the donut collar, that’s the one!
Hi there, to be on the safe side I’d head to the vet today (since they’ll be closed tomorrow, Sunday). The wound is quite open and hasn't had a chance to knit back together; the edges really need to be touching for it to heal properly. If your dog keeps moving around, he’ll just keep pulling those edges further apart.
Usually, this should count as a follow-up appointment, so the consultation fee might be a bit cheaper. My dog cut his paw pad and the top of his leg once; he had staples and bandages, but he managed to rip everything out—staples included—three days later. I rushed him back to the vet because, just like yours, it was an open, weeping wound. With the dirt getting in, there’s a real risk of infection and the skin wasn't closing up at all.
I’m not sure if they can use staples in that particular spot (they don't usually require an anaesthetic and it's less painful), but it's worth giving them a ring.
If you have a local animal rescue centre or a charity vet like the PDSA nearby, they might also be able to help as they have their own surgeries.
You might also want to see if your dog needs a larger cone or perhaps an inflatable collar to stop him from getting at it again.
