Uma broke her Staples

[fairlight]

Here I was sitting here trying to get back into Pro Dog when I notice Uma laying next to me and there is blood on the carpet. At first I was hoping it was from her chewing on her nails (even though they were just cut last week.) I roller her over and sure enough her incision was seeping blood....so off to the vets we run. Meanwhile it is pouring in buckets out here and Uma is just so excited that she is going for a ride! The vet examined her and said she had snapped off two of her staples but her stitches looked good. She said that sometimes they get a pocket of blood and water inbetween the stitches and then the stapes. I told her no way...this was BLOOD and I have the carpeting to prove it. They restapled the wound and sent us off with 500 mgs of amoxicillon 2 times a day. How do I keep her from trying to lick those staples? A cone will not fit this dog head! They told me bitter apple but don't get get it by the wound...now how do I do that? All I can think of is putting bitter apple on a gauze and rubbing it on her stomach and TRY to stay away from her staples and stitches. Any advice?

[minnie50]

Man alive I'm no vet but bitter apple??? I guess if it's far enough away from the stitches but then it's on her tongue if she gets to the stitches

Glad she is ok that is the main thing.

[fairlight]

That's what I thought minne. That would be like putting alcohol on an opened wound! Our regylar vet is on vacation so we had no choice to see a vet we were not familiar with.

[golden&hovawart]

Bitter sweet does not stop a dog that really want to get the staple off.Trust me!!.
How about building her a cone that would fit her?.
www.petalert.com.au/faid/faa5.php

I also know that petsmart sell cones for XXL dogs so check them,out or put on her, an XXL tee-shirt.

[RoughCollies]

Make a wrap like thing to go around her waist. We had to put shirts on Dakota when she was chewing a hot spot once, but I doubt a shirt would fit Miss Uma, lol.

Poor girl, it doesn't feel good there, mommy!

[Diamond]

Technically the e-collars don't have to fit over her head.

They just have to fit around her neck. It would be a hassle, but if you undid the little plastic flappy things when you had to take it off would it fit around her neck?

Then you just unbuckle the collar that it loops into, put the collar on and do up the plastic thingys when you put it on. Same when you take it off.

ROFL @ Rough Collies

Maybe just give her some sleeping pills until it's healed?

[FairyDogMother]

Bella my sons family dog did the same thing. She still healed beautifully with a very clean line. The first 5 days are the hardest to keep them still enough and calm enough. By then the healing is usually well on it's way. Oh yeah, my sisters cat did the same over and over again. She made it through it as well.
Kisses to Uma from me and Merle!

[fairlight]

Thanks everyone. Uma was going on her 6th day and then she did this...what a little beast! I have the largest cone/satalite that petsmart makes and it still will not fit the big girls head, but I am going to try the Tee shirt RC. Instead of having her stiches out next Tuesday they are going to move it back until July 14th because of this situation.

[Luvmyjob]

How about using some Vet wrap, then put on a tshirt.I would only do this though if you are sure she wouldn't swallow anything if she chewed it. Bitter apple....no way.

[fairlight]

No way to vet wrap Luv...been there done that several times with all of my dogs and they think it's FUN to try and rip the stuff off. If I put vet wrap on Uma I know she would go for the wrap and probably yank out a staple. I have a tee shirt on her now and it's losely tied in a knot on her back. The tee shirt is not tight to her stomach area, but at least it will be a deterant to get to the staples. I asked the vet tech if I should put cortaid on so it would stop the itch and she said no. I don't understand why not.