Sofie recently had a front leg amputated, and has been wearing an e-collar. However, today the e-collar basically broke apart, and of course, Sofie has been licking and scratching at her staples and stitches. My husband will be picking a new collar up for her tonight, but I need to stop her from licking right now.
Does anyone know if it is safe to put bitter apple (not the spray, the type that can be dabbed on) onto skin to deter licking? I would obviously not apply it to the wound itself, but to the shaved skin around it? The reason I'm worried is that she has been licking at the skin, and it is looking kind of pink and irritated.
Thanks for any advice. I've been sitting in my office the entire afternoon with her, trying in vain to get to stop licking, and I am getting worried (she has already had to go back to the vet once for additional sutures, due to her scratching/licking some open).
ETA: I did ask our vet about this, and he thinks there is no problem putting the bitter apple pretty much anywhere. I am worried it will sting already irritated skin, though.
Does anyone know if it is safe to put bitter apple (not the spray, the type that can be dabbed on) onto skin to deter licking? I would obviously not apply it to the wound itself, but to the shaved skin around it? The reason I'm worried is that she has been licking at the skin, and it is looking kind of pink and irritated.
Thanks for any advice. I've been sitting in my office the entire afternoon with her, trying in vain to get to stop licking, and I am getting worried (she has already had to go back to the vet once for additional sutures, due to her scratching/licking some open).
ETA: I did ask our vet about this, and he thinks there is no problem putting the bitter apple pretty much anywhere. I am worried it will sting already irritated skin, though.
