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Lucy is removing her stitches!

post #1 of 11
9/28/10 at 5:47pm
Thread Starter 
Lucy was spayed yesterday. At the bottom most part of her incision, it looks like she has pulled out multiple stitches. The ones that are still in are loose, and look like she is working at pulling them out. Other than calling the vet first thing tomorrow, is there anything else I need to do, or watch for? I know I need to watch for infection, but I am worried! Should she be crated for the night? In the bathroom? Help please!
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post #2 of 11
9/28/10 at 5:59pm
She needs an E-collar, looks like a lampshade that goes around her neck. Prevents her from getting at the stitches.

Do you have an emergency vet in your area? I'd be concerned about her pulling her incision open during the night. If you have an emergency vet, they could restitch her up real quick and give you a e-collar to put on her.
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post #3 of 11
9/28/10 at 6:01pm
Thread Starter 
She is technically the room mate's cat, and he won't pay for it. She HAS to wait for the morning. My Fiance will be up all night... could I have him keeping an eye on her till then?
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post #4 of 11
9/28/10 at 6:10pm
If she's young, you can take the top of an old tube sock (the stretchy part) and cut off the part below the heel. Feed the top part over her legs and up around her tummy. You can also try baby onesies if you can get to the store to get some.
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post #5 of 11
9/28/10 at 6:31pm
Thread Starter 
Baby onesies would be WAY too big, or I would do that. We will try the sock method though. I just tried to make something out of a shirt to cover, but I can't keep it long enough... I don't think she would leave a sock on though.
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post #6 of 11
9/28/10 at 8:54pm
ER vet for sure or 100% supervision. I would go to the ER vet and pick up a lampshade collar if that is all they will pay for, that and 100% supervision until she can be seen by a vet. This is a very big and serious problem if she is removing her stitches after a surgery.
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post #7 of 11
9/28/10 at 9:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by laceface View Post
Baby onesies would be WAY too big, or I would do that. We will try the sock method though. I just tried to make something out of a shirt to cover, but I can't keep it long enough... I don't think she would leave a sock on though.
cut 'armholes' in the ribbed part of the sock, so that it's harder for her to get it off.
if you can get to the store, look for the elastic bandage that's self-adhesive - like this. i used it on Java when she had her toe amputated - sticks to itself, but not to skin or fur.
maybe preemie onesies? have NO idea what sizes are available! or maybe one made for a baby doll?
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post #8 of 11
9/29/10 at 9:23am
Thread Starter 
Pat was up all night so he kept an eye on her. Took her to the vet this AM and he said it would have been fine, since she has the second layer of stitches beneath, as long as it didn't get infected.

He put in three staples, and gave us a collar- which she will NOT keep on. If it starts to get infected we get antibiotics, but if not he said she will be fine. If she removes what is there now, or gets aggressive with what is underneath, he said something about metal to keep her out.
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post #9 of 11
9/29/10 at 4:31pm
Thread Starter 
Ugh!! In the few hours I was gone, she got the cone off again, removed the rest of the stitches, and has one of the staples twisted sideways! I'm calling the vet AGAIN tomorrow... I don't know what to do with this cat anymore! I really don't want her sick... and I am really worried she's going to end up with an infection or something. I am now going to look online and see if I can find a really small onesie or something that would fit a 5 pound cat...
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post #10 of 11
9/29/10 at 10:10pm
for you. Aya was just like that when she gone done @ six months age. She was working on those stitches within minutes of getting home and had to drag her all the way back for a conehead which she promptly figured out how to remove when we got home.

A big soft ace bandage might work, if the baby clothes or socks don't.

Honestly though, I tried both options on Aya and she would not have any part of either one of them.

Fortunately, after a couple days you can stop worrying about it.
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post #11 of 11
9/30/10 at 3:18am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lyrajean View Post
for you. Aya was just like that when she gone done @ six months age. She was working on those stitches within minutes of getting home and had to drag her all the way back for a conehead which she promptly figured out how to remove when we got home.

A big soft ace bandage might work, if the baby clothes or socks don't.

Honestly though, I tried both options on Aya and she would not have any part of either one of them.

Fortunately, after a couple days you can stop worrying about it.
I think I will try an ace bandage later and see what happens...make her a shirt out of it, and maybe she will be kept off of them. It worries me that she is working the staples out- I don't want her ingesting them!
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