Need wrap ideas after big surgery

nannotiger

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Dec 8, 2016
Messages
12
Purraise
2
Location
Marco Island, Fl
Hello! My main question is what will be the best way to protect 20+ stitches that start from the middle of the neck, up the far side of his cheek, behind the ear and end a little down the side of the head. His medical bandages which are terrible and very constraining come off in 2 days. Stitches out in 10 days. This concerns me because I want to keep this entire area safe for a good length of time, and also allowing for it to breathe. A cone of any kind will not work, and I'm thinking a sleeve of a t-shirt (or something of the like) will bunch up and not protect the areas needed. So yeah lol, i could use some idea flow on this. :)
 

red top rescue

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 27, 2012
Messages
4,466
Purraise
1,486
Location
Acworth GA, USA
I would advise asking your vet about this one.  I would hate to suggest something and have it fail. I do usually advise pain medication for a few days because if something does not hurt them, they are less likely to dig at it.  That works very well for spays -- I never use a cone, I think they are only good as a last resort, and only in a hospitalized situation.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

nannotiger

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Dec 8, 2016
Messages
12
Purraise
2
Location
Marco Island, Fl
Agreed on asking the vet, and I had to leave her a message, and hope to hear back today. I figured I would ask here too, in case anyone has been through something like this, and what they did. Crazy experience! I was given pain medication to get through 14 days. He is feeling pretty darn good today considering! Hes such a fighter:)
 

red top rescue

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 27, 2012
Messages
4,466
Purraise
1,486
Location
Acworth GA, USA
It looks really clean and good.  Fresh air is probably the best thing for it as long as he isn't digging at it.  Make sure his nails are all clipped, front and rear, and dig your litter boxes frequently so no poop hangs around long enough for him to walk in it.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #6

nannotiger

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Dec 8, 2016
Messages
12
Purraise
2
Location
Marco Island, Fl
Thanks, the site has been really clean. He does try to scratch quite a bit when i take the bandage off, which i have been doing at night when i know i can watch him 100%. The spot by his ear they didn't have a lot of skin to work with, so that area is my worry with itching. I did clip his nails short before surgery and just filed them down a little more and softened then so they couldn't catch. The vet did get back with me, but she suggested the t-shirt approach even though it gets bunched up, at least there's SOME protection. Idk. Maybe I'll just clear my schedule until this heals to the point where he cant rip anything open.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #9

nannotiger

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Dec 8, 2016
Messages
12
Purraise
2
Location
Marco Island, Fl
Thank you! I found for now a way to keep it lightly wrapped during the times i can watch him, and a grooming hoodie for when i cannot. We took the bandage off today for quite awhile as directed, but it really made him sore and not feel good. He can function much better with a light guaze wrap the wound can still breath through. Hes worrying me a bit today.
 

mrsgreenjeens

Every Life Should Have Nine Cats
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
16,390
Purraise
7,127
Location
Arizona
Not a bandage at all, but could you put some Soft Paws on his toe nails for the duration, so he can't scratch it with anything too sharp?
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #11

nannotiger

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Dec 8, 2016
Messages
12
Purraise
2
Location
Marco Island, Fl
I thought about soft paws, but I decided against it. One of my dogs had bad dermatitis awhile back and I used those and they didnt have the best results. My concern w no wrap is the stitching by his ear, they didnt have a lot of skin work with so its a very sensitive area to not get pulled or yanked at. I will say the results from the happy hoodie have been perfect and amazing. Its helped him 100% and he cannot access any stitches. Hes been very comfortbale since. I take it off to let things breathe, and I can isntantly tell that he needs/likes the support. I highly recommend them for even anxiety w car rides and what not.
 
Top