Hi...I'm new to the board and have been browsing. There's such great information here!
I've got a 9 YO cat, a beautiful long haired tortoise shell humane society kitty named Dusty who must have some Maine Coon in her since she's SO big! I've had her for two years and we get along great...she's easily the coolest cat that I've ever had the joy of living with.
During one of our petting sessions, I felt a lump near one of Dusty's nipples so made a trip to the vet who advised removing the lump and having it biopsied. So on Thursday Dusty went under the knife and had the lump removed. The vet tech said the procedure went well (the vet wasn't there...car trouble, I guess) and gave me minimal instructions for Dusty's recovery - don't let her climb any stairs, give her a little of food that night and then regular amounts of food the next day. I didn't get an E-collar or instructions about what to do if Dusty starts licking her wounds from the vet, so I went home not really knowing what to do if she did start licking her wounds. (Yep...should have asked before I left...but I was in such a hurry to get home and make sure Dusty was comfortable and safe that I didn't ask as many questions as I should have before leaving the vet's.)
Well, she did start licking her wounds...and actually looks like she pulled out one of the stiches. She's not bleeding at all and when I look at the wound it looks OK (not very inflamed, not overly warm to the touch, etc). I made a quick trip to Petsmart last night and bought her an e-collar so that she wouldn't lick her wounds during the night...I've taken it off her this morning because I'm able to keep a close watch to make sure that if she grooms herself she doesn't groom her belly area.
So the problem: Dusty HATED the e-collar. I think she finally got a bit used to it, but I doubt she slept more than 3 hours last night (I know because I slept even less...being worried about the sounds of bumps and scrapes and such as Dusty tried to walk around the house), she wasn't comfortable jumping up onto the bed or chair where she usually sleeps and she positively refused to jump down once up on the bed (I think because her depth perception was messed up). I'd like to find something other than the e-collar for her to use. Looking around here, I notice that folks have suggested making a sweater type thing from a sock...unfortunately Dusty is entirely too big a cat for that. I tried cutting off the sleeve of a long-sleeved shirt of mine and using that as a sweater, but it was a very tight fit and Dusty was really bothered by my attempts even before I got to the part of her belly with the incision. I finally gave up (I'm a softy and I REALLY don't want the incision to open up because Dusty was fighting my attempts to put it on her) but can't think of anything else to try and it looks like tonight might be another e-collar night.
Does anyone have any other suggestions for how to ensure that Dusty doesn't lick at her cut?
THANK YOU so much for your help! Now I'm off to give Dusty some much needed cuddle time.
I've got a 9 YO cat, a beautiful long haired tortoise shell humane society kitty named Dusty who must have some Maine Coon in her since she's SO big! I've had her for two years and we get along great...she's easily the coolest cat that I've ever had the joy of living with.
During one of our petting sessions, I felt a lump near one of Dusty's nipples so made a trip to the vet who advised removing the lump and having it biopsied. So on Thursday Dusty went under the knife and had the lump removed. The vet tech said the procedure went well (the vet wasn't there...car trouble, I guess) and gave me minimal instructions for Dusty's recovery - don't let her climb any stairs, give her a little of food that night and then regular amounts of food the next day. I didn't get an E-collar or instructions about what to do if Dusty starts licking her wounds from the vet, so I went home not really knowing what to do if she did start licking her wounds. (Yep...should have asked before I left...but I was in such a hurry to get home and make sure Dusty was comfortable and safe that I didn't ask as many questions as I should have before leaving the vet's.)
Well, she did start licking her wounds...and actually looks like she pulled out one of the stiches. She's not bleeding at all and when I look at the wound it looks OK (not very inflamed, not overly warm to the touch, etc). I made a quick trip to Petsmart last night and bought her an e-collar so that she wouldn't lick her wounds during the night...I've taken it off her this morning because I'm able to keep a close watch to make sure that if she grooms herself she doesn't groom her belly area.
So the problem: Dusty HATED the e-collar. I think she finally got a bit used to it, but I doubt she slept more than 3 hours last night (I know because I slept even less...being worried about the sounds of bumps and scrapes and such as Dusty tried to walk around the house), she wasn't comfortable jumping up onto the bed or chair where she usually sleeps and she positively refused to jump down once up on the bed (I think because her depth perception was messed up). I'd like to find something other than the e-collar for her to use. Looking around here, I notice that folks have suggested making a sweater type thing from a sock...unfortunately Dusty is entirely too big a cat for that. I tried cutting off the sleeve of a long-sleeved shirt of mine and using that as a sweater, but it was a very tight fit and Dusty was really bothered by my attempts even before I got to the part of her belly with the incision. I finally gave up (I'm a softy and I REALLY don't want the incision to open up because Dusty was fighting my attempts to put it on her) but can't think of anything else to try and it looks like tonight might be another e-collar night.
Does anyone have any other suggestions for how to ensure that Dusty doesn't lick at her cut?
THANK YOU so much for your help! Now I'm off to give Dusty some much needed cuddle time.