Help! Daisy Licking Stitches

[eve]

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Daisy has been sneeking a lick at her stitches and the tissue is looking inflamed and swollen.

She does not lick when I am with her ( I watch her like a hawk) and I think that she must have been having a sneeky session while I was asleep last night.

She has been back at the vet for her 3 day check today and he is happy that she has not done damage but the licking has to stop.

I cannot keep the Elizabeethan / Vet collar on her no matter how tight I make it. I am worried that she will injure herself with the effort she puts into getting it off (which she eventually does). I dare not leave her alone wearing it incase she hurts herself.

I have been trying to adapt various bits of clothing..............

I rigged up a contraption with a pair of tights with the gusset cut out that she wears like a pair of trousers, they stretch to about her chest. The legs of the tights go across her shoulders , through the collar and get tied onto the other side. I also tried a large babygro' and I am presently tring to adapt a childs jumper.

None of these look comfortable and I am not sure how effective they will be overnight if she decides to have a sneeky lick again



Does anyone have any better ideas?

Has anyone tried the collars that look like an inflatable rubber ring?

 

[bertha]

Try the inflatable collar, it's not as scary as the bucket job! I put a micropore dressing when Dylan had a lump cut off his leg, it stopped him licking his stitches.

Good luck!!!!!! :luck:

 

[k4tie-d]

it might be the others? smokey and star took to licking rubys wounds, what about a baby grow vest thing? you know with the buttons at the bottom so when you take her for a pee you could just unbutton it?? im sure you would get a cheep one from tesco or somewhere and just chop a wee hole for her tail?? worth a try maybe :thumbsup:

 

[haycroft]

try a muzzle...may not like it but if it stays on the better for her stiches will heal

one of my whippys had a fleshing wound and the collar helped but she couldnt get comfortable,tried a fleece on,she just licked underneath and took the fleece off

so in the end i muzzled her and my other whippy as she helped with the licking esp throughout the nite

 

[Lal]

These are really good (Daisy would probably need a small) http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I bought one to keep in the first aid kit as Rifle is terrified of the lampshade types. They have loops on the inside to thread a 'normal' collar through (I just used a flat fabric one). Delivery was very quick too. Good luck :luck: :luck:

 

[Finleyfoofoo]

2 of our boys had there bits off last week,we used the"comfy Collars",the inflatable ones,brilliant!!They dont mind wearing them,like a cushion.

I got mine off e-bay last week,around £8 plus p&p.

Amandaxx

 

[moonglow]

I'd put lavender oil onto the wound site.Not only will it help to heal it & stop it from irritating,it should stop her from licking it as she won't like the taste :thumbsup:

 

[eve]

Thanks to all for the help

1 comfy collar ordered! :thumbsup:

Hopefully it will arrive by Saturday morning.

I will just have to sew her into the adapted babygrow untill it arrives.

I think a 'dog proof' combination of the tights and Babygrow will be required overnight

We now have a diagnosis from the biopsy

LPE

Lymphocytic Plasmacytic Enteritis is an inflammatory bowel disease caused by microscopic cells including plasma cells and lymphocytes within the intestines. The inflammatory cells can enter the intestinal wall in response to infection, injury, parasites, fungi or food intolerance.

We are fairly sure that Daisy's LPE is based on a food intolerance as she has beeen doing well on the Burns Pork and Potato so meantime we will monitor her progress for the next few months.

At least I now know what I am dealing with

 

[FeeFee]

When Sophie had her mammary lumps removed last year I couldn't use a buster collar with her, she was absolutely terrified of it and went nearly frantic. The vet provided one of these which worked a treat to keep her off her stitches. It was really stretchy and comfortable, she didn't seem object to wearing it at all:

http://www.medicalpetshirts.com/pages/44uk_index.html

 

[Rats]

Hi My whippet has stitches at mo, although he cannot reach to lick, it's worse cos he keeps trying to scratch them eek! A collar does not work cos injury is on his neck! he's had them bleeding, so I ordered a pair of PJ's for him and guess what had best night sleep ever he cannot get them , also during day use a bandage for humans which has an eye piece perfect. when i'm not busy I take it off and let the fresh air in, a week later and all is healing well. Fingers crossed for you.

 

[Lal]

When Sophie had her mammary lumps removed last year I couldn't use a buster collar with her, she was absolutely terrified of it and went nearly frantic. The vet provided one of these which worked a treat to keep her off her stitches. It was really stretchy and comfortable, she didn't seem object to wearing it at all:
http://www.medicalpetshirts.com/pages/44uk_index.html

They look really interesting, although I've always believed that where it is possible it is better to let a wound 'breathe' and I just wondered if the wound became moist at all beneath the vest? I suppose it's better than the dog pulling the stitches out though. )

Eve, with a bit of luck you should have the collar by Saturday, I'm sure mine arrived within 36 hours :thumbsup:

 

[FeeFee]

When Sophie had her mammary lumps removed last year I couldn't use a buster collar with her, she was absolutely terrified of it and went nearly frantic. The vet provided one of these which worked a treat to keep her off her stitches. It was really stretchy and comfortable, she didn't seem object to wearing it at all:
http://www.medicalpetshirts.com/pages/44uk_index.html

They look really interesting, although I've always believed that where it is possible it is better to let a wound 'breathe' and I just wondered if the wound became moist at all beneath the vest? I suppose it's better than the dog pulling the stitches out though. )

Eve, with a bit of luck you should have the collar by Saturday, I'm sure mine arrived within 36 hours :thumbsup:

The T-shirt was a light cotton mix, and although it was fitted it wasn't tight underneath so the wound was able to breath and didn't get at all soggy. I also left the back fasteners open so she could pee/poo as normal without having to undo it all the time.

 

[whipmaz]

My whippet Jack has just had stiches on the front of his chest and when we brought him home with his funnel collar on he was well spooked out

My other whippet toby did'nt like him with it on so I went to our local charity and got jack a kiddies long sleeved T shirt aged 4/5 years I had to cut the body piece of the T shirt down do he didnt pee on it

It did the trick and it didnt break the bank

 

[Lal]

When Sophie had her mammary lumps removed last year I couldn't use a buster collar with her, she was absolutely terrified of it and went nearly frantic. The vet provided one of these which worked a treat to keep her off her stitches. It was really stretchy and comfortable, she didn't seem object to wearing it at all:
http://www.medicalpetshirts.com/pages/44uk_index.html

They look really interesting, although I've always believed that where it is possible it is better to let a wound 'breathe' and I just wondered if the wound became moist at all beneath the vest? I suppose it's better than the dog pulling the stitches out though. )

Eve, with a bit of luck you should have the collar by Saturday, I'm sure mine arrived within 36 hours :thumbsup:

The T-shirt was a light cotton mix, and although it was fitted it wasn't tight underneath so the wound was able to breath and didn't get at all soggy. I also left the back fasteners open so she could pee/poo as normal without having to undo it all the time.

:thumbsup: Sounds a really good idea!

 

[Lal]

When Sophie had her mammary lumps removed last year I couldn't use a buster collar with her, she was absolutely terrified of it and went nearly frantic. The vet provided one of these which worked a treat to keep her off her stitches. It was really stretchy and comfortable, she didn't seem object to wearing it at all:
http://www.medicalpetshirts.com/pages/44uk_index.html

They look really interesting, although I've always believed that where it is possible it is better to let a wound 'breathe' and I just wondered if the wound became moist at all beneath the vest? I suppose it's better than the dog pulling the stitches out though. )

Eve, with a bit of luck you should have the collar by Saturday, I'm sure mine arrived within 36 hours :thumbsup:

The T-shirt was a light cotton mix, and although it was fitted it wasn't tight underneath so the wound was able to breath and didn't get at all soggy. I also left the back fasteners open so she could pee/poo as normal without having to undo it all the time.

:thumbsup: Sounds a really good idea!

 

[TillynPip]

Have only just seen this and I wish Daisy a speedy recovery. There is a Bitter Lemon spray that I bought to stop one of mine chewing their tail and I can promise it does taste vile! It says can be sprayed onto wounds but I will have a look on the website and pm you.

 

[eve]

Daisy's home made 'anti-lick' trousers. She seems comfortable in them (and cannot lick her wound) even if they do look a mess :wub:

 

[Suerose]

Thanks to all for the help1 comfy collar ordered! :thumbsup:

Hopefully it will arrive by Saturday morning.

I will just have to sew her into the adapted babygrow untill it arrives.

I think a 'dog proof' combination of the tights and Babygrow will be required overnight

We now have a diagnosis from the biopsy

LPE

Lymphocytic Plasmacytic Enteritis is an inflammatory bowel disease caused by microscopic cells including plasma cells and lymphocytes within the intestines. The inflammatory cells can enter the intestinal wall in response to infection, injury, parasites, fungi or food intolerance.

We are fairly sure that Daisy's LPE is based on a food intolerance as she has beeen doing well on the Burns Pork and Potato so meantime we will monitor her progress for the next few months.

At least I now know what I am dealing with

I wonder whether a supplement called L-Glutamine would help her? It is used to heal the intestinal wall (leaky gut syndrome) for humans (amongst a lot of other good benefits). Worth looking into? :luck: L-Glutamine

 

[Suerose]

Just did a bit more searching - seems L-Glutamine is fine and helpful for dogs: Glutamine for dogs

 

[eve]

Thank you for the information on L-Glutamine. It looks very interesting. I also have slippery elm which I used when she first arrived and her bowel condition was bad.

The blood / stool tests came back showing overactive gut flora (not enought B12 and too much Foliate). The bowel biopsy confirmed LPE a form of IBD. Daisy is presently on Metronidazole which may resolve the gut flora problem. It may however be a temporary solution.

It will probably be a case of continuing with the Burns pork and potato for another couple of months then more blood / stool tests to see if the gut flora has become overactive again.

I will discuss L-Glutamine with the vet next week when Daisy goes to get her stitches out. I also wanted to ask abut adding probiotics to her diet. I can do this by making live goats milk yogurt. The vet may want to wait and re-test to get a measure of the condition. This vet is particularly good and I have been really impressed so far. It may well be that the vet will recommend L-Glutamine herself.

Thanks again Eve