Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Polli (greyhound) is 17 days post left front amputation.
She came home in a compression sweater which illeviated any bruising and kept the oozing to a bare minimun. I cute the sweater off in 4 days because I knew it was starting to bother her. I bought a couple of doggy tees and kept them on until 2 - 3days ago.
Now, all of a sudden she is licking the incsion area like mad. It's not inflamed, warm to to the touch bu it is a little bit pink from the licking. I have a tee shirt on and she is still licking. The tee is soaked!
I called the vet today (Sunday), they have early morming discharge hours only. I spoke to a tech wo said he really didn't want her licking it. OK? so now what?
I told her that the tech said no licking!
.
She has desolvable stitches. He said I could bring her in tomorrow to have them removed if they are bothering her. The vet had hoped to not have to have me bring her in until her 2nd chemo because she stresses sooooooooo much going there, even if it's not a big deal. It's a big deal.
So, how do I keep Polli from licking the shirt until tomorrow night after work?
If she had to have a lampshade on her head, that would do her in, for sure.
Any suggestions?
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Hi Robin,
The incision most likely is healing, and she probably is feeling very itchy.
One option I can think of to keep her from soaking it is to put two layers (duct-tape a middle layer of plastic bag in between) of t-shirts on Polli.
My version of soft E-collar ... The other trick I used on Genie was to get a real big bath towel, wrap around her neck (loosely but not too loose that she can slip away) like a collar, or rather, like a donut-shaped lifesaver. Since it would be very thick all around, that would serve as a barrier between her neck/chin and the incision, hopefully that would make the licking not as handy.
Alternating cool/warm pad on the wound sometimes would make her feel better.
Robin....when you adopted Polli, did your group send a kennel muzzle home with her?
When I ran PWP I used to muzzle the spay/neuter kids when they would do the non-stop licking. I put the upper part of pantyhose over the cage part & warpped it with tape. Yes, she may lick, but she's only licking the muzzle and can not get to the sutures.
Remember...one thing about our greyhounds - they are used to wearing muzzles and really don't mind them. They can drink with the hose over the muzzle, or you can remove it if you watch her.
Try Genie's towel trick also. I know the make an e-collar like that but I know that towel will work & I'm sure it's much cheaper!
What doctor are you using? Just curious.
Janie & Calamity http://www.trix.....gspot.com/
Hi Robin,
If you don't like using an Elizabethan collar because of balancing issues there is a product out there. Its called Bitter End , you can spray it on her shirt to deter the licking (hopefully). If Polli is like my Buster she will lick it raw ( ouch).. once the stitches are removed there is a hydrocortisone spray for animals Dermacool Hc or something equivalent to help also. Its such a fresh area should could lick it open...
Ps like Genie I also used a warm compress to help with the nerve endings to heal ...(not wet) ie Bella pad
Kim&Buster
Kim & Angel Buster
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."
–Anatole France
I adopted her at 8.5 from the farm. We have NEVER muzzled her. I spoke to vet. She agrees it's itchy. I have been putting neosporin on the inscision and it's been better. She is going to itch with or without stitches as all healing does.
We use A&A vets. Longo & Friedman, Blumquist is the ortho. They do all the greyhounds for all 3 Long Island groups.
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