Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I'm trying to plan for Max's surgery, and I'm concerned about him chewing on stitches. He's had stitches before on his flank, and he was terrible about trying to chew, even with a cone.
He's such a little guy that the cone makes it near impossible for him to drink any water, which has me a bit concerned. So I'm trying to consider alternatives. No clue if he'll get bandaged, I'll have to ask the vet on that one, but if not, has anybody used a doggy shirt to keep the stitches safe?
Rather than buying a shirt at the pet store, I'm thinking about making my own out of flannel or polar fleece with only one armhole, that way there won't be a seam on that leg's side to irritate the sutures.
Think it'd work? Or be too irritating? Obviously I'll ask the vet this week what she thinks, but I figured I should get feedback today before I go digging into my scrap bin for some polar fleece 🙂
Julie, mom to Spirit Max the Pomeranian,
the bravest poofle dog who ever lived!
I put a shirt on Trouble, not to keep her from chewing, because she never did, but to keep the amputation site clean. She wanted to lay on it outside and it just drove me mad. Of course she wasn't a 3 lb Pom either, I bought her a toddler shirt.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
We often recommend t-shirts to protect the incision area on front-leggers. For dogs Max's size, a baby shirt from the thrift store should do the trick. Sewing up the sleeve isn't necessary, but if you choose to do that the threads would not be too abrasive. You might also consider these cone of shame alternatives.
Many dogs come home without a bandage, Jerry never had one. We often wonder if vets bandage more for the people than for the dogs!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
My dog, Hope, came home with a lot of bandaging, topped with a couple of layers of stretchy gauze. The doctor told us to put a tee-shirt over that, to keep the wound area clean if the bandage slipped--which it did. Like your dog, Hope had a front leg amputation, so a tee-shirt worked perfectly and didn't irritate her skin; it also protected the shaved area from getting sunburned. I would think that a cotton child's tee-shirt would work well for Max too.
It's great that you are planning ahead!
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