Dog is pulling at stitches

[LinZ]

Our dog Nikki went to the vet's office last week to undergo spaying, and she did just fine during and after the operation. But what has me a little worried now is how she is reacting to her stitches.

She has been yanking at them quite hard since she's come home. I would imagine that would hurt because she has the metal sutures - three huge pieces of wire keeping the incision closed. She'll be returning this week to have them removed but I worry she'll pull them out beforehand.

Should I be overly concerned about Nikki trying to take her stitches out? Normally I wouldn't give it much thought, but I know one of my mom's co-workers had taken her dog in to be spayed, and while the wound was healing, the dog pulled out her stitches, all her organs spilled out through the incision, and the dog died. So now I'm fearful of Nikki and her habit of gnawing and pulling.


LinZ - should muzzle Nikki

[jason]

so call the vet, im sure they can give you an e-collar to keep her from getting her mouth to that area.

[JMM]

Yep, sounds like an e-collar is in order.

[Traci]

You need to call your vet...if she has pulled out a suture or staple, your vet will resuture/restaple it. They need to stay in at least 7-10 days post op for the skin to close and heal.

She could also be reacting to the sutures, an infection may already be developing, don't take chances, get her re-checked by your vet immediately.

[TheSkeptic]

I concur with the others

[LinZ]

An infection from stitches? I thought she might have just been pulling at them because she figured they weren't supposed to be there.

Also, she hasn't pulled any stitches out; they're in there pretty tight.

But thanks for the information; I believe she's going back tomorrow to get them taken out, and hopefully Nikki was just being a goof and pulling at them because she didn't like them.


LinZ - remembers when her aunt's cat pulled out its own stitches O.o

[LinZ]

Sorry to bring back an old topic, but I'm just replying to say that Nikki went in today to have her stitches removed and everything went well - her tummy healed just fine.

I guess she was just itching from the stitches is all.

..............

LinZ

[ShelbysMom]

Glad to hear it went well. My puppy is going in at the end of the month for spaying.