How to Care for a Dog With Stitches
Keep your dog from chewing or licking his stitches., Try not to let the dog scratch the stitches., Make sure the wound and stitches are clean., Keep the wound and stitches dry., Monitor the stitches., Cover the incision.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Keep your dog from chewing or licking his stitches.
After the painkillers and anesthesia wear off, your dog might try chewing or licking his stitches.
This can not only damage the skin, but also cause infection.
Try to deter him from doing this.
You can try disciplining him if he starts to bother the stitches; it may also be necessary to put a muzzle on him.If you have to, have your dog wear a cone collar to prevent him from bothering his stitches until they are healed.
Make sure to leave it on for the duration of the healing process.
If you take it on and off, your dog might start rebelling when you try to place it on him.You might have to leave it on for up to two weeks.
You can also get a neck brace, which makes a dog unable to turn his head.
This might help if the cone collar is getting in the way. -
Step 2: Try not to let the dog scratch the stitches.
Once the wound starts healing, it may start to itch, which means your dog will want to scratch.
If this is the case, try to deter this behavior.
Sometimes, the cone collar can help.
If it doesn’t, then cover the stitches with gauze or bandages.
Keep supervising your dog to make sure she’s not scratching them.You can also put booties or wraps on her paws and claws to keep the wound from getting hurt.
Scratching can rip open the stitches and the wound.
Dirt and bacteria on the dog's nails can also infect the wound.
Scratching and rubbing can also cause swelling.
If the wound swells too much, it might cause the stitches to break. , Make sure the dog doesn’t get muddy or get the incision dirty.
This can cause infection or other complications.
This means keeping him from going outside on his own or letting him roam around muddy or wooded areas.Don’t apply ointment, cream, disinfectants, or anything else without your vet’s permission.
Don’t use solutions like hydrogen peroxide or alcohol because it can harm the healing process.
You should change the dressing according to your vet’s orders.
Make sure the dog’s bed is clean.
Place a clean sheet or towel on the bed each night and replace when it becomes even lightly soiled. , Do not bathe your dog during the recovery period.
The incision and stitches shouldn’t get wet.
Moisture can encourage bacteria to multiply and cause an infection.
In addition, moisture softens the skin, which makes it a less effective barrier against infection.
To keep the stitches and bandages dry when the dog goes outside, place a plastic bag or plastic clingwrap around the area when she goes outside.
Just remove it as soon as the dog comes back inside., If there are no bandages, then look at the stitches a couple of times a day.
This helps you notice changes or infections.
This is very important for the healing of your dog.The healing wound should look clean with the edges touching each other.
You may see some bruising around the incision, and the incision might be slightly redder than the skin around it.The incision might be slightly puffy or raised.
Minor seepage, like a drop of clear or blood-stained fluid, may occur.
However, if you notice abnormal swelling, steady seepage, thick discharge, or yellow-green discharge, contact your vet.
Look for any swelling, heated skin, odor, discharge, irritation, or new damage., If you can’t keep the dog from licking or touching the stitches, you can cover the stitches.
If the stitches are on the dog’s torso, try putting a t-shirt on him.
Make sure it’s cotton, so it will breathe.
Just make sure the t-shirt fits the dog and isn’t too large or too tight.
You can tie the shirt to keep it from moving up the dog’s torso.This is helpful if you have multiple dogs and can’t keep them separated.
You can also cover the stitches with a bandage.
This might be necessary if the wound is on a limb.
If the dog scratches at the wound with a back leg, try putting a snug-fitting sock on that paw so the nails can’t rip at the stitches. -
Step 3: Make sure the wound and stitches are clean.
-
Step 4: Keep the wound and stitches dry.
-
Step 5: Monitor the stitches.
-
Step 6: Cover the incision.
Detailed Guide
After the painkillers and anesthesia wear off, your dog might try chewing or licking his stitches.
This can not only damage the skin, but also cause infection.
Try to deter him from doing this.
You can try disciplining him if he starts to bother the stitches; it may also be necessary to put a muzzle on him.If you have to, have your dog wear a cone collar to prevent him from bothering his stitches until they are healed.
Make sure to leave it on for the duration of the healing process.
If you take it on and off, your dog might start rebelling when you try to place it on him.You might have to leave it on for up to two weeks.
You can also get a neck brace, which makes a dog unable to turn his head.
This might help if the cone collar is getting in the way.
Once the wound starts healing, it may start to itch, which means your dog will want to scratch.
If this is the case, try to deter this behavior.
Sometimes, the cone collar can help.
If it doesn’t, then cover the stitches with gauze or bandages.
Keep supervising your dog to make sure she’s not scratching them.You can also put booties or wraps on her paws and claws to keep the wound from getting hurt.
Scratching can rip open the stitches and the wound.
Dirt and bacteria on the dog's nails can also infect the wound.
Scratching and rubbing can also cause swelling.
If the wound swells too much, it might cause the stitches to break. , Make sure the dog doesn’t get muddy or get the incision dirty.
This can cause infection or other complications.
This means keeping him from going outside on his own or letting him roam around muddy or wooded areas.Don’t apply ointment, cream, disinfectants, or anything else without your vet’s permission.
Don’t use solutions like hydrogen peroxide or alcohol because it can harm the healing process.
You should change the dressing according to your vet’s orders.
Make sure the dog’s bed is clean.
Place a clean sheet or towel on the bed each night and replace when it becomes even lightly soiled. , Do not bathe your dog during the recovery period.
The incision and stitches shouldn’t get wet.
Moisture can encourage bacteria to multiply and cause an infection.
In addition, moisture softens the skin, which makes it a less effective barrier against infection.
To keep the stitches and bandages dry when the dog goes outside, place a plastic bag or plastic clingwrap around the area when she goes outside.
Just remove it as soon as the dog comes back inside., If there are no bandages, then look at the stitches a couple of times a day.
This helps you notice changes or infections.
This is very important for the healing of your dog.The healing wound should look clean with the edges touching each other.
You may see some bruising around the incision, and the incision might be slightly redder than the skin around it.The incision might be slightly puffy or raised.
Minor seepage, like a drop of clear or blood-stained fluid, may occur.
However, if you notice abnormal swelling, steady seepage, thick discharge, or yellow-green discharge, contact your vet.
Look for any swelling, heated skin, odor, discharge, irritation, or new damage., If you can’t keep the dog from licking or touching the stitches, you can cover the stitches.
If the stitches are on the dog’s torso, try putting a t-shirt on him.
Make sure it’s cotton, so it will breathe.
Just make sure the t-shirt fits the dog and isn’t too large or too tight.
You can tie the shirt to keep it from moving up the dog’s torso.This is helpful if you have multiple dogs and can’t keep them separated.
You can also cover the stitches with a bandage.
This might be necessary if the wound is on a limb.
If the dog scratches at the wound with a back leg, try putting a snug-fitting sock on that paw so the nails can’t rip at the stitches.
About the Author
Larry Cruz
Committed to making hobbies accessible and understandable for everyone.
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