Help! Penny's chewing her stitches...

[Mrs.F]

Help! Penny's chewing at her stitches. Of course she waited to start until after the clinic is closed for the night!
I have some Bitter Apple spray but the directions have partially worn off the plastic bottle (we REALLY used it a lot those first months!) and so I don't know if I can put it on her incision.
Weirdo that I am, I tested the Bitter Apple on a scratch on my arm - it didn't sting but I haven't been chewing on my scratch, either!
I'll call the vet in the morning, but if anyone can give me advice in the meantime Penny and I will both appreciate it! Until I get a better idea, I'll just keep trying the old distraction trick!
Thanks! Heidi

[Wienergal]

Heidi, are you still awake? Still there? Where are Penny's stitches? Can you bandage her until the morning? You wouldn't even have to use gauze--do you have an old pillow case you can tear up into strips? That's the only solution I can think of, but it might work temporarily.

WAIT! Heidi, I just found the info on the Toys topic--abdominal stitches, about a week old, right? My guess is that the incision is starting to itch and it's driving her crazy! Isn't she about due to get the stitches out? If so, and there's no blood, I might not worry about it. Otherwise, wrap her tummy in some cloths until you can call the vet.

[This message has been edited by Wienergal (edited April 17, 2000).]

[WOTANSMUTTI]

Heidi!
Wienergal has a point-if the stitches are healed then maybe you should pull the them.I did that for both Diva and Sadie Mae.
Don't spray anything on it. Give her a chewie or something. A week should have given that incision plenty of time to have healed.

[Mrs.F]

Thanks ladies! We have an appointment for Pen to have her stitches removed on Thursday afternoon, so I think I'll wait and let the doc take them out - not that I'm squemish or anything http://dachsie.org/ubb/eek.gif I read your posts (with Penny on my lap getting her chest rubbed/petted non-stop so that she couldn't reach her belly!) at a little after 10:00. I didn't reply last night because typing would've taken 2 hands! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smile.gif
I wrapped her up in a towel (sort of like I used to do to my colic stricken 2 legged babes!) and sang to her and acted silly until we both dozed off on my bed.
I don't know if she bothered them during the night or not - she was sleeping when I woke up but the towel was pretty loose around her.
Her belly looks OK, but I am sure she's going to be itching again in a while so I've already got a message on the vet's machine.
Thanks again for your help!

Heidi

[Mrs.F]

Just got a call from the vet (it's almost 8:00 here - I am pleasantly surprised at how promptly my call was answered - he's almost as good as you guys!) Doc didn't think much of the idea of MY removing the stitches - could that be because he'll be getting another check from the old bank account on Thursday afternoon when HE takes them out? http://dachsie.org/ubb/wink.gif Just kidding - he's been really great through all this and from what I've read here, his prices are very reasonable. Anyway, Bitter Apple is fine but not right on raw skin because it might sting. He also suggested Bactine - it's got a topical anesthetic which will stop the itch, at least for a while, but don't let her near it til it's dry. That was a blast from the past! My mom used to spray Bactine on my skinned knees back when I was learning to ride a bike.......

[This message has been edited by Mrs.F (edited April 18, 2000).]

[Penny's Aunt]

A lot of the older medications are safer for dogs than some of the newer ones because they are not toxic if licked, a real concern with animals.

Hold on to your pup if you use Bactine, because it does take a few minutes to start working.

When you use Bitter Apple, spray it on the affected area, then give one blast right in the dog's open mouth. They won't like it! But the scent on the affected area will be reinforced by the memory of the bitterness in their mouth.

Usually, there is no charge for removing stitches, but the vet likes to look at his work to see that there aren't any openings, no bulges from under the skin that shouldn't be there, no sign of infection, etc.

Penny sounds like she's doing fine. The stitches are just itching. My dog was so bad about picking at her stitches that I threatened to sew her lips closed so she couldn't bother them! She just grinned at me -- she knew an idle threat when she heard one.

[Mrs.F]

Penny got her stitches out today. She looks beautiful, (nice thin neat scar) and is pretty happy to be allowed our long walks and tugs - of - war again!

Also, Penny's Aunt was right - as always http://dachsie.org/ubb/smile.gif - there was no charge for today's appointment!