Should I get a cone for Yogi, licking a lot!

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

Yogi was nuetered Friday, we picked him up from the vet in the afternoon.  Vet said we didnt need the cone, not to worry about the stitches, that he buried them.

Anyway, I'm working this weekend, 12 hour shifts, so I have not been able to spend much time with Yogi, DH has.  Last night when I was home, I kept putting his little shorts on to keep him away from stitches.  He kept pulling them off and licking A LOT. 

So I'm at work again today, DH says he is still licking a lot.

I'm wondering if I should have DH go out after a cone or not, wish I could ask the vet, but of course he's not available.  With the "buried stitches" do any of you think I should have DH go pick up a cone now?

I'm didnt expect this much licking, and vet said not to worry, but I don't know now if this is excess licking. 

 

Thank you!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Stop at the store and buy little boys underwear.   Start there.

Put them on backwards and bring the tail through the hole in the front.

It at least buys time until someone watching him can deter the licking.

While you are at the store, stop and buy an Antler.  Give it to him so he has something else to do with his mouth.

Not all the time do we need to use a cone.

Hope this works for you too

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Hmmm,

After looking back, I see you already posted about the underwear. Are you not using them?

They are not full proof. Someone still has to be there to prevent the licking or chewing on the pants, but it buys you time until you can correct the licking.

A tiny bit of licking is okay. It's when they chew at the area that it can be dangerous.

So, underwear is not working?? I'm confused

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

We did not get underwear, couldnt find a size that I thought would fit, but I had a pair of gym shorts that I cut a hole into for his tail.  I wish I was home to more closely monitor him, but as it turned out this weekend that I'm working, my DH has the 3 grandkids to babysit, so that has also complicated the watching part of it.

 

I think I will see if he can find a cone.  If I had been home all the time I think I could have kept him away better, but I'm afraid DH isn't diligent enough.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

even with stitches on the inside, there is still an incision and that needs to be kept clean and dry. He may not get to the stitches but an infection in the incision from licking can be problematic as well. I never used a cone or covered, but maybe girls are different. If you can;t keep him in sight and correct/stop the licking for the next few days and the underwear isn;t staying on, then a cone would give the area some time to heal.

[Rose Coward]

Another couple options are to use an anti-itch cream and/or a some bitter lemon to discourage his licking. 

[Rose Coward]

oops, I meant bitter lime.  :)

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

The anti itch cream may be ok, but bitter lemon is not supposed to be used on skin. May be around the area if there is some fur, but he's probably not licking there much.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Just as a FYI....our Vet told us NOT to cover the incision...I was thinking underware or even a Thundershirt.  We were told to leave it and not cover it, so the incision could "breathe".

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I would think a light cotton cloth over the general area would still allow it to breathe, and certainly keep it dryer and cleaner if it stopped the licking. But it would seem a cone is needed if it can't be covered.

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

You could get a soft cone or an inflatable collar. These worked on Izzy. I used a cone for Lucca. I can't remember if the "boys" can still get to the incision site with the soft cone or inflatable collar. It's better to be safe than sorry. If the incision gets infected then the re-coup time gets extended. 

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

Thank you for your replies. My DH went out and got one for him. It's kind of funny, since he's been wearing it, he has been incredible cuddly. So sweet!

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Hope Yogi is doing a bit better....Being itchy is no fun!