Spaying complications

[Tara L P]

This past wknd I took Ella to my hometown, Abilene to use my parents vet because they were half of what my Dallas vet charges. I got her microchipped, requested laser and additional pain meds. She came out just fine. The next morning (Saturday) I went to pick her up and the vet said everything was fine and directed me to go buy mens spray deoderant to spray on the site so she'll not lick it. Did that and she kinda freaked out a bit by the noise/coldness so I sprayed it on my hand first then gently pressed against her belly. She was doing ok. I came back to Dallas Sunday and Monday morning used the spray. I forgot to mention they didn't give me a cone bc they say pets are happier without and they've found the deoderant to work. When I returned home Monday I checked her belly and saw she'd torn out the stutures! Got ahold of the Dallas vet, explainedto them what it looked like. It wasn't bleeding or oozing yet but didn't look good. They said I should make an apt for this morning so I did. Called the Abilene vet to explain what happened next. They said to give her 3 benadryl and put a butterfly bandaid over it then a tube sock. I did all that. This morning the vet gave us antibiotics and pain meds and a cone. I trust the veternarian who decided not to stitch it up again but can't help but worry about it. I stayed home from work to watch her/the wound. I didn't keep the cone on since I was watching her but tom will have to leave her in it. I just got freaked by the whole thing. And worry about her not liking the cone tom. She had it on for a bit today and was trying to swing it off. Suggestions? Anyone want to see the pic of the site?

Worried doodle mom

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I can only assume the vet saw that the internal stitches looked good. Does it still look 'good' - not infected?

I cut my hand open with a knife while slicing potatoes - they would not suture it closed because they were afraid that there might potato or dirt from the potato in the cut. I wonder if that is what the vet might be thinking. The outside 'dirt' might be in the incision so closing that up would mean the dirt would be closed inside the skin and could cause infection.

Deodorant on an open incision?? Putting on those chemicals on stitches doesn't make sense to me but I certainly am not vet.

Don't worry so much - your vet checked her out and told you all was good. Take a deep breath and give Ella a hug from us!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

As much as they absolutely hate the cone, my Vet said it was very important that we leave it on Murphy to be sure that he didn't rip out the stitches. He was supposed to have it for a week, but I took it off on the firth day. If you can't be there to watch I would definitely leave the cone on. Is she going to be crated? That would be my only worry....you don't want it to catch on the crate. Murph tried to get the cone off primarily on the first day...after that he just got used to it. I sure hope Ella starts to feel better soon.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Instead of a cone, I bought Peri an inflatable ring that is made for dogs and it goes around their neck (can buy at Petsmart). It is more comfy. Granted, she did figure out how to deflate it by Day 6, but at that point, the area was healing quite nicely. I would use something no matter what since she irritated the area....

[Miranda]

We also used this "air collar" from petsmart. Def. a lifesaver. She kept running into walls and door frames with the regular collar and I felt she had a hard time sniffing the grass when she would search for a spot to go potty. the air collar seemed more like a pillow to her and it didn't make any scary noises if she would run it into a door frame by accident. We didn't crate Cali by that point, but we did confine her to a certain room in the apt. She did ok as well until about the 5th or 6th day...and then she too had it deflated. I actually have a pic of it on my page if you want to check it out. Hope Ella feels better soon!

[Tara L P]

I will have to get one of those inflatable ones from petsmart during lunch tom. I leave Ella to a few rooms, not in her crate for the day.

[Eva Eliopoulos]

My Bailey got spayed five days ago. The first day/night was horrible. She cried through the night and couldn't nap/sleep the first day at all. I cried along with her b/c I felt so bad. 2nd day was much better! She wasn't crying anymore but was tired and hungry. By day 4, you wouldn't even know there was anything wrong with her and she was her usual silly dog. Bailey was constantly licking her belly and I would put the cone on her. She figured out in 5 minutes how to get it off. Lucky for me she knows the word NO. After saying no ten times, she would no longer lick her wound. I don't work so I was able to watch her all day. My vet suggested purchasing a bitter orange gel that goes around the stitches. I didn't think it was good to put anything directly on the wound as it could cause infection, that is what I was told... I think 3 benadryl seems like a bit much for a dog but I'm not a vet. I hope Ella feels better real soon :-)

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

We had a terrible time with Fudge too. Her incision did not open, but got infected and she had to wear a wrap around the whole area and the soft cone for two weeks. I was starting to think it would never get better, but it finally did. Fudge did not have the large plastic cone, but one made from some plastic type material and it worked just fine. Good luck!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Open wounds that are not sterile are usually not sutured because of the likelihood of infection in the closed wound, as Adrianne said. These wounds if left alone will granulate in and be OK. Sometimes the scar is a little less neat than it might have been but with the location and hair, no big deal. All wounds hat are a few days old are not the nicest things to look at but Ella is on an antibiotic and should be fine. It really is not a good idea to get advice from two doctors at the same time.

[Tara L P]

Thanks everyone for the support and suggestions! I thought the deoderant was strange too and felt uneasy after I saw her reaction to it. I had the Dallas vet call the Abilene vet to talk about any medications given, and I wasn't able to drive back to Abilene so talking to them both was my only option, I felt. That definitly makes sense about re-stitching the wound. Looking back I would have stayed in Dallas, but now I know the extra coat is usually worth it!

[Tara L P]

Extra cost is worth it- not coat.

[Jersey, Jasmine, Jypsy and Diane]

Whenever our dogs had an incision, they hated to wear the "E" collar, so I took a long (white or lt colored) tee shirt (size to your dog ) and put it either over their heads or their butt (head opening goes over butt), depending where the incision is, and I tie it up in a knot, away from the incision. Works like a charm and is very cheap and the dogs don't mind wearing it. My vet has used my idea because it worked so well.

[Kyoko]

I am sorry that Ella had to go through this complications! I hope everything turns out OK.
I put a tank top on Charlie and cut out the hind leg holes at the bottom of the tank top, so it will not rise up. It helped to cover the area and kept her from licking at it.