Any suggestions for preventing dogs from licking stitches?

[Linda and "Toby"]

Has anyone had luck putting Bitter Apple or some other product around stitches (not directly on them) to keep their dogs from licking them? I would like to give Toby a break from wearing his cone. (I work at home, so I can monitor him closely if he starts to lick at it again.)

[Laura & Chewie]

I know people have good luck with putting a onsie on them or an old t-shirt. My own experience when Chewie was neutered was I had to leave the cone on, but he is very stubborn and persistent. He was so bad about his stitches, he had to wear the cone for close to two weeks...not fun. I hope you find something that works for Toby.

[Lynda Kamrath]

My large labradoodle had liver failure and took steroids as part of his medication. The steroids caused him to leak from his penis during the entire time he was on steroids. He has always been an indoor dog so I had to figure out something to keep him from leaking on furniture and rugs in the house. I decided a sticky maxi pad would work best, but needed a way to keep it on. So, a cami worked very well. I put it over from the back and the shoulder straps went around the back legs. I think there is a photo on my photo page. He could poop with the cami on, but I would remove the entire contraption when he went outside and put it back on when he came into the house. He became very accustomed to wearing it and it was very comfortable for him.

[Lynda Kamrath]

I checked and it is photo #3139 for Hondo is his "stitch guard" or "pee guard". Great use for an old cami.

[Linda and "Toby"]

A picture is worth a thousand words, as they say - lol! How ingenious of you!

[Kathy Spyker]

Did you try him without it? When Lilly got spayed she never wore a cone and she never bothered her stiches =)

[Joyce,David"Mochi,Latte,Popcorn"]

Give Toby a rawhide to chew on or peanut butter in kong to lick so he will forgot about the stitches :)

Mochi licked his stitches while I took off his cone and didn't pay attention to him, then I applied some antibiotics cream on the cut to prevent infections. (don't know if I was supposed to do that but I did anyways)

How many more days does poor Toby have to wear the cone?

[Linda and "Toby"]

I picked up some "Antiseptic Spray with Chew Deterrent" at Petco yesterday. It was $8.99 and a total waste of money. It stopped him for all of 30 seconds. Then he went right back to licking (and tugging at) his stitches.

He gets his stitches out Thursday - thank goodness!

[Leigh & Allie]

Allie had her stitches on the inside under the skin. I had no problem at all with her bothering her site. The only problem I had was trying to keep her from jumping on the sofa. LOL. She was like "MOM, why will you not let me jump up on my favorite spot?" I had to follow her around for several days and try to predict when she might jump on the sofa.

[Diane and Alma]

I put Alma in a T-shirt and used a ponytail holder to scrunch up the opening at her waist after she was spayed. I kept a close eye on her just in case. I hope you find something that works. Get well soon Toby.

[Lin D & Yogi]

Our Yogi was just neutered and he wore a cone, He was licking even before we picked him up from the Vet. Sure wish we knew of something else to try,