Halas Removed His Stitches! ER Thinks No Big Deal? (really gross photo)

[Leslie and Halas]

Halas wears his cone of shame when I'm at work.  I was home for a long lunch today, just to give him a break from his cone.  I put it back on before I left, and went back to work.  I got home about 30 minutes ago to this:

The stitches are gone from this one on his left side, and the one on his right hip.  The right hip is pretty much closed up, so I'm not too worried about that one.  But, as you can see, this one is an open wound.  And it's deep.  My vet had closed about 15 minutes before I got home, so I called the ER vet.  They said it should be fine for tonight, since the surgery was 5 days ago, but I should get him to his regular vet first thing tomorrow.  I will definitely do that tomorrow as soon as they open, but what about tonight?  I don't see how this big, open wound is going to be ok overnight.  Maybe they are assuming that it's mostly closed up, but I tried to explain that this one WAS NOT closed up.  I even said I could email a picture of it to them.  Is this really something that looks like it will be ok overnight?!  I asked if I should at least put Polysporin and a bandage over it, but they said no.  WTD?!

And he did still have his cone on when I got home, which means he did all of this between 12:30 - 5:45 today while working around his cone.  And based on the fact that the other side is practically closed up, I think he's been messing with this one on his left side at other times, too, when I've been at work.  The one on his groin still has stitches, and doesn't look like he's bothered it, so at least the cone worked for that one.

This is grossing me out, and I'm really worried about it being OK overnight.  Any advice?  Call the ER vet back and explain it again? Put some Polysporin and a big bandage over it?  Leave it alone?

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I would see if you can get surgical strips and tape it together. Perhaps you have a local drug store who would give you the strips.? It does look gross but I have a feeling that there are layers of stitches and it isn't as deep as you think. I'm sure some of the others may have some better ideas.

[Leslie and Halas]

I don't have any of those at home.  I hate to leave him by himself now, but maybe I can get my mom to pick some up.  He kept trying to lick it, so I just put a large bandage on it.  I'm not sure how well the medical tape will stick to his fur, but I guess I'll find out.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Good, keep it covered.

[a.k.a. Rodney]

Good news it doesn't look infected!!
But I do think it needs to be protected since its an open wound

[Leslie and Halas]

The ER did say to keep him from licking at it more, so I think I'm going to have to cover it with something.  Obviously, the cone won't keep him from licking at it.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm sure F will disagree, but if this is me, I'm at the ER. In fact, I wouldn't even have bothered calling, lol, I would have taken one look and grabbed my car keys.  I want them to disinfect it or put something on it and bandage it until the vet can look at it tomorrow. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Only disagreed a bit.

[Deborah Brown]

I can't tell the exact location but if you can cover his incision spots with a t-shirt, I'd do that - even after getting this closed up.  When my dogs were "fixed", I cut leg holes in a t-shirt and tied it over the tail.  

It might be OK until morning but it would make me nervous especially since he obviously can get to it and can work at it some more before morning.

[a.k.a. Rodney]

Just thought of this....do you have cell # of vet or ability to send pix to him or ERIC vet for advise

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I wouldn't listen to what the ER vet hospital told you. This is a situation where I'd just pack my dog and show up at their doorstep. They're not going to turn you away.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I would be at the ER as well..I would not steri strip it because if he got bacteria in there it will close it in...the wound needs to be cleaned and then possible sealed again....

What they taught us in nursing school if a would came undone was to put sterilize gauze over it that is wet with sterile water.....don't risk infection...bring him in.......that's what insurance is for.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Any bacteria have already entered. In the olden days open wounds like this were not reclosed but I don't know what they do nowadays. I personally would cover it with sterile gauze, taped down well. I'd make sure, no matter how I did it that Halas could not get at it, and I'd bring him to my vet in the AM.