Question about stitches.... - Page 1

My female was attacked by another dog last Saturday.  She had to have about 9 stitches around her eye and on her face.  They did an excellent job stitching her up, she off antibiotics and all seemed to be going well.  My vet said to let the stitches stay in until Friday of this week.  Today, they've been itching and while I kept her from scratching, she's rubbing her face against her bed, my bed, your hand, anything she can find.  I just took a good look at her and there's swelling where the stitches are.  My vet is closed so I can't call.  Is a little swelling normal in this situation or do I need to get her to the emergency vet?  Looking for someone with experience with dogs and stitches...it's been so long since she was spayed I don't remember those stitches and I don't think there was swelling or I would have carried her to the vet early.

If you are being honest.It may be that she is being itchy and the site of the stitches are drying out healing and she doesnt want them there anymore.Compare this to someone with a broken arm in a cast that cant get to that itch in the cast...if you know of this.I would contact your vet and not take a chance of her re-opening the stitches and aggravating the site of them.Between now and then.Give her some benadryl to calm her.

Stitches always create a mild inflammatory reaction of their own in the tissue. As long as the wounds are clean, not really, really red, or showing signs of pus or drainage or her tissue near by swelling, and as long as she is otherwise doing fine, eating, drinking etc., she is probably just doing as Rainhaus suggests and wanting to get rid of some itching that accompanies healing. The suggestion for some benadryl is not a bad idea, although it might make her sleepy. Another thought is to put on an antibiotic cream or ointment that has lidocaine in it and that will numb the area. A third option is to put an elizabethan collar on, but dogs normally really hate it. Based on your description, I think she will be fine. Tissue in this area has to have stitches stay in longer sometimes. Just be patient. If you can post a photo, we can look at it too.

Will just add, don't take them out... it takes from 7-10 days for wounds to heal, and if removed the skin will open again. If the vet used staples you could rub a lil vasoline or simular ointment around  the area. Both the benedril and collar are good choices if she's getting nutsy about itching @ it... the collar will bother her, but then she'll be more conserned with that than the sutures... unless there's noticable discharge, or odor from the wound it should be fine til tomorrow.

I agree, a little medicated ointment will help.    Stitch's get tighter has skin swell's and irritate.   Just keep it clean to ward off any infection.   Maybe a peroxide swab before the ointment.

Thanks guys.  The emergency vet is like 2 hours from here (not to mention very costly) so I would like to spare that if I'm just panicking and she's ok.  If something abnormal is going on, I will carry her to the emergency vet promptly.  Here's a pic, sorry my camera batteries are dying and I only had time to snap one so it's not great.  I put some Neosporin (antibiotic cream) on it and she seems to be better so I think you guys are right on.  I've personally never had stitches and only dealt with them in dogs when she was spayed so this is not something I'm knowledgable about.  Thanks everyone

-Nichole

You can also put a bit of "Preperation H" on them, that will soothe the "itch" of them.

Otherwise, as someone stated, clean them, gently, then either the "Prep H", or I believe that some of the antibiotic ointments now have a pain reliever in them. 

Good luck!

Nichole,

That's really close to the eye, make sure whatever cream or ointment you use doesn't get in the eye.    I would leave it alone unless she tear's it open.

Brent.

The quality of the photo is poor because it is not in focus, however, it appears the wounds are healing very well. You are probably just fine. If you have any questions tomorrow, take her to the vet. And if you were given antibiotics for her, be sure you finish the medication.

Good luck.

while this subject is fresh... I have a question, and maybe the answers will also be helpful to Nichole when the time comes....

After the stitches come out, what do you out there recommend to put on the area to reduce scarring?  I'm thinking vitamin E oil... (?)    

Nichole... she's really a beautiful dog :-)