GotoAID Dogs - Stitches Tear

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Stitches Tear

If your pet has had surgery they likely have had stitches or sutures placed on their body at site of the injury. Your pet may feel irritation from them and scratch or bite at them. The tear in stitches can cause an infection in the wound and will need to be fixed as soon as possible. It is important to minimize activity and discourage your pet from jumping and licking at their surgery site for at least 5-7 days. If notice any of the symptoms below, seek immediate veterinary care.

Symptoms

Missing Sutures	Pain on Touch
Reddened	Warm
Oozing	Swelling

Steps

Soak a washcloth with hot water from the tap, wring it out and place it on the incision 2-3 times a day for 5 min on and 5 min off

Take some contact lens solution and gauze and clean the wound and dry it with a dry gauze pad

Take a butterfly bandage and apply it to the missing suture and call your vet.

If a large amount of stitches have been torn out then cover the area with a clean gauze pad soaked in contact lens solution

Wrap plastic wrap all the way around the body to keep the wound together and take him to the vet

Warnings

If there is any discharge, pus, looks very red, or feels hot take him to the vet immediately as there is probably an infection

DO NOT apply any medications or ointments to the incision site

Tips

If your dog is trying to bit more stitches off while heading to the vet apply some Vicks VapoRub on each side of the wound with a cotton swap, the smell should prevent them from trying to bite or lick the wound

You can also put your dog in a t-shirt to avoid him getting at the wound while going to the vet

Have your pet wear an E-collar to prevent him/her from getting at its stitches

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