How do I stop my dog from ripping out her stitches?

[Betwyn]

So.. as some of you may remember, my dog had an abscess that in late winter of 2013.

I couldn't then afford the surgery. I have since managed to save the required money and had the surgery done.

Well, the wound is on her side, behind and below the shoulder. She can reach it with both her mouth and her hind legs.

She's ripped the stitches out once already.. (that was gross to look at)

I have her wearing a t-shirt.. I cut the sleeves off of a hoodie and put that on her too.. to provide padding from her foot.. if it came down to it, I have a Cone of Shame I could put on her.. but that would only stop her from licking..

How do I stop her from scratching? Particularly when I'm sleeping or at work?

[Trinology]

Go to your nearest vet and buy a plastic cone thing to put around her neck. It will not allow her to get at the stitches. She won't like but she will adapt. Do not feel guilty and take it off unless you are there to supervise. You could also ask the vet the appropriate time to make her wear it until the stitches are healed. Poor pup! Good luck! :)

[Betwyn]

Hey, an Elizabethan Cone does nothing to protect in this situation. It helped for the stitches on her eye, but not the ones I had problems with.

[Trinology]

See a vet. They would give you possible opinions. Maybe they could give you a numbing cream or anti itch cream? They may be able to dress the area so she can' t rip the stitches. If all else fails you'll need to either hire someone to monitor her or do it yourself ( or with the help of friends ) 24 hr.

[questioner1991]

YOu will have to make her a cone head so she can`t with her mouth. Maybe put something over her claws like shoes or a something...

[Betwyn]

I tried a sock and one of the sleeves of the hoodie.. but she just pulled them off :(

[lifes_curve_ball]

I say try the cone, cut her nails, try putting on shoes over her paws and leave something as padding. Also if you have a friend who can dogsit for a few days to see how she reacts and get her used to the stuff being on her.

[CasaNorba]

you dont have a sweater for her? just put one on her to cover up the stitched area

[Betwyn]

I have her in a shirt and a hoodie.. and she still ripped the stitches out..

[CasaNorba]

oh shit! maybe medical tape will do it. does she have short hair?

[Betwyn]

Not really no.. she's a Shepherd cross.. Shepherd size and hair..

[Betwyn]

I added a third layer, and so far so good.. another check up tonight and if no infection and everything looks good, the stitches come out :)

[CasaNorba]

ez! good luck and thanks for mh

[Betwyn]

Stitches are out.. Infection is gone.. just a few scabs.. they want me to keep the shirt on her until the scabs fall off

[CasaNorba]

good idea. you never know when its fully healed, so that nightmare won't repeat itself

[VENOMMM]

put the cone on her. thats the only way you will keep her from scratching the stiches

[Betwyn]

The cone doesn't do anything for her scratching them.. it just stops her from licking them

[VENOMMM]

then keep the claws filed down. and keep the stiches covered

[Anonymous]

get one of these: thejourneymom.com/.../cone_head_dog_thumb.jpg

[Opinion Owner]

the dog in that pic has a wound and stitches on his left flank.

[Betwyn]

Except, her wound, is up by the front shoulder.. with a cone, I can stop her from licking or biting.. but that really isn't the problem

[MissConfused93]

Cone or wrap the area maybe?

[NoblesseOblige]

Can't you just handcuff her legs?

[Betwyn]

um, how? isn't that mean?

[NoblesseOblige]

She can still hobble around. She just won't scratch for however long it takes to heal.

[Betwyn]

Where do I get doggie handcuffs?

[NoblesseOblige]

Just tie her up loosely with string or something.

[Betwyn]

string wouldn't hold her :(