Stitches

How Can I Keep My Dog From Licking Stitches?

I just had my 1 year old Australian Shepherd neutered on April 22, He will not leave his stitches alone, I was wondering if anyone knew of anyways to keep him from doing this, other than using an Elizabethen collar. He has already went through 3 E-collars, he will not keep them on. What about the Bitter Apple spay, does that work? He did not have a laser done, I was going to get him done with the laser method but they wanted a hundred dollars, which is not bad but I had to get his vaccinations, heatworm test, etc. I got him neutered in the old cut and stitch method at a Low cost spay and neuter clinic and this is the first time one of my male dogs was stitched, my other vet used to "glue" them together. By what I mean when he went through 3 E-collars, he destroyed them, he chewed what he could get and just went nuts, he hates haveing it on.

Public Comments

1. Is an Elizabethan collar a cone? If it is, then try using Fooey! or some other spray that keeps dogs from licking/chewing what it is sprayed on. Btw, those sprays don't harm the dog. They just taste HORRIBLE to them, and in turn, the dogs will stop licking/chewing that spot.
2. Other than an E-collar the only for sure way would be to keep him leashed to you at all times. This way you can stop him when he tries. Some sprays (bitter apple) may work, but I wouldn't trust it. All you need is for your dog to like the taste and rip out his stitches :( Why are you against the E-collar?
3. Unless you can watch him constantly, an e-collar is the best way.
4. The only way to keep a dog from licking its stitches is the cone collar. It shouldnt be optional. The vet should make you have the collar. Its inevitable.
5. Bitter apple spray works wonders for lots of dogs. Some dogs like the taste but you won't know til u try. It's worth a shot. Mine got done a month ago and didn't even know he had anything done. Did he have laser?
6. just keep telling him no that is what I did with my boys
7. The only thing I can think of is the Elizabethen collar. My dog did the same thing and the stitches got ripped open and I had to take him back to the vet. If you can I would try to have her keep the elizabethen collar on you don't want her to hurt herself.
8. We use dog panties on our Shih Tzu's. They are really made for the females to look cute and when you don't want to breed when the dog is in heat, but they work equally well on the males. Ours have never been able to get them off because they have big velcro strips on the top. So if the collar and the spray stuff doesn't work, the pet store might have the panties with velcro. (We have ours custom made so i haven't bought one at a pet store but i think that they sell them)
9. What's wrong with the E-collar? What do you mean, he already "went through" 3 collars? If he keeps slipping them off, that means they're not tight enough.
10. I know e-collars suck. I attached a link with something that might help. It's the best! P.S It might burn the stitches to put apple bitter on it.
11. Another option I have heard of was to use a tee-shirt and put it on backwards so his tail goes through the neck, and his back legs through the sleeves. Tie the bottom to his collar. This will cover the sutures, but you'll have to take it off to go outside. For the e-collar, all you need to do is get two fingers in between him and the tie - any more, and he'll get it right off. It really only takes a day to get used to. If he can make it through that, he can make it another week.
12. Aloe Vera is a great topical treatment for after surgery or when an injury occurs that requires stitches. The aloe vera’s bitter taste deters dogs from licking the wound and helps to heal the skin. The aloe will also help to reduce scarring of the injured skin.