What to do about cat biting stitches?

Question

I just got a new cat from the animal shelter, and they have them spayed. I picked her up from the vets office, surpized to find that she had two metal like stitches coming from her stomach.. When I got her home we layed her down and tried to get her to rest, but she is obsessed with those stitches. The vet says that she shouldn't be messing with them that much, but they didn't give us any type of cone or way to ensure that she doesn't pull them out. Im worried about that, and the vet office is closed now and wont open again till after the holidays. They didn't tell us that we needed to come back in to have the stitches removed so will they fall out on their own? and is there some way to prevent her from messing with the stitches.. it wouldn't be so bad if she was just licking, but she is trying to bite the eccess metal ends off.

NOTE: I don't live anywhere near a petco or anything like that.. we have vets offices and one small pet store in this town that doesn't sell much of anything. Unless they sell the cones at wallmart

Answer 1

You need to keep her from picking at them until it is healed (around 10 days).

You may be able to make your own e-collar (one of the cones)
out of something around the house, this link, http://www.petplace.com/cats/elizabethan-collars-for-cats-e-collars/page1.aspx
has directions

you can also try a large tube sock with the end cut off and slid over her to cover the area, this may bother her more or she may leave it alone but is easy and worth trying

Answer 2

It sounds like the shelter placed staples as well as suture (at least I hope so, sometimes they don't). It is important that she doesn't lick or bite at the incision for a few reasons:
1) Dehiscence. When an incision dehisces, this means that it comes apart. This is *very* dangerous. There are a few layers that the surgeon probably put stiches in. If the first layer comes out, it could open up her subcutaneous space. This could cause an abscess (pus-filled pocket) or lead to the opening of further layers of stiches, which would open her abdomen. This could result in a septic abdomen, as well as exposing her internal organs. This is, of course, very serious. If you notice her incision coming apart in any way, rush her to a vet.
2) Irritation of the incision site. This may already be happening, as your cat is licking at her incision. It is a negative cycle, because the more she licks, the worse her irritation and discomfort will get. Think chicken pox when you were a kid. Your parents probably told you not to scratch, right? But it was unbearable, and you scratched (at least I did), and it only got worse.
Assuming there is no dehiscence, just call a local emergency vet and explain the situation. They will probably be able to sell you an e-collar (cone) without even seeing her. The doctors who work at these places are generally really good people, and they'll want to help your cat before her problem becomes a big problem. They may even be able to prescribe some pain meds, as it sounds like she's having some post-operative pain issues. (though they'll have to examine her first for that).
I know that people in private practice will tell you that 99% of the time spay and neuter incision heal just fine. And they are completely right. But I work in critical care, and at least (at least) once a month, we get an animal with a spay dehis. These are serious issues that need to be dealt with sooner rather than later.
Good luck to both you and your cat. And kudos for adopting an animal instead of buying one. She is obviously very lucky to have found a home with you.

Answer 3

You need to get one of those pet cones but even at that, she may get the staples out. My cat Molly was spayed and came home the same day in the evening, she was groggy for a few hours then I saw she was working the sewed stitches out, she had had 8 stitches in and after 4 hours home, she had only 2 left and was open wide open, scared the **** out of me, I called the vet and luckily they were still open, I got her back there and they stapled her shut and gave me a cone. Well!!! Molly was livid about getting those staples out and actually ran her belly on the floor and maneuvered against stuff and tore them out even with the cone! She went back the next day, the vet wasn't happy with her and restapled her and gave me ointment and an antibiotic and said if they came out again, there wasn't any way to keep them in that she wouldn't fuss with and to make sure she got the meds and she would be ok. She had 10 days of meds, got them all in her, and she is fine today at 2 1/2 years old. But it can get serious if they are wide open so you need to contact the vet, it sounds like you got a fussy clean cat like Molly.

Answer 4

You can get a cone or "e-collar" from Petsmart or other pet stores in your area. You can also get them from any veterinarian clinic or emergency clinic.
If the sutures are metal, they will need to be removed. You should call your vet and see if they will take a look.
Sutures typically should be removed in 10-14 days, so see your vet within the next 2 weeks.

Answer 5

If you can't figure out how to make a cone, try taking an old towel and lightly wrapping it around her belly. Find a way to secure the towel, I used paper clips.

This was suggested to me when one of my female cats had a bad absess on her tummy. They put draining tubes in and she was obsessed with getting them out. The vet gave us a cone, but it was made of a cloth and she found ways to get around it. By putting the towel lightly around her, she was unable to get to her drainage tube.

As for getting the stitches out, when I had my cat spayed, I took her back ten days after. And you should go back to the vet to have them removed, especially if there are staples.

You are going to have to closely watch your baby. Try to distract her when she goes for her belly.

Answer 6

I know it is going to be crazy going shopping right now but the best suggestion I have is to go to your nearest PETCO or Pet Supermarket. They do have the cones there for cats. I can't think of anything else that would prevent her from biting the stitches. The cones are usually between $9.00-$15.00

Answer 7

You are going to have to make a cone to go around her neck, You can fashion one out of cardboard.

Or call an emergency vet clinic and see if they will sell you one tonight.

Answer 8

Don't worry, your cat won't get those stitches off. Mine was spayed too, and he was doing it. I was scared it would hurt him, but they later came out themselves. Those are some special type of stitches that in time, come out on their own. So when you don't seem them there all of a sudden, don't worry.




Krazy Libra

Answer 9

Cats are not stupid. They irritate her. Plus she will try to wash them away. Try to keep her occupied doing something else and don't worry. even if the stitches come out she will be OK. Just watch for infection in the area. She will keep tings clean herself.

Answer 10

Your cat needs a large neck collar and you can get it from your vet .