Can I remove stitches from my dog's leg?

Question

My dog had a tumor removed from his leg on 1/4/07. the vet said the stitches needed to stay in for 21 days. It has now been 18 days and I won't be able to take him to the vet for another week or week and a half, if I can't take him in tomorrow. So, can I take them out myself? The dog has already removed 3 himself and the incision looks good. If it is ok to remove them, how do I do it? Just snip, pull and clean? (After I've sterilized my instruments, of course). Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

I little pair of scissors snip and pull be sure to get it all. Just like if you had stitches. Sometimes it helps them slide if the skin is moist. Put some neosporin on it for a while before you do it.

Answer 2

I would recommend waiting to do it or have someone else do it. As a vet tech I have removed a number of stitches and sometimes the incision looks great but once you remove the sutures there is still a hole that hasnt healed and needs to be resutured or restapled. It is best to have a vet or tech do it because what will you do if you remove them an there is still a hole. You cant fix it yourself and will then have to drive into the vet anyway to get the incision repaired. If you want to wait to take it out yourself you need to wait until 21 days like the vet said. you probably dont have the equipment to "sterilize" your instruments and you shouldnt have to. You just need clean non-rusty sharp scissors to clip the sutures with. You cut on the side of the knot (carefully with out cutting the dog). I found it is easier to avoid cutting the skin if you pull gently up on the suture. This pulls it away from the skin and gives you a better view of the suture to cut it. Once you cut it gently pull the suture out by pulling the knot up and the rest of the suture will follow. once all the sutures are removed clean the area so as not to get an infection. Also some of the sutures may be harder to remove because the skin will start growing on some of them, so you may see some slight bleeding if you had any sutures with skin on them. MAKE sure you get ALL sutures out. if not they can have skin grow over them and cause a lot of pain for the dogs and can cause an abcess if not treated. good luck and if you have any more questions email me.

Answer 3

Please don't try to remove them at home. The staples used are made to be removed using a special staple remover. Trying to take them out yourself can break them, leaving tiny metal pieces in your dog which can cause a problem. I've seen this happen more than once, and believe me the owners wished they would have just come in after paying a bill for the procedure to remove the tiny pieces & antibiotics! The vet that did surgery shouldn't charge you for removal if your pet is doing well (it only takes a couple seconds). If you had it done at a specialty or referral practice you don't necessarily have to take them back there if if its inconvenient - your regular vet can remove them and usually won't charge you if someone just runs the dog in back.

Answer 4

Ask the vet and if they ok it you can do them easily yourself.
Get a small pair of pointed sharp siccors. Clip on one side of the knot and pull gentley from the other side to remove the stich.
When you are done clean the wound and you should be good to go.
If the dog will let you work on him it is ok to remove them on your own. Some dog will not let you work on them like that.
My cousin put stiches into his dog out in the field when hunting once. He went to the vet after wards adn the vet told him he should have gone to school as he did better stiches than some doctors he knew.

Answer 5

Yes You Can. Just snip the stitch and with hemostats or tweezers pull out the stitch. It is not a big deal unless the wound had gotten infected but with no signs of infection and the wound looks normal I would snip then. Clean up with Hydogen Peroxicide and you are done.

Answer 6

Personally, I would not remove any stitches without consulting your veterinarian first. If he says it's ok, then go for it.

Be sure to check with your vet first. It may be that it's ok to remove them, but then again, the vet may have other reasons to leave the stitches in until you can actually take your dog in for his follow-up visit. Stitches aren't usually a problem unless you have secondary infection. You should allow your veterinarian to determine that. Therefore, again, my advice is to call the vet before you do anything.

Hope your dog makes a full recovery in good health!
:-)

Answer 7

I would just let it go till the vet takes them out. The vet really needs to check the incision first, to make sure the stitches are really ready to be removed. Please don't take any chances.

Answer 8

Can you? Yes.

Should you? Probably not. Removing the stitches is relatively easy. But being able to spot potential problems and knowing when you've encountered something that is over your head isn't so easy. Why risk it?

Answer 9

Yes, you can remove tham as you just said. BUT, I think you need to call your vet and get his opinion. I think the vet should be given the opportunity to see the dog just to make sure everything is as it should be.

Answer 10

You got it dude. A little scissors and a tweezers. Cover the points of the scissors with something as to not poke the dog if/when he jumps or moves. You seem responsible enough from your question.