How to stop them chewing an incision?

[Eriathwen]

So Daisy was spayed Monday, complications ensued in a ligament snapping before it was fully tied off, shes been under close watch for signs of internal bleeding but is now pretty much out of the woods for that.

Our current problem is one I was expecting due to Daisys nature but frustrating none the less.
She's chewing her wound, which was looking lovely. I've spent yesterday trying to stop her whenever I see her but...I have to sleep sometime and over night she's made it worse. We've been back to the vets and the nurse tried her with a gauze and bandage vest which she immediately got out of as soon as her feet hit the floor, so we decided I'd make her a sock bandage at home, which we did, it took a rather stressful few minutes getting it on and again as soon as she was on the floor it was off...I can't even see how she's doing it but it's off immediately!

I'm at a bit of a loss as to what to do now..we will probably be returning to the vets tomorrow for more ideas from them as they advised us but..any ideas I can try tonight or discuss with them tomorrow?

It's not too bad, left is now, right was last night..But I just don't want it to continue to get worse.

 

[Guineapigfeet]

What pain meds is she on?

 

[Eriathwen]

Dog metacam 0.2ml dose

 

[Betsy]

Dog metacam 0.2ml dose

Is that twice a day? Or 0.2ml in total?

 

[Eriathwen]

In total, once a day. Did seem low to me, the others all got more.. Meant to ask about that actually but been so rushed off my feet

 

[Betsy]

In total, once a day. Did seem low to me, the others all got more.. Meant to ask about that actually but been so rushed off my feet

Is it dog or cat Metacam? When Velvet (RIP) had haypoke the vet put her on 0.4ml dog Metacam twice a day.

 

[VickiA]

I’d just up the metacam - And give it twice daily. it’s safe to do that in the short term - it will relieve any pain and swelling and may stop her gnawing at it.

 

[Eriathwen]

It's the dog version.
Right, I'll up it for her, thanks! I had hoped it wouldn't be pain related this many days post op but seems not to be the case. I'm sure she will be happy about it, she loves the stuff lol

 

[VickiA]

Mine have all had large doses twice daily for a week post spay or neuter.

 

[Eriathwen]

We usually get 0.3-0.4ml once daily, Daisy is a bit smaller than my others so I assume that's the reason for the smaller dose. She's the only one whose behaved like she needed more although I think from now on I'll just ask straight off the bat.

 

[PigglePuggle]

If she is messing with the wound a lot you might ask the vet to give buprenorphine just to keep her zonked enough she doesnt do that, when Tallulah's abscess surgery wound went messy and was being made worse by her constantly putting her toenails in it and deliberately rubbing it on things we took her in for a daily buprenorphine injection for 3 days, partly to relieve the pain and irritation of course but also partly as the vet admitted to stop her injuring herself further until things started healing nicely!
Sending healing wheeks for Daisy and hugs for you x

 

[Eriathwen]

I'll definitely ask about it, although they're always a bit leery of giving it, they've had so many patients react badly to it it's put them off a bit.
But thankyou! She seems a lot happier after her ride in the car..for some reason it's one of her favourite things haha

 

[Wiebke]

When piggies chew operation scars it is either because the scar is not healing properly, because of pain or because the skn has died off.

My Hafren did that with her scar from her large burst cyst removal.

Please contact your vet.

PS: I second that the metacam dosage is low. Metacam should be given every 12 hours at the prescribed dosage to guinea pigs because it is metabolised much quicker than in cats or dogs.