Post Op/ open wound

[Jess565]

So Maurice had his operation on Friday to remove a cyst, Sunday his stitches had been pulled out, so he was taken back to the vets put under GA and re stitched after they tidied the wound. Monday stitches are back out! He was separated from Harold so he's done it himself. So of we went back to the vets, they won't put him under again so removed what was left from the stitches and have left the wound open! They did use glue but he's pulled this apart! He also climbed out his section of the cage and was found with Harold, so we have let them stay together so he doesn't hurt his self trying to get back to Harold! I can't just leave his wound like this! Should I try and find another vet? He just destroys every thing we try! Our vets don't seem to have anymore suggestions and are now saying that's all they can do! It's Xmas, my car has failed an MOT and is off the road, and this has already passed over £350! I'm not saying I won't pay but I will fully run out of money to live if we can't help him soon. Please suggestions welcome as to what can be done for this wound or if you think another vet might help?

 

[Siikibam]

I can only offer support. Sorry you’re having such a hard time with Maurice! He’s one determined boy isn’t he!

 

[Lady Kelly]

Was he on pain relief. I found Donald kept scratching his abscess wound open until I had a slightly higher dose of metacam prescribed twice daily. That seemed to keep him more comfortable as it healed

 

[VickiA]

Metacam is both a pain relief and anti inflammatory so helps stop them having pain and swelling (and therefore troubling with the wound). I’m pretty sure @PigglePuggle had an open wound on Tallulah?

 

[PigglePuggle]

Metacam is both a pain relief and anti inflammatory so helps stop them having pain and swelling (and therefore troubling with the wound). I’m pretty sure @PigglePuggle had an open wound on Tallulah?

Yes we had an open wound, Tallulah had a very rare allergic reaction to her stitches after abscess surgery and all the skin round the wound edges where the stitches were became inflamed and sort of rotted away, there wasnt enough skin left to stitch back together afterwards
We had a few of days of daily buprenorphine injections from the vet to keep her pain free and sedated so she didnt mess with the wound, meanwhile the vet flushed the wound with hibiscrub every 3 days and we flushed it at home with saline twice a day then applied prescription manuka honey. As a pharmacologist I was very sceptical about using honey (all sounded a bit hippy home remedy to me) but there are many sound scientific veterinary studies on the topic and manuka honey can work wonders for shrinking and healing unstitchable wounds!
Here's the awful "before" photo when the vet thought she would die:

This is a week later:

Now she barely even has a scar
Hope Maurice heals up, you should ask the vet about manuka honey though x

 

[Jess565]

Thanks guys I've had such a stressful month with all these sick pigs! My other half took him back to the vets today we have the hibiscrub and more metacam and antibiotics, poor Harold's now looking sad so he's now got antibiotics. I will ask about the manuka honey I think I vaguely remember some conversation about honey but my brain is overflowing with info. His wound looks like the wound on Tallulah @PigglePuggle but raw I'm hoping the metacam helps he's a for taking meds, hes like a wild animal!

 

[PigglePuggle]

You might have a conversation with the vet about whether some stronger pain relief/sedation for 2 or 3 days might help him calm down and be less aware of the wound while the healing starts, Tallulah didnt seem in any extreme pain (she was running around playing and eating normally with that giant hole in her neck!) but she's extremely fidgety and hyperactive and the buprenorphine stopped her messing with the wound for a bit and helped her stay calm and sleepy with all the wound flushing and honey going on. Or possibly some local anaesthetic spray on the wound? Tallulah had that too, the vet sprayed her wound with local anaesthetic before doing the deeper hibiscub flushes, mainly so she wouldnt want to put her dirty toetails in it straight afterwards to find out what we'd done to her neck!
Many healing wheeks for Maurice, and hugs for you- dont these bloody pigs cause trouble when we do our best to help them! x

 

[Jess565]

Maurice has settled with his wound, we are on day three of no messing with it, he's had regular metacam and antibiotics, and his wound is drying. It's still grim but not raw like the other day. We cancelled an appointment with the nurse on Friday as we felt he was doing ok and we don't want to stress him out. He is due back on Monday though which we will keep. Harold has been quiet and is also on antibiotics as a precaution. I think he's has alot going on in a month!