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PULLED OUT STITCHES?!

D

danuutka

Junior Guinea Pig
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Nelli has just pulled her stitches. I will attach a picture from yesterday and now.

I have no idea how she managed it, but out of nowhere she was running around like crazy. Tried to calm her down but it didn’t work. So I took her out of the cage and saw this. I’m now cuddling her on a clean blanket, to keep her from moving around.

My boyfriend is currently on the phone to the vet, who have requested to see a picture to see whether she needs to come in. For now I’m keeping her warm and cozy so she doesn’t do any strenuous movements.

Can I do anything to prevent this? I’ve been watching her like a hawk yet she still managed. Is there a “cone” equivalent for piggies or anything of that kind to protect their wounds?
 

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I am very sorry! All the best!

Cones don't unfortunately work with piggies, and bandaging in that area is very tough... :(
Biting open is generally connected to discomfort/pain.
 
Wiebke said:
I am very sorry! All the best!

Cones don't unfortunately work with piggies, and bandaging in that area is very tough... :(
Biting open is generally connected to discomfort/pain.
Click to expand...

Hopefully the vet will call us back soon, thankfully we only live 15 mins away from a vet hospital. Honestly she didn’t show any signs of pain, if anything she was being completely herself, munching on veg etc, just not pooping much.

Perhaps the vet will up her Metacam dose.
 
danuutka said:
Hopefully the vet will call us back soon, thankfully we only live 15 mins away from a vet hospital. Honestly she didn’t show any signs of pain, if anything she was being completely herself, munching on veg etc, just not pooping much.

Perhaps the vet will up her Metacam dose.
Click to expand...

Hopefully it is just one of these things. It doesn't look necrotic/unhealed underneath to me; but I am not a professional.
 
Good luck with the vet. Sorry we can’t really offer much help with this
 
I had a piggy, Meemee, that kept opening her wound after her spay in 2012. It was stitched first time, but she opened it and we went back to the vets the next day to be stitched up again. After a couple of days she opened it up again. So off we went to the vets again and this time the vet stapled it. But she removed it again after a couple of days! So we went back and the vet just used glue in case she really was uncomfortable with stitches and staples. Thank heavens it worked that last time. 😁

Like you, we were wondering if there is a cone for piggies but unfortunately it won't work coz they won't be able to eat. We thought of bandage too, but that idea was useless since she can still reach her tummy and rip the bandage off.
 
We tried to put a sock over her as per the version suggestion, but she went frantic, kicked it off herself and is now kicking around like an angry bull and shaking.
 
anyar.dris said:
I had a piggy, Meemee, that kept opening her wound after her spay in 2012. It was stitched first time, but she opened it and we went back to the vets the next day to be stitched up again. After a couple of days she opened it up again. So off we went to the vets again and this time the vet stapled it. But she removed it again after a couple of days! So we went back and the vet just used glue in case she really was uncomfortable with stitches and staples. Thank heavens it worked that last time. 😁

Like you, we were wondering if there is a cone for piggies but unfortunately it won't work coz they won't be able to eat. We thought of bandage too, but that idea was useless since she can still reach her tummy and rip the bandage off.
Click to expand...

No luck with any of our attempts to cover the area to prevent her from getting to it. We tried everything suggested on the internet or by anyone, but she wriggled out of everything. I’ve resorted to putting her in a cozy laundry basket (blankets etc), and I’m staying up all night with her to watch over her. Hopefully this is going to prevent her movement and I’ll be able to spot if she tries anything.
 
What bedding are you using? Maybe it's getting caught in hay or the bedding? I suggest you buy vetbed (if you can get it next day delivery that's good, if not then for future use). It is softer than fleece and towels. I use it as bedding for a piggy that had an operation. It's also one way for me to see whether there are bleeding after the op.

I have this one.

Vetbed_Original_White_1000x430.webp
 
anyar.dris said:
What bedding are you using? Maybe it's getting caught in hay or the bedding? I suggest you buy vetbed (if you can get it next day delivery that's good, if not then for future use). It is softer than fleece and towels. I use it as bedding for a piggy that had an operation. It's also one way for me to see whether there are bleeding after the op.

I have this one.

View attachment 141276
Click to expand...

Hey, I’ve been using light coloured towels and blankets in the bottom of the cage to monitor for any oozing etc (changed 1-2x daily), so I can’t imagine she had got it caught. I stayed up all night with her in a washing basket in blankets, and now the stitching isn’t miraculously gone...
 
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