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Stitches

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sjpm

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Are there any quick fix ways to get a guinea pig to stop chewing his stitches? My pig Zippy had a huge lipoma removed from his abdominal wall on Thursday. Since he came home he's been absolutely fine, eating pooping etc. but I've just noticed a tiny bit of blood on his towel and so I turned him over and the top part of his stitches looks a bit raw and bloody. He obviously been having a little chew, the little rascal!

I'm going to ring the vet first thing but is there anything I can do in the meantime? Would bathing with salt water be enough?

Here's a rather rubbish pic, but it's the best I could do. It looks worse than it is really, as it's pretty much just raw skin rather than anything hanging out.

IMG_0454.jpg
 
They should be able to give you a tiny little buster collar, but he may need help eating with it on! I'd also be slightly concerned about that patch of exposed raw skin (difficult to see in the photo though!) and infection, seeing as how close to the floor piggies are! Is it where the skin has come apart, or is it just sore skin? Whatever it is, he looks sore, so it might be worth booking him an appointment to get it looked at, just ask for a post op check as you're concerned about the wound - it should all be covered in the cost of the op
 
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sjpm said:
Are there any quick fix ways to get a guinea pig to stop chewing his stitches? My pig Zippy had a huge lipoma removed from his abdominal wall on Thursday. Since he came home he's been absolutely fine, eating pooping etc. but I've just noticed a tiny bit of blood on his towel and so I turned him over and the top part of his stitches looks a bit raw and bloody. He obviously been having a little chew, the little rascal!

I'm going to ring the vet first thing but is there anything I can do in the meantime? Would bathing with salt water be enough?

Here's a rather rubbish pic, but it's the best I could do. It looks worse than it is really, as it's pretty much just raw skin rather than anything hanging out.

IMG_0454.jpg
Click to expand...

Hi

Bathing the wound with salt water is perfectly fine, it is nature's antiseptic & won't harm Zippy if he should ingest it.

It may be a good idea to ask your vet if they can cut the stitches shorter so they're closer to his body & not as easy for him to grab.
Piggies do heal really quickly & I hope it won't be too long before they're out altogether. :)
 
I dont know why your vet put skin sutures in your piggie!? Its not a good idea in small furries and rabbits as they chew stitches! I would ask to get them cut shorter or put a small buster collar on him. Sorry your having so much trouble, but ideally the vet should have put intradermal (under the skin) sutures in, its much better practice especially in piggies etc.

x.
 
Abi_nurse said:
I dont know why your vet put skin sutures in your piggie!? Its not a good idea in small furries and rabbits as they chew stitches! I would ask to get them cut shorter or put a small buster collar on him. Sorry your having so much trouble, but ideally the vet should have put intradermal (under the skin) sutures in, its much better practice especially in piggies etc.

x.
Click to expand...

That's what I was thinking to be honest.

But saying that, Nibbler had intradermal stitches but still managed to pull some out. We think it was because the wound had got to that itchy stage of healing.

I would see if your vet could trim them up and perhaps recommend something to put on the wound if it is itchy and causing your piggy to scratch at it and pull at the stitches.
 
It's just what my vet does I suppose, I've had another pig that had sutures by the same vet and he was fine. I think he's a miracle worker, Zippy's lump was the size of a satsuma and we weren't expecting him to live through the operation.

Anyway, he's stopped nibbling them now, the salt water must have worked. The rest of his stitches look pretty dry so fingers crossed there'll be no more nibbling! I've had experiences with collars before and it wasn't great so hopefully we won't get to that stage :)
 
Oh gosh poor little man :(
Sending healing wheeeeeeeks of loves from us all XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
 
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