Stitches?

[jswain78]

I have taken my kitten in to be spayed. The estimated DOB is around 7/1/04. I also had to have her declawed. I did not want to, but it was either that or the pound. She is a rescue as it is, I am the only person she knows. I cannot imagine having to give her to a pund where her life is uncertain, so I had to get her declawed.
Should she be able to get to her stitches? She came home without a cone on & she has been eating at her stitches on her stomach.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[catfancier]

No - don't let her get to her stitches! This can irritate the wound, and if it is still quite fresh, they can gnaw at the stitches enough to open the wound and infect it by licking (as their mouths carry a lot of bacteria!). Keep the cone on as much as possible - it should extend to just beyond her nose. You can also try using a childs t-shirt and making her wear it, to protect the stitches on her tummy. Not fun, but it's a bit of peace of mind for you, and doesn't have to be on long. Also try socks for her feet, otherwise there are products such as Chew Stop, and other bitter tasting remedies to deter them from chewing surgical sites.

If all else fails, get her bandaged by the vet! But it is so important that those stitches have as little interference as possible, to ensure a healthy and clean wound.

[Laura's Babies]

I have found that a gentle scolding stopped mine from pulling on their stitches. I think once the newness of it wears off, they don't realize they are there but until then, I scolded mine and it worked.

[moosmom]

Go to the pet store and get some Bitter Apple spray and spray it on the incision. They hate the taste and it will prevent her from licking the area.

I also had to have her declawed. I did not want to, but it was either that or the pound.

How's that?? Was she doing what comes naturally, scratching??? Did you provide her with a scratching post and show her HOW to use it??? Cats CAN very easily be trained to use a scratching post or box at such an early age, without having to cut off their digits. Furniture IS replaceable!

[catfancier]

I also don't understand why you HAD to have her declawed, but I didn't want to bring it up... however... why?