keeping dog from licking his incision - Pet forum for dogs cats and humans

lauriet · #1 September 20th, 2007, 12:27 PM

Hello... I brought my newly-neutered Gromit home from the vet yesterday. The procedure, and his stay at the vet's went well. (They were quite ready to send him home, as he broke out of his cage and chased the clinic's cat around... energy level is fine)
Anyway, he left his incision alone for most of his first day home, but started poking at it last night. I went back to the vet to get a cone for him to wear, but didn't keep it on him for long. I've been keeping his Gentle Leader on him most of the time -- he hates it, but seems to know that the other choice would be to have that satellite dish on his head again. The GL is helping, but I've been wondering if there's a healing or first aid cream (polysporin kind of thing) that I could safely put around the incision. He's healing nicely -- this would just be something he'd find yucky-tasting.
By the way, any predictions on how long he'll want to keep going after the spot? Fortunately, it was laser surgery with a really tidy cut and no external stitches.
thanks,
Laurie

lauriet · #2 September 20th, 2007, 12:32 PM

Just re-sending to change the title line... it cut off where I didn't want it too.
(And since I'm ready for a break, found it way funnier than I should have)

rainbow · #3 September 20th, 2007, 12:41 PM

They make bitter sprays for that. I can't remember what it's called but I got mine at the vet. Glad Gromits surgery went well.

Ford Girl · #4 September 20th, 2007, 12:47 PM

Hi, did your vet give you an elizabeth collar? It's a cone type thing that you place on them so they can't reach basically any part of their body, harmless and effective. They don't cost much.

And after a few days of leaving it alone it should heal quickly, and I think they are not to do any kind of hard play or rough houseing for 12 days??? Leash walking is fine, but jumping and tumbling isn't.

lauriet · #5 September 20th, 2007, 01:21 PM

Thanks so much for both suggestions.

Ford Girl, we do have a collar -- I called it a cone (and a satellite dish), so I wasn't clear. Sorry. Anyway, when he first had it on his head drooped down so the bottom clunked on things. I couldn't tell if that hurt him or just bugged him a lot, but he looked so depressed I took it off. I shouldn't have been such a wimp, since he'll have to have it back on when I go out.
Rainbow, did you mean Bitter Apple spray, or is there another? I asked about bitter apple since we already have some at home, but the vet assistant said it might hurt him where he was already sensitive from the surgery. (It is AWESOME stuff though -- when Gromit was younger he loved to chew on wood, and that spray changed his mind)