Ripped open his surgical glue... *slightly graphic pic*

[Katy M]

Malakai got Neutered last wednesday... How nice! he waited an entire week before ripping out some glue from over-exsessive grooming. Since it's a pretty small incision (Maybe a little more then half a centimeter?), the vet said it could wait until tomarrow... Because they are so busy.

Is there any care I should give to an open incision until he goes to get it fixed up? I'll clean up his cage and put paper towels down instead on his usual bedding, which I am afraid would irritate it. I can't really bandage him up I don't think, and I don't really think it's nessesary or anything.

Should I wash up the area around it to keep it from getting infected or anything?

[Marybelle]

How exposed is it?  After a week it should be pretty well healed, I'd think.    If he's not bleeding, or leaking gunk, I wouldn't worry too much about keeping it clean, aside from the paper towel bedding.  Good luck!

[Katy M]

How exposed is it? Hmm...


That exposed?

[Marybelle]

Did it do any fresh bleeding when he pulled out the glue?  If so, you'll want to keep a close eye to make sure he doesn't get any gunk stuck in there.  Actually, you'll probably want to keep an eye on it either way.  But since it's just until tomorrow, and they vet will probably flush it out real good before regluing, I wouldn't worry overly much, just watch it carefully.

[Katy M]

Didn't bleed.. but there was some pus around it when I notices... Well, I actually noticed it ON MY ARM, since that is where he was laying and I hadn't checked him over yet.

[Marybelle]

Didn't bleed.. but there was some pus around it when I notices... Well, I actually noticed it ON MY ARM, since that is where he was laying and I hadn't checked him over yet.

That may be why he licked it open, if he had a bit of an infection going on in there...  Does he still have pus at all?  Or is it pretty clean?  If he's doing a good job of keeping it clean, he should be fine.  And make sure to mention the pus to the vet tomorrow, as it may affect whether he decides to glue it closed again or leave it open to heal by itself.  

[Katy M]

It's pretty clean, but not really clean. He's cleaning it.

[stodda29]

A point to remember:  open wounds don't form abcesses.  Keep him on a clean, non-irritating surface and leave it open until the vet can look at it--it sounds like Malakai's keeping it from getting too scuzzy, himself.

[Katy M]

Just got back from the vet. We got soem antibiotivs to keep it clean. The vet said it was a little big, but becuase the inside wasn't bleeding or anything, they didn't need to close it up.

But on monday, if it is not starting to heal up, he wants to glue him back together. ^_^