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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Bunny is STILL bothering spay area a month later.

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    • harpin
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        So it’s been 29 days since my female was spayed.  2 days post-op she ripped her first set of stitches out, a day later she ripped her second set out, and a day after THAT she ripped a set of staples out.  These were all the exterior sets, and none of the muscle tissue stitches were bothered.

        Unsatisfied with the vet we were seeing, who discouraged the use of an e-collar, and then went on to tell us there really wasn’t anything else we could do – i sought ought advice from another vet.  She internally stitched the incision back up with disolvables, and then used tissue glue to bond the area.  Finally, we put an inflatable collar around her neck, which gave her access to her cecals, water, lettuce and hay, but prevented her from bending over enough to get to her incision.

        Because we own a business, my girlfriend and I were able to take turns sleeping, working and watching her for the first week providing around-the-clock surveillance to make sure she didn’t pop her collar off by falling over backwards (which she managed once,) and then we let her be by herself with the collar on for the second week.

        SO – 21 days post spay surgery, and 17 days after she was externally stitched up for the final time, we took her in for a follow up visit with the vet.  Her incision appeard to be completely sealed, and two small internal stitches were poking through her skin.  The first was removed that day, and the second was removed just this afternoon after it had come through enough to be snipped.

        Today, our vet told us that the incision was completely closed (which it is) and that no more stitches were showing through (which there aren’t.)  However, within 10 minutes of taking her inflatable collar off at home, and watching her, she started to go to town on the surgery area.  Because I can’t be paranoid FOREVER about what she’s doing down there, I let her go at it (thinking she was just grooming or getting the glue remnants off), and then lifted her up after about 8 minutes.  Unfortunately, she appears to have chewed a very tiny hole into the area where she was spayed.  She’s not bleeding, but it’s definitely red, and looks bothered.

        This is driving my girlfriend and I absolutely crazy – it feels like she’ll NEVER stop bothering her incision area, and we’re scared to death that she’ll just tear her skin open because something’s bothering her, which will result in more stitches, and then we’re back at square one.  We’ve put forth so much effort this past month into taking care of her, and making sure she heals, that I’ve now got the collar back on her, and am trying to figure out what the problem is…

        Could there be more internal stitches that are irritating her, and making her feel like she needs to chew her skin to get to them?

        I can’t fathom thinking this is something that’s become a habit for her, and she feels like she has to do for the rest of her life…

        We’re just at a total loss, and any ideas anybody may have as to why this is happening, and how it could possibly be prevented (without the use of a collar, which has been on her for nearly a month) would be so greatly appreciated.

        Thank you, guys!

         


      • LoveChaCha
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          My bunny chewed her stitches.. and nothing happened. The vet that spayed her said a lot of rabbits will rip at the stitches. The area might be itchy for her, as it was opened. I would make sure the area does not get infected.


        • KatnipCrzy
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            You really should call your vet and ask them about it- but you definitely can’t allow her to chew open the area again.  The vet might recommend a deterrent like bitter apple or something else to negatively reinforce chewing- or maybe a physical barrier like a belly band until she settle down and not damage herself.


          • Malp_15
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              We have had a few bunnies rip their stitches at my clinic and we give them a cone collar. I don’t know what size your bun is, but our kitten or bird ones work great for it.


            • harpin
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                2 hours later, we’ve checked the surface wound she created and there’s DEFINITELY still a stitch there. The vet, and us, must not have caught it because of the hair growing back.

                Like I said – the incision is COMPLETELY healed, but she’s still trying to get at the few interior stitches that remain imbedded in her skin until they dissolve. This thing is hell-bent and relentless on getting these out.

                As I said – it’s been nearly a month, and she’s still annoyed


              • Monkeybun
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                  Call the vet, she iwll definitely need to have something to stop her from chewing at her tummy!


                • LittlePuffyTail
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                    I just wanted to add that your bunny is very lucky that you are both so concerned about her and made so much effort during her healing time.


                  • RabbitPam
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                      You should call the vet to let them know that a stitch is clearly still there and bothering her. My guess is that it needs to be removed to stop the irritation. I wouldn’t think they’d give you a hard time, or a bill, for doing that. After that I agree with the bitter apple or a dab of vinegar and water just to keep her off of it for a few hours, but not too much and not too long because imagine smelling badly all day on yourself. Ewe.

                      Another option (if removed) is to put a bit of Neosporin on it to speed the healing and decrease the itchiness. Or try some Bag Balm, which might feel soothing. Watch for redness.


                    • harpin
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                        GREAT NEWS! It’s been 3 days and our rabbit has been getting along splendidly without a collar – my girlfriend and i were able to snip the final stitch that appeared from her surface wound, and she hasn’t touched that area since – Just hours of grooming, binkying and wanting to be pet.

                        @LittlePuffyTail – Thank you for your kind words. We took this rabbit in from a less than knowledgeable couple in the town we live in, who were feeding her dog food, oblivious to the fact that you could alter a rabbit, not even bothering to litter train her, and contemplating letting her go “free” in the woods because they couldn’t find anybody to take her off their hands. Needless to say, we wanted to get this thing on the right track. The added bonus is that she’s just so darn loveable – she CONSTANTLY wants attention from us, hopping up on the couch to be pet, and whatnot. It was impossible for us to not want to get her through this and give her a good solid decade of happiness.

                        Now it’s time to bond her with our neutered male – I’m sure that’ll be a thread in and of itself!

                        Thanks everyone!


                      • Beka27
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                          Thank you for sharing her story. It is obvious that she so desperately NEEDED you! Please keep us updated on how she does and feel free to start a thread for your bonding experience in the bonding section.


                        • LittlePuffyTail
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                            Wishing you lots of luck with the bonding “adventure”!


                          • BinkyBunny
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                              Yeah!! She sounds like such a wonderful affectionate rabbit. She is so lucky to have you and your girlfriend take such amazing care of her.
                              Good luck with the bonding! I wish you a quick an peaceful bonding. (keeping fingers crossed)

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                          Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Bunny is STILL bothering spay area a month later.