Tobi ate out stitches

[rayshae]

Tobi's now home from his surgery. (4 stones removed from bladder). I thought he was doing good the second day when I got home and feed him. He ate well and then I noticed his whole belly area was opened up. I thought I was gonna faint. Vet couldn't do anything till morning since I had just fed him. So it was a loooooooooooooong night staying up with him to assure he didn't do anymore damage to it.
He had to of done it the first night we brought him home when I was sleeping because my husband was home with him watching to be sure he didn't mess with it the following day.
So back to the vet to get stitched back up then they added the dreaded cone to his head. He is just miserable. I feel so bad for the little guy. He can't even bend his head down to eat, so I have been hand feeding him. Then I have to tip the small bowl in order to get him to drink. He's really having a hard time coping with this. I'm not sure if I should call the vet back and see if there is another way to deal with this. Someone told me that there is a spray or something that you can put on an area to keep them from licking. Does anyone one know of this? And if so does it work well? Very concerned... Suppose to keep cone on 10days and I don't know if he can take it.

[chachi]

Yes there is a spray we had it when Chachi was neutered. It worked for him. Good luck it sounds like you have been through alot.

[livingdustmops]

I don't remember how big Tobi is but my vet recommended instead of the cone which makes all dogs miserable to buy human premie baby one piece clothing and cut out a hole for his tail. His stitches would then be protected unless he started chewing through the soft knit material. I also know they have invented a new collar for dogs that are like 2/3 inches and the dog can't bend their neck down. You might look on the internet for this.

Good Luck!

[red98vett]

Originally Posted by livingdustmops

I don't remember how big Tobi is but my vet recommended instead of the cone which makes all dogs miserable to buy human premie baby one piece clothing and cut out a hole for his tail. His stitches would then be protected unless he started chewing through the soft knit material. I also know they have invented a new collar for dogs that are like 2/3 inches and the dog can't bend their neck down. You might look on the internet for this.

Good Luck!

This is a great idea livingdustmops just gave you ...I would check with your vet about it just to be safe - but it's a wonderful way to keep them from biting their stitches -

I hope he heals really FAST poor baby -

[orinskye]

lol......... if toby would have had to get that cone thign when he got nuetered i probably would have had to write "dunce" on it in permanant marker
The onesy idea is great

[YorkieShadow]

Aww Poor baby, I hope he gets all better soon.

[yorkie2]

How is Tobi doing? My little male had bladder stone surg about 6 weeks ago and they removed 3 stones from his bladder. Is Tobi on or going to be on special food? I hope he is doing better.

[My2Furbabies]

Awww...I hope Tobi is feeling better!

[rayshae]

Good news! Tobi is doing real good. He is eating well and taking his meds. He has even adapted to the cone a little better since I took him back to the vet yet again to have them adjust it. It was too tight the first time.
He goes in this Friday to get his stitches removed and then they will let me know what the composite of his stones was so that we will have a better idea of what not to allow him to have. Vet says it has some kind of calcium type build up and that this type of stone can only be removed by surgery that it would have never dissolved on its own.
It is so good to have my little boy acting like his self again. He has been raised to a whole new level of spoiled:-) All he wants to do is play and it is rather difficult for him with that cone on his head. But I bought lots of christmas toys for him that I will give him once his stitches get removed.
Thanks so much everyone for your advice and just caring. I will update you all Friday when I know what type of foods I need to regulate him on. Happy Holidays to All!

[rayshae]

Originally Posted by yorkie2

How is Tobi doing? My little male had bladder stone surg about 6 weeks ago and they removed 3 stones from his bladder. Is Tobi on or going to be on special food? I hope he is doing better.

So what did the test come back saying with your little boy? Any special diet they put him on? Was it a calcuim type stone? Please let me know... Very curious... Hope he is recovering well.

[gymbo68]

I hope he is doing ok....any updates?

[yorkie2]

Beau's stones were analyzed and came back as "calcium oxalate". And yes, these type of stones cannot be dissolved. They have to be removed surgically. I read up on them and found out that 73% of dogs that develop these type of stones are males and 50% will have a recurrance within 3 years. Yikes!!! Beau is on Hill's Prescription Diet UD. I give him some canned in the morning and evening and during the day, I leave dry UD kibble down for him. He seems to really like the UD. Thank goodness!!

[rayshae]

Yes, thats the same type stone my vet said Tobi had. My Tobi is 6yrs. old. How old is your Beau?
I hope he does not have this come back. This has been quite a nightmare. Did Beau have to have a cone on? How did he do recovery wise?
I have had to do everything for Tobi with this cone on his head. Hand feed him, hold up and tilt the water bowl so he can even drink. I don't let him jump up and down off the furniture but he knows to wait for me to place him down.
I hope that UD is good in Tobi's eyes. Tobi has just been so fussy all his life with food. The only treat he will even eat is that beggin strips.
Poor guy wants to play so bad and can't grab onto anything with that cone on his head. But only 2 1/2 days left:-) I can't wait!!!!

[yorkie2]

Beau turned 5 years old in October. I also learned that they usually develop stones between the ages of 5-12. He did wonderfully during his recovery. He didn't have to wear the cone. He never tried to do anything to his stitches. He didn't even try to lick them. I guess I was lucky in that aspect. I was worried about that before the surg. I had a poodle that wore a cone one time and my vet told me that when he ate or drank, I could take the cone off of him. He did have bladder leakage for about the first week and urgency for about the first 2 weeks. I had blankets and throws all over the house because his bladder did leak. Before his surg, he would constantly have to urinate. I just always thought it was because he is so small and I figured his bladder couldn't hold it. How did they find Tobi's stones. Beau was holding his back leg up and I brought him in to the vet for that. We decided to do xrays and Dr. M. saw the stones.

It's so nice to talk to someone that is going through this also. Don't worry, Tobi will continue to improve and he will be fine. It did take Beau a little while though.

[rayshae]

Originally Posted by yorkie2

Beau turned 5 years old in October. I also learned that they usually develop stones between the ages of 5-12. He did wonderfully during his recovery. He didn't have to wear the cone. He never tried to do anything to his stitches. He didn't even try to lick them. I guess I was lucky in that aspect. I was worried about that before the surg. I had a poodle that wore a cone one time and my vet told me that when he ate or drank, I could take the cone off of him. He did have bladder leakage for about the first week and urgency for about the first 2 weeks. I had blankets and throws all over the house because his bladder did leak. Before his surg, he would constantly have to urinate. I just always thought it was because he is so small and I figured his bladder couldn't hold it. How did they find Tobi's stones. Beau was holding his back leg up and I brought him in to the vet for that. We decided to do xrays and Dr. M. saw the stones.

It's so nice to talk to someone that is going through this also. Don't worry, Tobi will continue to improve and he will be fine. It did take Beau a little while though.

Tobi also started having to urinate what seemed like every 15-30 mins. After a few days of this I started worrying. So I started watching him more closer when I took him out. I notice he would stay in the same position for long periods of time and then I saw a drop of blood at the end and I freaked... But I figured it was a urinary infection that he had and that I would just have to get more anitbiotics for him so I called the vet and my husband took him in for me and got the pills. Well we had him on the pills a week and there was no improvement and he seemed to even get worse. Now he making strange noises when he urinates. Moans and wimpers really. Broke my heart. So I call the vet again and said this isn't working and he told me to bring Tobi back and that they would run more test.
When I got there they wanted to keep him overnight for observation and take x-rays. The next day they told me he had at least 2 stones pea sized in his bladder. So it turns out that 2 yrs ago that wasn't a bladder infection either it was the stones. We never xrayed him back then because the pills worked.
Once they opened him up they actually found 4 stones. He gets his stitches out in the morning. I can't wait! I had to leave the cone on due to he would never allow me to put it back on. He is a handful. I looked at his stitches last night and they seem so much better. All the redness and swelling is gone. You can tell he even feels much better.
Yes, he is having to still urinate alot but I figure like you said that it will ease as he recovers.
Glad to hear Beau done so well. Vet called last night and said see you Friday and by the way I have a new diet for Tobi. I just pray Tobi will not fight me on this and just eat what he needs to. He is very stubborn. He'll turn his little nose up and just refuse to even look at it. People say leave it there long enough and they will eat. No not true, I really believe he'd rather starve himself.
Thanks for all the info. Its been a real help. I will let you know Friday once the stitches are removed how its going.
Thanks!