Hi there,
Molly doing really well after her operation yesterday (spaying), less groggy and walking better, she's been to the loo and is eating.  The vets have put a dressing over the wound and stitches they said it was to catch any drips of blood and to leave it on for at least a couple of days but if Molly hasn't removed it herself  by then to take it off as it may cause iritation (like a plaster would to us if we left it on too long).  She keeps licking at it but its still stuck on fast, I always thought it was best to let air get to things, I don't want an infection setting in, do you think I should remove it?
Thanks

I have never had a dressing put on a spay wound of the four bitches I have spayed or heard of one on any bitches of freinds.  Was there a complication with the operation for them to do this?

Sefa didn't have a dressing when she was spayed. I probably wouldn't have thought anything of it if she did though. I think I would trust the vet.

I suppose it is like human surgeons some like to use a dressing the first couple of days some don't, just a professional choice.  I would remove after about 24 hours and leave the wound dry then.  Beware the licking, mine would not stop licking hers and kept it wet which led to it becoming very red and sore before I put a stop to it, some are capable of doing a bit of unstitching too so I think you are best to use an Elizabethan collar especially when alone but maybe even when you are there if they won't listen :)

My cocker bitch was spayed two weeks ago and she had a dressing, but she didn't have any external stitches at all.  My vet told me that he had to use internal sutures, mainly because he said she had a lot of fatty tissue.  I must admit she has put on a bit of weight.  I had to pay an extra 20 pounds for the internal stitches too

There was no complication with the op, vet said everything went according to plan.  It's a guaze dressing and I can see there is some dried blood underneath it.  I've got a collar for when the dressing comes off, just in case she won't leave it alone, she had the op yesterday morning.  Do you think I would be best to take it off tonight (she will be sleeping in my bedroom) or in the morning?

Yes I would take it off tonight she will sleep better without it pulling I would think but I would take no chances and pop the collar on, perhaps this evening so she gets used to it a bit before bed.  They tend to make them go a bit glum because they don't like it much but she will be much safer with it on while you are sleeping.

I've tried to take your advice Isabel, the gauze is like a sticky plaster and I've very gently tried to loosen the edges but when I try and loosen any further it's obviously very sore and hurting her, so I've stopped.  I'm hoping now the edges are loose she will maybe loosen it some more herself, if not, I think I'm going to have to take her back to the vets tomorrow, I can't bear to hurt her!

I don't think you can leave it to her she might take some stitches with it.  You have to either bite the bullet perhaps try dampaning the edges but pat the area well dry again afterwards or put the collar on until you take her to the vet tomorrow. 

Mine have never had dressings on their wounds, and only one worried at it, removing a stitch and causing a bit of an infection. On the vet's advice we put a tee-shirt on her, fixing the loose end between her legs at night, and that protected the wound fine. We 'undressed' her for walks and put her shirt back on when she was going to be unattended. It healed beautifully, without the stress of a collar. Hope this helps.

I think that would be well worth trying JG :) although it would depend if the Tshirt had one of those naff sayings on it whether it was less stressful or not :D

LOL! :D In that case she'd have to wear it back to front so she couldn't read it! :D

Thanks, she probably would prefer a t-shirt, she can be a bit of a poser!  Joking aside, I don't want to upset her further by having another go at it, so will keep a close eye on her and take her back to vets tomorrow if necessary.  She's been through so much as a rescue dog and then having pups at such a young age I can't stand the thought of anything else hurting her. I know I'm probably being a wimp but I think if it has to stay on, the dressing should be OK till tomorrow.

Success!  Just been to her and she rolled over and exposed the dressing as if to say 'come on, please take this off!' so I tried gently, said come on then, help, and she licked at the edge whilst I pulled a bit more, and we managed it together.  Wound looks very clean and I'm now going to go and choose her a t-shirt!  Promise it won't have a naff saying on it!
Thanks everyone.

Excellent! Now to the practical bit - I found the teeshirt stayed put best if Beattie's collar went through the loop of the label at the neck - that stopped it slipping down. Her front legs went through the sleeves (natch!) and during the day I gathered up the excess material with a safety-pin on her back, which stopped her tripping over the fabric. I didn't have a safe nappy-pin, so instead of risking her stabbing herself during the night if an ordinary one came undone I drew the teeshirt back and put in a couple of stitches by her tail, so it was rather like a baby-gro. This way she couldn't get to her wound.

Of course, first thing in the morning the stitches had to be undone and the shirt had to be whipped off so she could pee in comfort!

Read your posts just in the nick of time last night, I put a t-shirt on and made a bit of a hash of it, poor Molly ended up trussed up like a turkey! - it was getting late and I was tired - my excuse anyway.  Anyway, did what you said and she had a good nights sleep and looked quite rested this morning.  I've been on the golf course with Max and done a long training and playing session and he's nice and calm now.
When I let him through to his Mum this morning, he went running in with her favourite toy and gave it her (usually he takes everything off her!), probably my imagination, but it was almost as if he was saying 'I know you're under the weather, this is to make you feel better', ahhhh.  -  Don't you just love dogs.

Go for a V neck or polo shiort and put it on back to front so that the neck opening allows her head up through it so it is comfy.

Get some nappy pins from the chemists:D

I did'nt use safety pins. I used gaffer tape, very strong and you can take it off easily.

Thanks, I hadn't got a safety pin big enough last night, so I made several small holes in the material thread a thin piece of soft material covered piping through and tied it in a bow!  Gaffer tape sounds good though.