Stapling / Stitching wounds

[Tyla 3,179]

We seem to own the most accident prone pair of lurchers.

 

They are constantly cut or injured while working, excersizing or just playing. How many people patch up their own dogs and how would i learn the right way to do it? Before anyone jumps down my throat i am only talking of small injuries, skin tears etc not puncture wounds or anything major.

 

is there a recommended course on canine first aid for instance?

 

Any advice gratefully received

[sandymere 8,263]

We seem to own the most accident prone pair of lurchers.

 

They are constantly cut or injured while working, excersizing or just playing. How many people patch up their own dogs and how would i learn the right way to do it? Before anyone jumps down my throat i am only talking of small injuries, skin tears etc not puncture wounds or anything major.

 

is there a recommended course on canine first aid for instance?

 

Any advice gratefully received

 

 

I don't think there is an easy way just to get to know someone with experience and learn whats safe to staple and what isn't + how to do it. I've not heard of any courses that would show a lay person how to do it though some vets might..

[Tiff 36]

I just learned by watching the vets do it in the past, it is quite easy as long as the injury is straight forward. If you have sewn tough fabric before it makes it easier to do, and I think it is like injections, it gets easier after the first time.

[labsnlurchers 39]

i use steri strips (butterfly stitches) and superglue for most wounds, along with salt water and in some cases hibiscrub.

most people dont realise that superglue has proved to be a life-saver. During the Vietnam War soldiers were issued with tubes to seal stomach wounds in the battlefield. i dont actually stick the wound together with it though as it seals all the badness in and can encourage infection so i use steri strips to seal the wound then secure them with superglue, works a treat along with pain killers. Dont often use antibiotics as its best in my opinion to allow the dogs immune system to deal with infection naturally, often vets prescribe antibiotics before they are needed thus reducing the effectiveness of the dogs own immune responses and increasing the liklehood of further infections from less severe wounds however in some cases antibiotics are required to assist the dogs immune system.

[Tyla 3,179]

Thanks for the replies, all useful stuff. im on good terms with my vet (seem to visit him weekly ) so i might ask him to talk me through it. i will also definately try the steristips and super glue method. Cheers