Opening and re-opening of a surgical wound. Help!

[sarabenna]

My rat, Priscilla, recently had two tumors removed, one under her arm and one near her back leg. The area under her arm is healing nicely, but the one near her back leg has been an absolute nightmare. I didn't notice her or her sister chewing at it (I have been keeping a close eye on both of them) but one night I found the poor dear with blood gushing from the area! The sutures were completely gone and she had to go to an emergency vet, I thought she might bleed to death! They cleaned the wound and gave me some antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory, but I couldn't afford to have them stitch her up (cleaning the wound + the medicine was already more expensive than the surgery she had.) They bandaged her (which she immediately slipped out of when I brought her home) so the next day she went to her regular vet to get sewn back up. They told me she simply must wear her e-collar. I felt horrible, she looked absolutely miserable in it. I know every rat fansite I've read has said NO to these collars, and she was freaking out with it on, so I took it off briefly so she could drink/eat and just calm down. But she wasn't interested in any of that. She kept trying to chew at that wound, and I watched her for a few hours, stopping her every time, before I'd had enough. Unfortunately I can't watch her night and day, so the collar had to go back on. She looks completely miserable! She won't/can't eat or drink and just sits in the corner staring off into space. To top it all off, I noticed that the sutures are coming undone again. Not as completely as last time, but there is an opening and I'm about to crack! I've spent nearly $1000 in the past month on both my rat's tumor removal surgeries + the emergency vet visit + re-suturing the areas and I don't have anything left! My rats and I are both miserable....can someone please tell me what I need to do? Any ideas on how to speed the wound healing? I've heard the cervical collar is better than the e-collar, but I can't get my hands on one! Does anyone know a website that sells them? I'm at my wit's end. Please help me and my poor Priscilla.

 

[lilspaz68]

1) were you sent home with pain meds? This is vital.

2) your vet could glue the incision closed rather than re-suture.

 

[sarabenna]

I'm not sure if the anti-inflammatory she is on also serves as a pain med, the vet kinda referred to it as both. Does skin glue usually come a little cheaper than stitches? I hate to sound like a penny-pincher but it's just that I don't have any more pennies to pinch lol

 

[lilspaz68]

Did they send you home with metacam?

 

[sarabenna]

I just checked, yes it's metacam

The vet just told me that the area is too large for skin glue

 

[Rachael]

With Pink we just had to watch her 24/7... literally. I am lucky to still live at home with my mum and sister who love the rats, so we took turns. She was never left alone, and if she went for the wound, we would stop her.... it was the only way. We tried a body sock (cut the sock to shape and around her body, not too tight, but covering the wound) but that was taken off.... by her The collar was stressful, but even if we had decided to keep it on, Pink disagreed. She took it right off. :roll:

So really I don't have many suggestions for you. Sorry about rambling on.

 

[lilspaz68]

I just checked, yes it's metacam

The vet just told me that the area is too large for skin glue

What dose are you giving her of the metacam? I wonder if its not high enough? Pain and discomfort will make any rat pick at a wound.

 

[Rachael]

Are you giving the Metacam once or twice a day?

 

[anita1216]

I have a ratty girl here, Peaches, that was allergic to sutures, had issues with glue and staples created a massive mess of her tummy after her spay. It got so bad that her incision opened across her belly like an eye, weeping the most vile smelling pus ever :sick2: The vet literally peeled a layer of infection off and we had to let her heal open. The wound was cleaned 4 times a day, I had to get a special ointment that they use on the burn unit to help promote new skin growth. She was not allowed in the cage with other rats for fear of infection setting in....again :gaah:

It took 5 weeks of intensive treatment along with whirlpool treatments to keep the skin clean and free of debris. Yes, I actually bought one of those vibrating foot baths and turned it into a ratty wound care bath LOL She healed remarkably well and these days sports a fuzzy tummy :thumbup:

I guess I dont have alot to offer other than understanding and hopes she heals up in time. Good luck!!!