My dog won't stop licking his wound. What can I do besides a cone?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Panda! This is a tough situation! With out seeing the extend of the neck wound it is hard to give advice. I would go the pet store and find the bitter apple spray or lick guard and apply in on the skin (not the stitches) near the testicle area to discourage licking. Then I would consider a donut or softer E-collar to prevent rubbing and licking that hopefully won't continue to irritate the neck. But since the throat wound hasn't improved in 4 days you should have Panda rechecked sooner than Thursday. Maybe if it has been 10 days since the surgeries the stitches can be removed then. I hope this helps and feel free to repost with a picture of the neck wound.

An e-collar (cone) will go a long way in aiding in healing. Keep it on until the wound is completely healed. Limit activity to just leash walks for elimination. Avoid excessive running jumping or rough play. Vetericyn Plus spray (https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/dog/dog-health-and-wellness/vetericyn-plus-wound-and-skin-care-for-dogs ) may also speed healing. You can find it in the local Petco.

Hello. Poor baby. You can use an Elizabethan cone to keep her from reaching the area. There are the rigid plastic ones which might stress her out, so I would find one of the soft, flexible ones, or one that blows up like a soft neck collar. They also make body suits for dogs that can be used after surgeries & to protect wounds. You can ask your vet for a recommendation but here is one you can buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Suitical-Recovery-Suit-Dogs-medium/dp/B00W2EHJWE. Thanks for using PetCoach.

The most important thing to do is stop his licking by using a cone. Then clean the wound with a warm damp cloth and apply a thin film of antibacterial ointment on it. The skin discoloring is from licking. This should heal in a few days to a week once he leaves it alone. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your dog.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Kona. Poor girl. I would gently clean her wound with warm water and antiseptic soap. To keep her from licking at it, you can put an Ecollar on her. You can get one at a pet store or make one at home. Keep the wound clean and dry, and monitor it for signs of infection. If you see redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, or pus, then it is infected and she will need to see the vet for antibiotics to treat it. I hope this helps!

As far as I can see the wound looks fine at this stage. Cone should be kept all times unfortunately, as licking can delay healing process and open up skin margins. There is no acceptable amount of licking, the wound can open up any time. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If you can keep the E-collar or onesie on him to prevent him from licking it should heal up just fine. Leave the E-collar/onesie on for at least 7-10 days. You do not need to apply anything to the incision; just leave it be. Hope this helps. Best wishes.