Post Op Shirt Licking

[PinkFlamingo888]

Hello,

My dog was neutered yesterday and has been given a post op shirt rather than a collar to prevent licking.
He looks ridiculously cute in his big baby grow but I’m not sure whether it’s actually working! He’s still trying to lick the area of the wound through the shirt. Will this cause any damage or will he be ok because he has the shirt on?
Thank you!

[billybagpuss]

We had the shirt for a spay and she prob did similar and was fine. Keep an eye on him and try and distract him when you catch him doing it.

[PinkFlamingo888]

Thank you. I’ve slept down stairs last night so could hear him licking and he’s pretty good at stopping when we tell him to, I’m just worried about when we have to go out and leave him but hopefully the barrier will be enough.

[Jouska]

I doubt it will be enough.

If the material is damp the wound will also be damp.

I would get a buster collar. Infection is a pig to sort out and worth preventing if possible.

[Caaarrrl]

My dog had one of these shirts after he was neutered. Very did he wouldn't need a collar because the shirt would be fine. Dog licked at wound, made shirt damp and got an infection in it. Needed antibiotics and recovery took longer. Then he had to wear the collar of shame.

[Caaarrrl]

Vet said he wouldn't

Stupid predictive text

[BiteyShark]

We used the shirt at night when he was asleep and unlikely to lick the wound but still offered protection if he woke up.

In the day I used a variety of collars and supervised as he managed to break the vet collars apart.

You need to try and keep the wound dry so try and prevent licking.

[PinkFlamingo888]

Oh dear. That doesn’t sound good! I’ve been supervising so far so he’s not been able to lick much but we’re back in the vets tomorrow for his check up so I think I’ll get him a collar then.