Tag Archives: stitches

Thanksgiving in the Emergency Room

We have been very fortunate. Up until this point, neither of my younger children had ever wound up in the emergency room. That all changed on the night before Thanksgiving, when our adventurous two-year-old (his first word after Mama and Dada was “uh-oh”) obtained a gash that required emergency care. It was our fault really. While our older children were sent off to bed, we kept our youngest up while we were finishing up putting the Christmas tree together. It was a way to spend some time with him alone, and finish up our task without the interruption of the … Continue reading →

Creative Alternatives to Elizabethan Collars

About six months ago, my brother’s pit bull/lab mix Kuma had to have a cyst removed from her shoulder. It was large enough that she needed five stitches and was sentenced to Conehead City for ten days. Let me tell you — Conehead City is not a fun place to live if you’re a dog or a cat. Part of Kuma’s problem was navigating stairs with her cone on. When she couldn’t see her feet, she couldn’t climb down the stairs to go into the yard to piddle! But as soon as the cone was off, she would start messing … Continue reading →

Sebaceous Cysts: What You Should Know

For the last couple of years, I’ve had a little lump just under the skin on my shoulder. I didn’t think much of it; with all this extra weight I’m carrying, lumps mean cellulite, right? Recently it began rubbing against my bra strap and bothering me, and I noticed it was getting larger. It was well past time to see the doctor. He took a look and told me it wasn’t cellulite. Cellulite is usually a little squishy, and this lump was hard. It was, he said, a sebaceous cyst, and then he proceeded to tell me what that meant. … Continue reading →

First Aid: Problems with Stitches

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Your pets will probably have to have stitches at some point in his or her life. Whether it is after an injury or after a surgery, nine times out of ten, your pet won’t have any problems. Occasionally, your pet’s body will have a reaction to the stitches. You may see the area around the stitches become red, swollen, and inflamed. A little reaction can be treated at home easily. Apply a hot compress. A certain amount of swelling is normal after a surgery and stitches. Using a hot, wet compress can help promote healing and help keep the area … Continue reading →