As a dog parent, your dog’s health and well-being are always one of the topmost priorities. Suppose your dog has recently undergone surgical treatment. In that case, it can not only take a toll on its health but also require additional care and attention from you. Nowadays, absorbable sutures or dissolvable stitches have become more popular in surgical operations. After the surgery, you might wonder how long do dissolvable stitches last in dogs because the presence of these stitches requires careful attention and continuous observation. These dissolvable stitches work because they are identified by the body as a foreign object, leading the immune system to produce inflammatory responses to heal and eradicate the suture. Therefore, you need to provide your dog with special care and learn more about the stitches to heal in no time at all.
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How long do dissolvable stitches last in dogs?
Absorbable sutures or dissolvable stitches are made from a synthetic material with a particular tensile strength level. The tensile strength steadily declines in time and reaches a minimum within 60 days. After this time frame, it disappears completely from the tissue after hydrolyzing. So, if you are wondering how long do dissolvable stitches last in dogs, it takes about 2 months on average for the stitch to be completely hydrolyzed or observed by the body.
For the most part, the stitch loses most of its strength within 7 to 10 days and keeps healing over the next 40 to 50 days. During this time frame, you have to be careful about how you treat the area until it is completely healed. These dissolvable stitches are made from a unique synthetic material that can remain in the body for an extended time. However, once it has dissolved completely, that is nothing to be afraid of anymore.
Why are dissolvable stitches important?
There are many instances when doctors choose a dissolvable stitch over the traditional ones. It generally depends on the type and size of the wound as well as the doctor’s expertise. Most surgeries are done with non-absorbable stitches as they are strong and do not break down easily.
On the other hand, absorbable stitches are used for closing deeper wounds or when it is required to close many layers of tissue altogether. Since an absorbable stitch is generally not placed somewhere that is easily seen, you have to clearly know how long do dissolvable stitches last in dogs.
Restricting the level of activity is key
Once your dog has gotten a dissolvable stitch, it is important to check its activity level. The wound requires adequate time to heal completely. Otherwise, there is a risk of rupturing the stitch. Therefore, you have to make sure that your dog remains calm for at least 7 to 14 days and keep an eye on the activity level for the next 2 months.
Generally, your dog will be put on some kind of pain killer after the surgery that also limits their reflexes. It can be very dangerous for your dog to remain active when the painkillers are working since it will not be able to rely on the reflexes. Restricting the dog’s activity can be a tough journey, but you have to perform tactfully. Hence, it is important to understand how long do dissolvable stitches last in dogs.
Make sure that your dog does not scratch the wound
Having a stitch is never a pleasurable experience, even for adults. There is a tendency to each or aggravate the surgical site to get some relief. However, this is extremely dangerous because it can introduce new infections which are more painful to manage in the future. The surgical site has to be kept completely out of reach from your dog so that they cannot scratch, lick or bite the stitches.
Any such activity can remove the stitch, which can lead to additional hassle and more problems for your dog’s health later on. You can put a cone around your dog’s neck so that they do not lick or bite the stitch. Although this can be a little uncomfortable for your dog, it is ultimately in their best interest. Hence, your dog has to be kept under constant vigilance until the stitch dissolves.
Make sure to provide a comfortable space for your dog after surgery. It is integral for the pet to be cared for to heal well.
Thanks for the blog graphics: Canva.com
Thanks for the blog graphics: Canva.com
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