Wrapping a surgical incision??

[fvf1977]

Any creative ideas on how to wrap this & keep the wrap on?? Literally had surgery a few hours ago & went thru 3 bandage changes already bc she managed to slip them off. Makes it harder too since she doesn’t have the other arm either.😅
Attachment 313562

[RockyPops]

Poor baby! What happened to this precious little girl?

Both arms?

Does she drag it off or pull it off with her mouth?

Is she biting and pulling at bandage thinking thats causing her pain?

Just throwing stuff out. I feel so sorry for her.

Thank you for caring!

[frankc]

Any creative ideas on how to wrap this & keep the wrap on?? Literally had surgery a few hours ago & went thru 3 bandage changes already bc she managed to slip them off. Makes it harder too since she doesn’t have the other arm either.😅
Attachment 313562

Do you have any Gauze Sponges, and Gauze bandages? Also are you using any Antibiotic ointment on the wound?

[fvf1977]

This is Roo, the little girl who had to have her other arm bone amputated when it pierced her skin. I’ve been trying to treat an abscess on the opposite nub myself but finally asked my vet to take a look since it was bright red today. They put her under to do a surgical resection & found that she actually had a paw pad growing inside of her arm (with hair & all). I got her when her eyes just opened so I think she was just born deformed

I even tried to wrap with the gauze, then the vet wrap on top then a sock on top of that but she throws herself around & scratches it until it’s completely off. I didn’t have a problem keeping her wrapped for her last surgery but I’m thinking only because it wasn’t as confined as this. The way I have to wrap it takes up her whole chest up to her neck & I think it’s freaking her out. I have her on Metacam but you can tell she’s uncomfortable.

[fvf1977]

Do you have any Gauze Sponges, and Gauze bandages? Also are you using any Antibiotic ointment on the wound?

Yes I have all of that & not yet, I was trying to avoid using a topical just yet since it’s so fresh but if it’s ok then I definitely can

[frankc]

Yes I have all of that & not yet, I was trying to avoid using a topical just yet since it’s so fresh but if it’s ok then I definitely can

Ok stand by I am trying to get one of experts to help further. Watch your post on the board.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Let me ask a question. Do you think it needs to be wrapped? You might be better off to leave it open rather than her tearing at a dressing.

Metacam isn’t much pain relief for an amputation. Do you have Tramadol?
What antibiotic is she on?

[redwuff]

Another good pain med is gabapentin. The human version of it is nuerontin. Both Tramadol and gabapentin/ nuerontin are good for helping create drowsiness and help with pain. Tonight if you don’t have either of the others, you can get infant ibuprofen. We can dose that for you.

I too wonder if it would be better to not wrap. How is she getting the wrap off.

[fvf1977]

Let me ask a question. Do you think it needs to be wrapped? You might be better off to leave it open rather than her tearing at a dressing.

Metacam isn’t much pain relief for an amputation. Do you have Tramadol?
What antibiotic is she on?

My vet said it needed to be wrapped for 3-4 days so I was just following that, I’m open to suggestions though if you think it shouldn’t be wrapped. It currently isn’t because I didn’t want to continue to annoy her after all she’s been through today. I can try to get Tramadol in the early AM. She’s not on an antibiotic, I asked my vet about that too & she said not unless I see it start to get infected

[fvf1977]

Another good pain med is gabapentin. The human version of it is nuerontin. Both Tramadol and gabapentin/ nuerontin are good for helping create drowsiness and help with pain. Tonight if you don’t have either of the others, you can get infant ibuprofen. We can dose that for you.

I too wonder if it would be better to not wrap. How is she getting the wrap off.

I have gabapentin, can you give that with Metacam? I gave her some about 3 hrs ago.

When I place her back in her cage she starts throwing herself around & scratching at it with her hind legs, scooting herself until she slides out of it.

[HRT4SQRLS]

She’s not on an antibiotic, I asked my vet about that too & she said not unless I see it start to get infected

Good grief. Didn’t this start as an abscess and then proceeded to amputation because of the deformed limb. I would rather be ahead of an infection rather than chasing it down after the fact.

I’m sure wrapping would be ideal but life isn’t always ideal. I wouldn’t continue to stress her with wrapping.

[Chickenlegs]

Is she OK being held? If she is quiet and still in a sling I’d plan on holding her for a few days. Prop up to sleep—just wear her and let her heal. At this point she has no front arms, is that correct? I think I would look into getting prosthetics asap. Does anybody know where that Youtube clip is of the little european squirrel with no arms?

[HRT4SQRLS]

I’ve never used gabapentin so someone else would need to dose it for you.

[redwuff]

I need weight of your baby and strength of the gabapentin. How did she do overnight?

[Mel1959]

What antibiotic would be recommended for this type of wound? I, too, believe and antibiotic should be on board now...not later. Especially when you consider she’s rubbing it on the cage floor. eek

[HRT4SQRLS]

I would use either Clavamox, Septra or Clindamycin.
The bedding will need to be kept super clean with the wound uncovered.
If it gets contaminated with fecal material, Baytril would also need to be added.

[redwuff]

I would start with Clavamox and if there is any further issue, clindamycin could be added to it.

[frankc]

Is she OK being held? If she is quiet and still in a sling I’d plan on holding her for a few days. Prop up to sleep—just wear her and let her heal. At this point she has no front arms, is that correct? I think I would look into getting prosthetics asap. Does anybody know where that Youtube clip is of the little european squirrel with no arms?

Here is the link on Youtube

https://youtu.be/abcOw2lHorI

[fvf1977]

Is she OK being held? If she is quiet and still in a sling I’d plan on holding her for a few days. Prop up to sleep—just wear her and let her heal. At this point she has no front arms, is that correct? I think I would look into getting prosthetics asap. Does anybody know where that Youtube clip is of the little european squirrel with no arms?

She tolerates being held but isn't a fan of it, she was born with no arms & has adapted flawlessly. I thought about making her a scooter when I first got her but after I saw her get around there was no need for one. I know the one you're talking about, that's where I got the scooter idea

[fvf1977]

I need weight of your baby and strength of the gabapentin. How did she do overnight?

She is 470 g & I think the gabapentin is 300 mg but I will need to double check. I've used it before on a paralyzed adult squirrel.

She did awesome. I took her out this morning to look at it & she was hopping around the whole time trying to play with me. I think the anesthesia makes her super grumpy the first day, she was like that last surgery too.