Skip to content

How to stop my Basenji scratching her stitches

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • My six year old Basenji has had a lump removed from her neck today, it was just below where her collar sits. There are four stitches, and I am wondering how we can stop her from scratching these in the days ahead. The vet nurse suggested putting socks on her back paws, but I'm not optimistic this will work. Suggestions gratefully received. Thank you.

  • socks... lol, they would be off (or shredded) the first time you turned your back. What about winter booties? Or half a Tramadol (to keep her calm) for a day or two?

  • Thank you, have tried the socks already, they lasted about thirty seconds. Am thinking maybe scarf?

  • This is going to be hard to decribe but worked for us. A very large stretchy sock. Slide it over her head and mark where her legs would go. Cut ,Just slits will do. Poke her legs through . Roll it back to a collar, fold it back to make a collar. Cut it off at about the third nipple and if you can make sense of what i just said you should be good to go. Needless to say, it is a 24/7 job. You could also use a light weight sweater sleeve to do the same job.

  • How about a neck tube?
    Maybe cut the foot off a tight-ish tube sock and put that over her neck.
    -Joanne

  • Panty hose. Tights in some countries. Very versatile, cut into appropriate pieces you use either the legs or the body or a combination. Its amazing what you can contrive as a body stocking to cover that part of the Basenji which needs protecting.

  • I saw someone do something similar with an old beanie (hat). They cut leg and head holes... it ikind of resembled a doggie sweater, but modifications could be made... Naturally, keeping her from scratching the area (covered or not) is still an "issue". Take pics for us!! ;)

  • I kept my basenji girl from scratching at her stitches by dressing her in a very small child's T-shirt. It worked well. Sometimes covering up a wound is all that's needed. Unfortunately, sometimes not.
    Naomi had a little T-shirt that boasted the lettering "Dirt is my favorite color." It was not of course; she was a very tidy girl.

Suggested Topics

  • Basenji dental

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    37
    0 Votes
    37 Posts
    15k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    @tanza: LOL …. so hmm... great weather = higher Vet costs... makes perfect sense to me!!! LOL great weather equals more want to live there. More want to live there, drives real estate costs up. Increased real estate costs drives other expenses up. LOL, it does make some sense. But then, wth is up with NYC which has icky weather? Oh wait, massive overcrowding, never mind.
  • Basenji in Alaska

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    22
    0 Votes
    22 Posts
    9k Views
    wizardW
    I saw that you have a sewing machine – its not hard to make your own coat. I made one for my previous beasties with fleece and wool. I made it with a high colar (for the backside of the neck) and an indentation for the tail and a big belly and chest band (I used snaps at first but then switched to velcro). It worked pretty good for our single digit temps (and the occasional below zero walks to the corner). My current beastie refuses to go out the door with a coat on, however. When the outside temps are below 10F she won't stay outside any longer than necessary to go potty - the squirrels can run around all they want then! With respect to booties, mine will at least tolerate them when we go for walks but it's more for the road salt. However, the good pair I bought this year leak somehow (maybe through the stitching?) and she doesn't like them with they get wet inside. Nevertheless be sure you get the best you can find.
  • Itching Basenji!

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    15
    0 Votes
    15 Posts
    8k Views
    nobarkusN
    It's most likely a yeast infection. They get it in the ears quite often. Buddy has a yeast infection right now on his stomach.
  • My Basenji, Polly,

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    19
    0 Votes
    19 Posts
    7k Views
    B
    Polly is 9 this Christmas. Dec 14th to be exact!
  • Sick Basenji

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    4k Views
    B
    An update on Ben's condition. He had his teeth cleaned this morning and the vet had to remove several teeth. A large tooth in the back of the mouth had a cavity that went all the way to the root. He never lost his appetite during the whole ordeal or seemed to have any sensetivity of his mouth. I hope this is the end of the suffering he was going through. He was a rescue dog so we don't have the previous owners records as to dental care he had in the past. You can be sure he will be monitored from here on out for any sign of tooth decay or tarter build up. Thanks to everyone who replyed to my inquiry on Basenji health.
  • Jumoke Basenjis

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    7k Views
    JazzysMomJ
    Oh well… at least it brought Jumoke to the foreground again! :-)