Reply #13: Sending good vibes - been there, done that, have the worry lines [View All]

[LibertyLover]

Years ago one of my German Shepherds had surgery on his hip and came home with a long incision on his upper rear leg. Right after we picked him up from the vet's office, my mom had to drive up to her sister's house in upstate New York and my car was in the repair shop. Anyway, the vet didn't mention using the protective collar and didn't send one home with him. For the first day or so, he didn't bother the incision, so I figured we were out of the woods. Then 3 days after the surgery, he licked half of the stitches out. The incision was open and I was freaking because I had no way to get him back to the vet's. Luckily a friend of mine was visiting her mom who lived next door and offered to take me, and the dog, to the vet's. She had shepherds of her own so her car was no stranger to dogs. The vet put in the needed stitches and gave me a collar and the silly beast was just fine. He lived for years (he was 6 when he had the surgery and died 7 years later) after the surgery and licking out his stitches. I know it's frightening, but try not to worry. I'm sure that Lucy Dog will be just fine and back to her old self quickly.