Cat Pulls out Stitches

Question
Hello and thanks in advance for your help. Approximately a month and a half
ago, our cat had his left front leg amputated. The doctor stitched him up and
said he would heal in approximately 10 days. However, our cat keeps
scratching his stitches out. We have put an e-collar on him and his mouth is
not reaching the incision. We also put two socks taped around the foot that
he's scratching with so his nails can't get through (yes, we/our vet checks for
swelling.)

We've tried wrapping the incision, but that led to infection. We've tried a
combination of glue, staples, and sutures... he got those out. Our Dr. is ready
to give up, but we're not. Do you have any other ideas for us? (We just
invested in an immune system supplement and we're trying that out now.)

Thanks,
Joey Fanfarelli

Answer
A month and a half is a long time for a cat to be going after an amputation incision. I have two thoughts on this:

First of all I wonder about there being some nerve damage to the area that is causing a burning, or twitching pain in there. That is a big reason animals attack themselves.
Second, I wonder if he is feeling some phantom pain in the area. People feel it with amputations and there are studies that show animals do to.
Thirdly, why would your vet give up? No vet should ever give up like that and I wonder is he new at this? At what joint was the leg amputated and what was the cause of it?

You might want to just leave the wound open and let it heal with second intention healing- that is- letting it fill in on it's own.
There might be no other way to do it. As long as it stays clean and he isn't mutilating himself, that could be the only way it will heal.

But before you decide that, I think you need to have the vet evaluate his leg for nerve pain. Sometimes during an amputation nerves are cut and pulled and these can cause some major problems. Another thing is the sub-muscular sutures might be a problem. If he used wire or some types of nylon they might be causing some massive irritation in there.

These are just a few ideas. You need to take these to your vet and have him think about them. Sometimes we get so caught up in something we cannot see the obvious.

I hope that he can find something to stop this pain and get your kitty on the road to healing this leg up.
Please let me know if you find the problem and get some relief for it.
You might also want to do a search online under "phantom pain" or "amputation pain in cats."