my rats pulling and biting at her stictches

Question
QUESTION: pleaaaase pleaaase help. my rat had a tumour successfully removed today (thank heavens), which was around her genital areas. i went to go collect her, and they told me that they used some sort of gluing... because she kept picking and biting her stitches. ive got her back home now, and she continues to bite at them. i rang them and asked what i should do, and they said use a lampshade, but i tried and she keeps tripping over it, and when she wants to wash her face she cant so she gets agitated. i need something to stop her picking and biting during the night (as i cant monitor her) and whilst im at school. do you know anything i could do??? is there a smelling substance (safe for rats of course) i could use, so she doesn't go near it, or could i wrap a bandage round it? (or will that infect it?)??? :(
please answer back fast

ANSWER: Hi

She probably is uncomfortable which is why they pick the surgical site in the first place. Did the vet give her pain medication? She should have pain medication for the first day or two to keep her comfortable. Don't bother applying anything to stop her from chewing because it doesn't work for starters and sometimes attracts them even further! Is that the pits or what?!  However, your vet may want to use surgical staples. They are harder to chew on and discourage the rat. I am sure he has done internal stitches as well so don't worry about it splitting wide open and all her insides come falling out. (alot of people think this can happen but it cant so dont worry)  but of course you dont want it open either so we have to think of a way to stop the little bugger from doing it. Lampshades (Elizabeth collars in the vet world) are not good for rats because of the odd way the head and neck are connected...it just doesn't work due to improper fit. Normally the animal can clean their face and eat etc...but with the odd way the rats neck goes, it does nothing but aggravate the already aggravated rat!

To be honest, the only thing that will stop the rat from chewing is if the vet puts staples in for starters,and of course giving her pain medication too.
I would call the vet first thing tomorrow and have her brought in again. He can do the staples a few places with her awake, to be honest. However, if he did not give pain meds, this could be another reason why and if thats the case, you can call now if there is time and run in and pick it up. It should be a narcotic analgesic, not an NSAID such as metacam. Metacam is ok for mild pain but not moderate to severe pain.  Is she on antibiotics too?


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: yeah shes had antibiotics, and the vet said she had internal stitches. ahh i jsut wikipedia'd "staples", some awful pics but i know what they are know
yeah, i thought the elizabeth collars werent right for rats, it didnt seem right. aww thanks, ill go in and ask them about the staples
thanks for your help Sandra. :) xxx

Answer
To be honest, if she is on day 3 post op and hasnt opened herself up, I would let it go. It wont hurt. Keep the area clean and dry and watch for any unusual swelling (some is normal) and although it may be red, watch for a real angry red color and of course odor and discharge which could mean infection.  With the internal stitches, its not like she can split wide open and the insides of her body will spill out. It will heal, but slowly, and have more chance of infection..but again, it has been at least 48 hours right? If so, I think she should be just fine and your doing a good job so hang in there!