posted on Jan, 29 2009 @ 11:13 PM
reply to post by plumranch
Also a vet... I do A LOT of spay/neuter surgeries working for a lot cost spay neuter clinic on the weekends. I routinely use it for a final last
closure for the skin. I typically for example- close the abdominal wall, then the subQ tissue, then the skin using a stitch pattern that goes right
beneath the skin and should and usually does make the skin come together. For cats particularly the feral ones, I use this as well to just cover the
incision. I believe they do not lick it as much after surgery if it is completely closed with the glue allowing the incision site a few days to get
some initial healing in before the cat can really start licking it! I have seen less incision reactions this way, especially in feral spays.
I occasionally do rat surgeries and ALWAYS USE IT!!!! Rats will remove sutures, I do not care if they are subQ or metal or staples they get them out
often compromising the incision site. In vet school my friend’s pet rat removed her spay incision suture to the abdominal wall and was found in her
cage with her intestines just waving in the breeze! (the story had a happy ending, the rat was brought to the emergency clinic at the vet school and
was able to be saved with re-closure and a course of antibiotics). So I ALWAYS use a small suture size to close then use the glue, that is the only
way I have found to reliably stop these guys from removing their sutures!
I can also say I used it on my self once, cause in the middle of the day I F$&^*$d up and did not take my blade off my scalpel when I was done with
one surgery, went to go put the pack in the sink and the blade came through and into my hand. I could have used several stitches but there was no
other vet there and we had a bunch more animals to do, so I glued it! It stung REALLY bad and even though I washed out the cut before hand it got
infected and then all swollen and I had to get the glue off by soaking ect for the wound to drain. It was fine after that.
Lastly, while it is great for just the skin, I NEVER use it on any other wounds or deep in tissue! If too much gets in-between the opposing layers of
skin/tissue it will stop it from healing and can cause a foreign body reaction. People and animals can also have allergic reactions to it! It should
also never be used as replacement for good suturing technique!
If you were out in the wilderness or on the battle field, then I think this is a great option for an initial primary closure of wounds but otherwise
if in need of stitches go to your local ER!