Important Disclaimer
The information provided here is for general pet health education only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional veterinary advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here. If your pet is experiencing a medical emergency, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital immediately.
- Species & breed
- Dog · English Shepherd
- Age
- 7 years old
- Sex
- Female
- Color
- Black
It's completely understandable to be worried about this — seeing your dog scratch at an area with stitches is definitely something to pay attention to.
First, a little reassurance: some itching around a healing wound is actually normal. As tissue repairs itself, it can feel itchy, and dogs don't know they're supposed to leave it alone! That said, scratching at stitches is a real concern because it can pull them open, introduce bacteria, or slow down healing.
What you can do right now:
- Stop the scratching immediately. If Lucy doesn't already have an e-collar (the cone-shaped collar vets often send home after surgery), that's the most effective way to keep her from reaching the area. Some pet stores carry them, or a soft fabric version if she finds the hard plastic uncomfortable.
- Take a close look at the stitches (without touching) in good light. Are they still intact and evenly spaced? Is the skin around them pink and slightly puffy (normal healing) or red, swollen, weeping fluid, or does it smell unusual? Those would be signs of a problem.
- Check for discharge from the eye area. A small amount of clear or slightly cloudy discharge can be normal after eye-area procedures, but yellow, green, or bloody discharge is not.
- Don't apply anything to the area — no creams, ointments, or home remedies — unless her vet specifically told you to.
Since you mention stitches, it sounds like Lucy has recently had a procedure near her eye. Eye and eyelid surgeries are delicate, and the area around the eye is sensitive. Scratching there carries more risk than scratching a wound on, say, the leg, because of how close it is to the eye itself.
When to see your vet:
Given that this involves stitches near the eye, I'd recommend contacting her vet today or first thing tomorrow — don't wait on this one. Reach out sooner (or go to an emergency vet) if you notice any of the following:
- Any stitches look loose, pulled apart, or missing
- Redness, swelling, or warmth that is spreading
- Yellow, green, or bloody discharge from the eye or wound
- The eye itself looks cloudy, is kept closed, or Lucy seems to be in pain
- Lucy is pawing at it repeatedly and you can't stop her
Even if everything looks okay right now, a quick call to the vet who performed the procedure is the right move — they'll know exactly what "normal healing" should look like for Lucy's specific situation and can advise you on whether she needs to be seen.
Was this answer helpful?
Your feedback helps us improve answers for every pet.