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  Discussion on Staples - can you take them out yourself?
Author Message
Member:
Imogen

Posted on Saturday, Sep 24, 2005 - 3:20 am:

Hi Dr O

By the way thanks for responding to my comments some time ago and putting First Aid up in bold under skin care... excellent.

My mare got a minor but deep gash down the hind lower leg last weekend. Due to the general vet practice in the area having experienced the death of their administrator/controller, (I'd normally have called them for a simple problem like this but they were closed), I had to take her to the specialist horse vet practice.

It was full skin width, had sawdust from the stable in it and I could see the white bone covering so I felt it needed cleaning and closing properly. Inevitably my wallet was emptied, I was expecting that, and they did a brilliant job on closing it but they used 4 staples.

Now, if this was stitches I'd just take them out myself after 10 days and I am loath to pay for another expensive specialist vet trip unless I need to. The wound is lovely, healing beautifully, but what's the story with staples?

The specialist vet said he thought they would fall out, no sign of that at all. I have lots of nice fine cutters and pliers as my husband is an electronics engineer - can I do it myself since I think the mare will stand ok and not need sedating, and if so when do I take them out or do I just leave them to fall out? He said I could ride her again from this Monday as long as the leg was bandaged (9 days from accident) but again, I'm not sure if I can do this with the staples in. She has been on box rest apart from a short walk around the yard each day.

Thanks a million for any advice

Imogen
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Sep 25, 2005 - 9:38 am:

They are painful when removed with anything but the little special staple remover that backs the staple out the way it went in. In a pinch I have removed staples with heavy hemostats (a fine pair of needle nose pliers might do) from the head and body but the horses resented it and will grow increasingly resentful as you proceed. With this being the lower rear leg you might have problems.

However, the removal device is a cheap little throw away device that comes with the stapler and you should be able to procure one from the practice. Have them show you how to use it before you leave.
DrO
Member:
Imogen

Posted on Sunday, Sep 25, 2005 - 10:42 am:

Thanks, I have since spoken to the weekend vet nurse and she said they would lend the little tool to me if they were not going to be visiting the yard where my mare is in the next few days anyway.

I'm afraid I was suspecting an absolutely great way for vets to make even more money when the equivalent stitches are easy for owners to remove without a further visit if the wound is uncomplicated. I have to say though, that the staples have worked really well, and seem like a great answer for some skin wounds.

Best wishes

Imogen
Member:
Imogen

Posted on Thursday, Sep 29, 2005 - 3:07 am:

For any other HA members who find they need to remove staples themselves - assuming the wound has healed properly and it is the correct time to take them out of course - I found it really easy to do with the proper staple removal tool and the horse did not object at all.

You do have to be a bit positive with the action once you have the nose of the tool under the staple - the only one that did not come out completely cleanly first time was because I was being too careful, only one side came out but I was able to use the tool as tweezers and slide out the other side of the staple from the wound without damage.

The vet nurse tells me horses usually stand fine for this unless the wound is in a bad place or they are otherwise in pain or difficult characters.

All the best

Imogen
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