[schatzie]

You might be surprised that Archie will leave his stitches alone with the E-collar off.

Schatzie being she just had surgery, her incision is about 4 1/2 inches long. Other than licking it now and then she has pretty much ignored them.

I think I had to tell her "no" only a couple times to not bite at her stitches.
Instinct is going to make them lick the stitches, they want to heal themselves and I don't think that should bring any harm. Schatzie's stitches look wonderful and her incision is healing extreamly well, it's been a week today infact. She get's her stitches out next Tuesday.

Good luck and let us know how he does if you decide to remove the E-collar.