Home Alternatives To Elizabethan Collar To Keep Any Pet Comfortable After Surgery

By Patricia Kennedy


As guardians of our feline and canine companions, it is our job to keep them healthy and comfortable. Sometimes for our pets surgery is a necessity and this may result in us needing to find creative alternatives to keep them comfortable and allow them to heal. Alternatives to Elizabethan collar and other tricks may help you manage your cat or dog's discomfort and get them on the road to recovery as quickly as possible.

If you have ever seen a dog wearing what looks to be an inverted lampshade around its head, you know what an Elizabethan collar looks like. It is usually attached to a dog's neck via their collar or via a piece of gauze or cord that holds it in place and can prevent a dog from kicking it off with their feet. Often, a vet will require a dog to wear one following surgery or if the canine has developed a skin issue.

Not all dogs do well wearing these items. Cones can catch on the ground or on furniture. It may be difficult for canines to eat or drink while wearing their e-collar. Some panic because they do not like how sounds change when they have their cone on.

Many people think that a dog can lick a wound and heal it. This is often not the case. Licking can introduce bacteria. It can also dissolve stitches and open up a wound. This can cause a medical emergency if the wound or incision opens up completely.

One alternative to the dreaded cone is to use a tee shirt or pair of shorts to cover the incision. This works very well when an incision was made on the pet's stomach, sides or back. It may work less well if the affected area was on a leg or tail since these can be easier for the dog to reach. If you do decide to try this method of covering the affected area you do need to monitor your pet.

Another alternative is to use an inflatable collar that prevents the dog or cat from turning their head and getting at a particular part of their body. These can be quite comfortable and make it easy for a pet to eat and drink. It is also less likely that a pet will catch themselves on a door or on furniture with an inflatable collar.

If you are not dealing with an incision you may be able to use something like bitter apple to make an area taste unappealing. Just make sure that the product you use is non-toxic and made for such a purpose. There are certain creams and lotions that you can apply which will help heal the skin and deter a pet from licking.

A veterinarian should be able to give you advice on how to prevent your dog from licking or chewing an area on their body. They may have ideas about products that will not interact with any medicine your dog takes and let you know how long the recovery period can be expected to last.




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