The lampshade. The Elizabethan collar. The cone of shame. No matter how you phrase it, chances are your dog isnt going to love the idea of having to wear a cone while a wound heals. And just sticking a cone onto his neck probably wont go over too well either. If your dog has to wear a cone, however, you can help to make the transition a bit easier for him in a number of ways.
In order to help your dog cope with a cone, its important to understand just why cones bother some dogs so much. Plastic cones restrict your dogs ability to move, which can be scary in itself. However, they also amplify sounds and limit your dogs field of vision. This can make for a frightening sensation for your dog, and she may act nervous or upset when wearing the cone.
For a cone to be effective and safe, it needs to fit your dog correctly. Your vet can provide you with a cone thats appropriately sized for your dog. When wearing the cone, your dog shouldnt be able to turn his head and lick the wounded area. The cone should be secure around his neck so that he cant pull it off, but it shouldnt be so tight that it digs into his skin.
When its time to introduce the cone to your dog, do so in a calm environment. Your dog may react by trying to paw at the cone, and its possible that shell panic a bit and even try to run away. Stay calm and reassure your dog that shes fine and that the cone wont hurt her. Dont remove the cone when shes anxious, since this could teach her that when she reacts badly, shes rewarded by having the cone removed.
If you know ahead of time that your dog will be having a procedure and will need to wear a cone, start introducing it gradually before the surgery. Have her wear the cone for short sessions and shower her with plenty of treats. Gradually increase the duration of the sessions so your dog is well-accustomed to the cone by the time she actually needs to wear it.
If possible, provide your dog with an obstacle-free area to make it easier for him to get around while wearing the cone. Dogs have a tendency to catch the cones on furniture and any other obstructions that are around, so clear your hallways, pick up any excess clutter or furniture, and give your dog as much space as possible.
If the cone is irritating or rubbing your dogs neck, she wont tolerate it well, and who can blame her? Check the cone daily to make sure that it isnt digging into your dogs neck or rubbing her skin. If you find that the cone is irritating your dog, then you may need to buy a cone in a different size.
Monitor your dog carefully while shes getting used to the cone. Dont exercise her with the cone and make sure that she understands that she can eat and drink with it on. You can make it easier for her to eat by raising her food and water dishes. If youre around to supervise your dog, you may also want to remove the cone at mealtime so she can eat stress free.
Some dogs just dont take well to cones, no matter what you do to make the transition as easy as possible. In this case, you may want to explore alternatives to the traditional plastic cone.
Some companies now produce softer cones that are more flexible and a bit more comfortable than traditional plastic cones. There are also blowup or foam donut-shaped collars that arent as overwhelming as cone collars can be in terms of affecting a dogs hearing or vision.
Other options include using a bitter spray around the wound to deter the dog from licking. Depending on where the wound is, you may be able to cover it with a bandage and keep a close eye on your dog to stop him from chewing it. For a wound on your dogs body, covering the area with a T-shirt may help to deter licking, but youll still need to closely monitor him.
If youre struggling to find a solution that works for your dog, give your vet a call for some help.
No dog enjoys wearing a cone. Unfortunately, in most post-operative cases, the cone is necessary and prevents our dogs from biting at their stitches. The most common type of cone dogs wear after a surgery or treatment is the ‘e-collar’ or the Elizabethan collar. The Elizabethan collar was named for its resemblance to the Renaissance era style in women’s dress fashion, which was started by Queen Elizabeth I of England.
Very rarely can a dog go without a cone post-surgery. With these tips for using a cone, the staff at East Valley Animal Hospital hope to help make the experience a little less stressful. Here’s how to make a dog cone more comfortable.
The traditional cone you get from the vet may not always be the best fit for your dog. Fortunately, there are more options now! Some dogs manage well with a cone and will stand the extra nuisance for a few days. Other dogs may become depressed or detest wearing the cone and take every opportunity to get rid of it. There are several alternatives to the typical e-collar, such as a soft cone or an inflatable e-collar. Regardless of what you use, make sure it properly prevents your dog from scratching or licking themselves and that it is correctly fitted for their size.
One of the biggest difficulties dogs and their owners face in learning how to make a dog cone more comfortable is making eating, drinking, and sleeping as easy as possible. The cone can certainly make these tasks more difficult, but they are entirely possible with the cone on. If they are having difficulty with a deep bowl you can help them out by using a shallow bowl and by steadying it while he eats or drinks. Make sure that their water is in a very accessible space, away from cabinets or walls that might prevent your dog from being able to drink freely when they want. If your dog typically sleeps in a kennel, guiding them in and out may help prevent them from getting stuck in a tough position.
Regardless of what type of cone you use, or how easy you make navigation and eating for your dog, they will likely still be somewhat uncomfortable in their cone. This is normal, and it’s best to be patient because usually, they won’t have to wear the cone long term if they are healing properly. However, if the cone is becoming an area of concern, check with the post-op vet for more advice. If you’re looking for a compassionate vet in the Gilbert, AZ area, give us a call at East Valley Animal Hospital. We pride ourselves on having respectful, caring interactions with our clients and their pets. And we’ll do everything we can to make your pet’s visit as comfortable as possible. To schedule an appointment, call 480-568-2462 or contact us online.
In order to help your dog cope with a cone, its important to understand just why cones bother some dogs so much. Plastic cones restrict your dogs ability to move, which can be scary in itself. However, they also amplify sounds and limit your dogs field of vision. This can make for a frightening sensation for your dog, and she may act nervous or upset when wearing the cone.
If the cone is irritating or rubbing your dogs neck, she wont tolerate it well, and who can blame her? Check the cone daily to make sure that it isnt digging into your dogs neck or rubbing her skin. If you find that the cone is irritating your dog, then you may need to buy a cone in a different size.
When its time to introduce the cone to your dog, do so in a calm environment. Your dog may react by trying to paw at the cone, and its possible that shell panic a bit and even try to run away. Stay calm and reassure your dog that shes fine and that the cone wont hurt her. Dont remove the cone when shes anxious, since this could teach her that when she reacts badly, shes rewarded by having the cone removed.
Other options include using a bitter spray around the wound to deter the dog from licking. Depending on where the wound is, you may be able to cover it with a bandage and keep a close eye on your dog to stop him from chewing it. For a wound on your dogs body, covering the area with a T-shirt may help to deter licking, but youll still need to closely monitor him.
Some dogs just dont take well to cones, no matter what you do to make the transition as easy as possible. In this case, you may want to explore alternatives to the traditional plastic cone.
A global online survey, aimed at owners whose pets wore an Elizabethan collar during the past 12 months, was used to investigate the impact that these collars had on their animal’s quality of life. Most of the respondents were from Australia, with others coming from the UK, USA, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland and Sweden.
“The Elizabethan collar was also aversive to me. My shins were so bruised from him banging into me causing less interactions with us,” a pet owner said.
Dog and cat owners already know their companion animals seem to loathe the ‘cone of shame’ they are required to wear after surgery or when they have a sore or itchy spot. But very little research has been done to assess the cone’s impact on animal welfare.
“Elizabethan collars are used to prevent self-trauma, especially after surgery, so they do play an important role,” said study supervisor Dr Anne Fawcett. “But we also learned that some animals suffer from misadventure, injury or irritation due to the collars themselves. Other casualties included furniture, buildings and the legs of owners when Elizabethan-collar wearing owners ran into them.”
The study recommends exploring alternative methods to Elizabethan collars to minimise negative welfare impacts including self-trauma, injury or misadventure, such as:
FAQ
How long does it take for a dog to get used to wearing a cone?
- Inflatable collars. Inflatable collars resemble neck pillows and are a softer option than the traditional cone. …
- Neck Collars. Neck collars are similar to the cervical neck braces a human might get. …
- Soft Collars. …
- Surgical Recovery Suit.
Do dogs feel shame wearing a cone?
Do dogs get depressed wearing a cone?