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How To Pick Alternatives To Elizabethan Collar That Are Right For Your Dog

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.

An Elizabethan collar (also known as an e-collar) is a large plastic cone that is attached to an animal's neck. It is designed so that an animal cannot reach areas on their body such as their stomach or their legs. It is often used when a pet has a skin condition or they have had surgery and when licking would cause infection or other medical complications.

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 an e-collar is to use a t-shirt or other piece of clothing to cover the incision. Some pets will leave an area alone if they cannot immediately get at a wound. A natural cloth garment will allow air to get at the incision and allow it to heal as quickly as possible. Some pets will work at getting a garment off so if you try this method make sure you are monitoring them until you know whether or not they leave the area alone.

Another option is one of the inflatable rings that are fitted on a dog's neck. The idea behind this device is to prevent them from being able to turn their head and lick their body. While it can work well for some dogs, others are able to work around the ring and reach the parts of their body that are bothering them. Make sure you are using a ring that is the right size and which is fully inflated.

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.

Speaking with your veterinarian will give you a good idea of how long recovery is expected to take. They may also have other strategies for keeping your pet comfortable enough that they will not bother with an affected area of the body.




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