Everyone wants their dog to be happy and healthy forever. However, odds are, that at some point, your dog will have some health related need that requires the use of the dreaded ‘cone of shame.’ In fact, the cone of shame is an awful name because there’s no shame in physically recovering from a surgery or any other type of medical malady. Cones are used by veterinarians in order to prevent a dog from licking their wounds. Dogs instinctively lick their wounds but this slows healing and can lead to infection, which is why cones are used.
The classic E collar or Elizabethan collar has long been used as the go-to tool to help dogs recover from surgery, hot spots and more. But we’re no longer in the Victorian era and modern day solutions are available for modern day dogs. It’s still a perfectly suitable option but for those pups who find them uncomfortable, or can’t help running into things while wearing them, or need a different solution for any variety of reasons there are other solutions. Here is a list of E collar alternatives that you can use if your dog doesn’t enjoy the E collar.
Soft cones
Comfy Cone dog recovery collar
Soft cones are modeled after the E collar but are made out of softer material. This can help for several reasons. It’s hopefully more comfortable for your dog to wear. It might be a bit floppy but it will certainly be softer and still gets the job done. This will help out a lot if your pup is more accident prone. Sometimes dogs wearing an E collar will catch the edge of it on furniture or bump into door frames. It can be a bit humorous to watch your pup bump into things but can also be frustrating for them and cause a mess for you. The soft collar has softer more flexible edges which won’t knock over furniture or catch on doorways allowing your dog to move with ease through your home. However, this material is perhaps a bit easier for dogs to circumvent so if you have a mischievous pup on your hands this option might require a bit more monitoring.
Donuts
Our office dog Arrow in his tactical recovery donut
If you’ve ever wanted to find out what your dog would look like if it were a person trying to fall asleep on a crowded airplane then this is the perfect collar to get them. These are for pet parents looking for the softest solution to this problem. These inedible donuts work by preventing your dog from turning their head to reach the injury sight in question. These pillows solve most issues but some pups will still be able to reach their feet with their mouths while wearing it so these are best used in the case that your dog’s injury site is on their torso.
Neck Controller Collar
The Bitenot Collar
Much like the donut, this design works by holding your dog’s neck in place, preventing their mouth from reaching the injury site. This collar will make your dog look like they’re trying to win a bogus personal injury lawsuit in court but does successfully serve the protective purpose it was built for.
Surgical recovery clothing
Suitical dog surgical recovery clothing
For those looking to give their dogs the biggest range of motion while still preventing a dog from disrupting an injury’s healing process, there are dog pajamas surgical recovery suits. While these might look adorably silly, they are quite practical. They prevent your dog from licking a wound while retaining their full range of motion. The drawback on this choice is that you’ll need to remove it whenever your dog needs to use the restroom. Also, these suits often don’t cover the legs and paws so if your dog’s injury site is on one of their limbs, the suit will look cute, but you’ll need something a bit more effective.
There are a ton of great options to explore, and your dog is bound to love one of them. It’s often a good idea to start simple with the classic E collar but if your pup is having a rough time, just know there are other options to explore!
