E-Collar Help please!

[Maddiesgirl]

Deacon was neutered on Friday. We were using a bite-not collar to stop the licking, but it didn't prevent his reach. The collar was great but he is so thin still (he is a foster) that he has alot of flexibility in his middle. So, the stitches openned up, infected, up all night, end result: back to the vet, e-collar and tranqs to help if he gets real active trying to get at the collar. This was after I explained how he got out of his crate the first time..Deac is a big believer in repeated ramming his weight against "bad" things until they break.

Question is..he's a MESS with the-collar. It seems to disrupt his tracking of sound, he freezes and sits or lies down alot whe we are outside with it (just got it this morning) and this is a CONFIDENT boy! He leans into me when we walk, it's really hard on him. I don't hink I will be able to crate him tomorrow during the work day. The collar is too big and I worry he will hang it up on the crate and panic. I guess we will try babygating in the bedroom where the crate is with Maddie and a half of a tranq (he is sleepy as it is). ANY experience on making the e-collar better for them, or healing faster from the neuter? INPUT please!

ps. My friend from the shelter where I volunteer offered to let him stay at the kennel during the day (supervision) but I think it would be too overwhelming as he has never been there and he is older (6). I am guessing he wouldn't rest?

[Judi W]

Did you try bucketing him?

Plastic bucket with the bottom cut out large enough to fit over the head. Holes punched in the bottom of bucket and laced through a buckle collar. The bucket should extend beyond the end of the dog's nose. Yes, it does restrict side vision and yes, will make it difficult to eat or drink (unless you fill the bathtub) but it will keep him from biting at his rear and is not as huge or onerous as an e collar.

[MARYDVM]

There is a soft version of the e-collar on the market. It hangs down from the neck like a huge clown's ruff and covers whatever part of the body they put their head down to lick. You might check the vets in your area to see if they carry it. We just keep the small ones in stock, as they are much better tolerated by cats.

[Maddiesgirl]

My vet (who I haven't seen during the entire neuter process (just the receptionists) doesn't seem to get just how much he is licking. Deacon licks the inside of the collar, while twisted around so that the e-collar is rubbing up against the area where the stictches were that is now open. He is tranqed. We were up all night with him banging the collar and licking in his crate. It's a mess.

I may try the bucket if I can find one deep enough, his efforts to lick the wound are mighty.

Maryddm- Is this collar (for a lack of a better word) easily eaten? Does it have a brand name? Sometimes I can odrer through the rescue.

Thanks for the help.
I am sleep deprived, he is ruining my house runnin ghte damned colar into things, and my other dog is terrified of the collar and his banging (he runs into her in an effort to get his nose near her). Life at home is ecollar dominated!

[rakishilover]

My rottie boy (7months-73lbs) had his neutering 2 weeks ago at the same time we had his back dewclaws removed because he had extra toes and the dewclaws were getting hooked on everything as they were sticking out to the side.
We bought the biggest e-collar we could find and he could still reach his stitches because it was not fitting right on him. It was floppy as you say and he hated it. He is also crated so that made it very hard for him. We had all the same problems you are having. We took him to the vet with the collar on so he could examine it on him. One simple suggestion fixed it all.
We moved the end you snap into the holes past the holes so he had a tighter fit around his neck and duct taped it in place. Not too tight though around the neck, but as tight at you would have a collar. You can duct tape the part by the head a little tighter so the opening is not so large. We the tied the e-collar to his regular collar so it would not slip around so much.
It will take him a while to get used to the collar anyways but i think the tranquilizers are a smart idea.