Cone after spaying

chimmo12

Just wondered if anyone could share their experiences on the dreaded cone after spaying?

I have a 6 month old Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppy who was spayed last Monday. She was already on her third cone after destroying the first two before our check up last Thursday. We have since had to cover any excess plastic in plasters so she can't get anything to chew and so far so good.

She has her final check up tonight and hoping and praying she is allowed the cone off. (We have not removed it once in this time). She is really not taking well to it despite everyone saying 'She will get used to it'. Her current trick is to put her paws either side of it and try and pull it off her head.

How long did your dog have to keep the cone on? She doesn't have stitches - they are internal apparently - just a small cut that I have been putting salt water on since last Thursday (Vet told me to).

I know I will find out tonight at the vets, but just want to prepare myself for if she has to keep it on longer. My legs can't take anymore bruises from her barging into me with it on :rotfl: she is clumsy at the best of times but this is a nightmare.
xx

GBNI

Inflatable collars are your friend! Especially on more short nosed dogs, although ones with a longer nose may still be able to worry the wound.

chimmo12

GBNI wrote: »

Inflatable collars are your friend! Especially on more short nosed dogs, although ones with a longer nose may still be able to worry the wound.

Oooh I've never heard of inflatable cones! Will have a search now, thank you!

krlyr

They do soft cones as well - Soft-E Collar is one brand. I've got one for my girl (cruciate surgery), I've tried it on her beforehand and she seems OK with it

Fosterdog

Has she actually bothered the incision at all? I never put the cone on when a dog is supervised and I can stop them fussing the area, I only use one if the dog will be left unattended and they have bothered any incisions.

My boy has had several ops and has never bothered the area, even when neutered. The only time he has needed a cone is when he gets very stressed he chews himself at the base of his tail as a coping mechanism, he still only has it in when unsupervised.

My girl has never bothered an area at all and after one of the vet insisted on a cone and it caused more problems than it was worth, the cone itself bothered her but the wound didn't.

I would always give any dog the benefit of the doubt and just monitor closely and only use a cone if actually needed. Even out of all my foster dogs over the years only one actually needed to wear one because he bothered the area.

chimmo12

Fosterdog wrote: »

Has she actually bothered the incision at all? I never put the cone on when a dog is supervised and I can stop them fussing the area, I only use one if the dog will be left unattended and they have bothered any incisions.

My boy has had several ops and has never bothered the area, even when neutered. The only time he has needed a cone is when he gets very stressed he chews himself at the base of his tail as a coping mechanism, he still only has it in when unsupervised.

My girl has never bothered an area at all and after one of the vet insisted on a cone and it caused more problems than it was worth, the cone itself bothered her but the wound didn't.

I would always give any dog the benefit of the doubt and just monitor closely and only use a cone if actually needed. Even out of all my foster dogs over the years only one actually needed to wear one because he bothered the area.

No, she hasn't been able to get near it, but doesn't seem like she wants to. All she wants to do is scratch her neck - but I think she has some pleasure in me doing it for her. The vet told me to leave the cone on at all times and only take it off if she has problems eating in it which she hasn't so it has been left on.

I think after a week and a half of having it on, if the vet wants her to keep it on longer, I will do what you're suggesting and when she is supervised take it off and put it back on when unsupervised.

Thank you x

sheramber

When my dalmatian had to wear that collar it ended up totlly covered on duck tape to hold it together.

I have had dogs who ignored any operation site. My current one had a dew claw removed and never even looked at the site.

But others have needed to wear one but, as said above, I remove it if possible when I can watch the dog (to save my legs.)

teddysmum

I agree with those recommending inflatable collars.


When Teddy was done, I practiced for a couple of weeks, bribing him to have his collar on, but I needn't have bothered , because he loved his mobile pillow and asked for it back on again, when it was taken off to give him a break.

Katiehound

I've rarely had to use one thankfully.Both my trailies have had 'the' operation- obviously different for boy and girl (!!!) but because I have been at home with them in the recouperation period they never wore a collar, there was no need.

arbrighton

Ripple had one but we only put it on her for the night and if she did start trying to lick her wounds.
She didn't destroy it but did look so sorry for herself

Mankysteve

Got away without cones on both dogs and cats I would try without and see.