Sad sad dog.

[ABitSnowyOutside]

Our collie was neutered yesterday and is wearing a 'lampshade' to stop licking the wound.

I feel like a complete heel as he looks so sad and miserable. We are giving him extra fuss, plenty of fluids and such but he looks so sad it is heartbreaking.

How long before he begins to heal and be his usual self? I feel so guilty.

Presuming he'sin good health otherwise, he'll be fine in a day or two. Usually, you have to work at keeping them sedate until the wound heals/stitches come out.

Most dogs find the lampshade collars distressing. This is possibly causing him more misery than recovery from the op itself. We've had a lot of dog surgery in this house and have never once needed a collar....not all dogs are wound botherers. I'd try him without it for a while and just keep an eye on him to see if he's likely to lick at the wound or not. Obviously, put it back on him if it looks like he's going to lick or if you can't supervise.

Thank you.

He went all droopy and submissive when the lampshade went on plus he could not hear me properly.
I will go and remove it then keep him beside me to see what he does.

He is still a bit groggy and quite content to sleep.

I didn't use the collar for my dogs either.

I used some of DS's old shorts from when he was a baby, cut the approiate holes in the right places and put them on them.

They were both so much happier because they were't bagging into things with their collars anymore.

Our collie hated his lamp shade, wandered round groaning and huffing and bumping into things. It was the shade, not the op, that bothered him, so don't feel guilty about the op.

Teas idea is a good 'un

The shorts are a great idea. Do I just cut the crotch bit out then it turns into a sort of softer lampshade type of thing?

He did thump into the laundry basket and the lampshade was already showing signs of being nibbled at.

I hate that he seems so sad.

My dog didn't like the lampshade either. But they seem to recover very quickly from castration and certainly he was only subdued for a day or so and didn't worry at the incision. I would take the collar off and see how he goes.

I was assuming the shorts go on the rear end to protect the wound but with strategic space for toilet?? Not as soft replacement for shade at head end? It has to stop him licking wound etc if he is going to and you can't supervise. :)

hahaha
no I did not put crotchless shorts on my dogs heads how would that even work

Like Gin said they went over the rear end hahaha.

I'm now picturing poor sad dog with shorts on his head asif his week couldn't any worse

They did not put a lampshade on my dog. He had nothing!
He did lick a little bit but not massively and all was fine.

Oh dear, poor dog but

Hope he feels better soon.

The next phase is after he's healed and he goes to lick himself and then looks puzzled like, I know I used to enjoy this but darned if I can remember why.

Don't feel guilty - you're doing the right thing.

Crotchless pants on dogs head Arf! Where would his nose go...

Heh, that's funny.

My husky hates the lampshade too but he is a big licker (only when we are not looking) so he always has to wear it for ages longer than you would think. Unfortunately he is also skilled at removing them. The pet shop ones come off with one wave of his paw. Another time Dog2 assisted him in removing one by pulling and then running off with it. The vet had one with ties that is really hard for him to remove, but he soon discovered that if he kept bashing it against hard objects/the floor it would be reduced to tatters and fall off.

Some people manage without cones but keep an eye on him because if they do lick it can cause a lot of damage.

Am still horrified.

Poor boy almost died of shame and I think he actually hated me for a moment as he looked like this [busad] with floral shorts on.
It never dawned on me to put them on the other end.

I took the vet lampshade off and he visibly cheered up but soon began licking. He is asleep now with the lampshade back on for the night but shall remove it in the morning.
He seemed a lot happier this evening.

Mow this is what the doghouse should be like! I am PMSL at the shorts on the head!
My old dog used to wear shorts when she was in season. She would have them off in an instant.

hope he is feeling better this morning, bet he will be. eric was quiet for 24 hours and then back to boining about like nutter knocking everyone senseless with the cone of shame. mind you I dont humiliate him with shorts on his his head.

Sorry but PMSL at shorts on the poor dog's head!

Hope he's feeling much better today :)

I'm pmsl at dogs wearing shorts. n their nether regions. Oh the embarassment :o I think mine would prefer the cone of shame.

I've just had an email from Many Tears who are raising funds to buy these as an alternative to "lampshade" collars for dogs who have had surgery. They do look much more comfortable.

• AbitSnowyOutside - hope your dog is feling better now.