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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Dog cone post castration

29 replies

PugonToast · 09/01/2018 15:36

Would you recommend buying one instead of using the hard plastic Vet one?

Dog is very lively year old lab. I'd like him to be more comfortable- he had an operation on his leg after he got cut by broken glass. The hard plastic one cracked but also looked uncomfortable and he kept trying to pull it off.

The most important thing is that his wound is safe though.

I'm putting some pics up to show diff types. Brand names are redacted.
Any info would be appreciated.
Thank you

Dog cone post castration
Dog cone post castration
Dog cone post castration
OP posts:
Original poster
PugonToast · 09/01/2018 15:37

Or the fourth option is this type

Dog cone post castration
OP posts:
ThroughThickAndThin01 · 09/01/2018 15:38

My boy didn't need one at all. I wouldn't splash out £££.

DimplesToadfoot · 09/01/2018 15:42

I bought a onesie medical pet shirt for mine, much nicer than any type of cone,

Hoppinggreen · 09/01/2018 15:53

We went with a normal cone.
Our vet advised that long snouted dogs ( ours is a Retriever) can sometimes contort themselves with a soft cone to get at the wound
We weren’t as strict as we should have been as we didn’t see him once lick it but he obviously was as it got very very nasty and caused complications

Hoppinggreen · 09/01/2018 15:54

Also with regard to the pet shirt or similar our vet advised that the dog wouid probably just rip it off, although I know some dogs dont

BiteyShark · 09/01/2018 16:12

After my dogs castration we tried the medical suits and he went crazy in it running about and trying to rub it off on the carpet. He could also shove his nose down the leg and get at the wound.

With the hard vets cone he worked out how to turn it and get his teeth in the connectors and bit it off.

With the comfy cone he went crazy at the Velcro fastening and then bit the overlap that's on the inside.

We ended up using a buster neck cone which did not stop him getting at the wound but did give me a bit of warning to stop him as he had to get in the right position.

So I would say get a few options as you never know how your dog is going to react.

The positives to cones is that it is easy to let your dog out to toilet but they don't like them and the hard ones hurt when they crash into you.

The positives about the medical shirt is that it is comfy for them if they tolerate it but a pain for you to keep unfastening and rolling up every time you think they need the toilet.

RedHelenB · 09/01/2018 16:20

How long does cone need to stay on for?

Original poster
PugonToast · 09/01/2018 16:27

No idea about time. He had it for three weeks before. My legs were so banged up. He would run downstairs and slam it in to the back of my legs. Confused

OP posts:
BiteyShark · 09/01/2018 16:30

We had to make sure he couldn't get at his wound for just under 2 weeks.

tenbob · 09/01/2018 16:37

We used a buster collar because our dozy dog worked out that running run pelt at a wall would cause the collar to flip inside out

It's also easier for them to eat and drink when they don't have a big cone to position over their bowl

Eryri1981 · 09/01/2018 16:38

My dog totally freaked out wearing his cone, I tried to persists as per advice online, but it was heartbreaking and cruel to see him so distressed. So next day I went out and bought a couple of babygros which he wore back to front, with the feet chopped off. He was totally chilled out in his Babygro, and exceptionally cute!!!

He was 10kg at the time and wore a 6-9 mth Babygro I think. No sure what size a Labrador would need!!!

Dog cone post castration
Dog cone post castration
bigtissue · 09/01/2018 16:40

My dog hated the cone and was fine without it, he didn't notice the wound at all.

Motherplucker · 09/01/2018 16:47

Our vets suggested the suit thing...but it would of meant us having to take it on and off each time she weed.so we used the cone ,with no problems

PhatSlag · 09/01/2018 16:47

Neither my current lab nor my last one needed a cone after they were castrated luckily.

However(!), my current lab had a bad foot infection in the summer and would not stop bloody licking it so I bought a Buster collar which worked great for a week or so and then he figured out a way to get to his foot.
On to the plastic cone which was like a satellite dish on his head and he kept hitting the door frames so I then bought him a comfy cone which was tons better. He could sleep in it, I could fold the front back when I was able to supervise him and then unfold it when I couldn’t. He couldn’t lick his foot at all and he could sleep in it and not get stuck in the door frames.
It was a win-win.

churro · 09/01/2018 17:32

I have the black soft cone for my lurcher and it was definitely worth the money for me. My dog actually quite likes it. If she has any scrapes or nicks she will lick them incessantly and make them a lot worse so it's great to have the cone to hand. She wore it after spaying and it did its job well and seemed comfortable. Unfortunately she also scratched at her shaved belly with her back feet and damaged the skin so she ended up in some ridiculous get up with baby socks on her back feet and a knotted t-shirt on. Poor wee lass.

ToothTrauma · 09/01/2018 17:32

The inflatable one was the ticket for my lab. He HATED the one from the vet.

thesandwich · 09/01/2018 17:40

We had to use the largest hard cone for our Doberman which dh adapted with insulation piping around the edges to soften the impact!

churro · 09/01/2018 17:41

I meant to say the only downside to the soft cone is that it's quite hot for the dog to wear in summer. Also someone gave me one of those inflatable ones but with my dogs long nose it didn't stop her licking any part of her. she also seemed to find it uncomfortable because it put her head in a bit of an unnatural position when she laid down.

Floralnomad · 09/01/2018 17:58

My mums dog recently had an op her front leg and we went for a blow up collar( PAH version £12) and it was excellent and looked way more comfortable than a cone . Dog used it as a pillow when she laid down .

WeAllHaveWings · 09/01/2018 21:54

We used a comfy cone which he managed to bend and chew to pieces overnight so went back to the plastic cone. He didn’t bother with the wound while we were around (dh took a week off work) so we only used it for nighttime or if we were going out.

Original poster
PugonToast · 10/01/2018 00:52

Lots of info - thank you.
Dog is a huge chewer so maybe the soft one would be destroyed. The plastic one did make eating and drinking harder and he was very wriggly at trying to get to the wound so ended up with a blinking huge one - I'm surprised we couldn't receive satellite tv on it.
Stupidly I didn't think of the chewing issue. He can get through a lead in a minute or so. I wonder if a soft suit would be similar. And of course the toilet issue will be a problem.

But a dog in a babygro. Omg. I would explode with joy at how gorgeous he looked. He is is too big though so I guess that is out.

I'm do wonder if the hard plastic cone but modified for comfort is the way to go. I have seen some with more comfortable looking necks. Or I could get the gaffer take out.

I'll have a look at the buster ones.

I'm not nearer to making a decision. Maybe I should buy them all so my precious baby can try them for comfort Wink

Thanks for all the info.

OP posts:
PhatSlag · 10/01/2018 07:12

I bought my plastic one from Fetch.com. So it’s plastic but not as rigid as the old type. Ordered one evening and they delivered it 6.30 the next morning.
My lab is a big chewer too but he’s 4 now so much different to a younger dog and luckily he’s never minded whatever you put on him so the comfy cone was safe!

PhatSlag · 10/01/2018 07:12

Buster Premium Vet Cone

thesandwich · 10/01/2018 11:00

The modified buster classic with duct tape decoration!

Dog cone post castration
ToothTrauma · 10/01/2018 11:26

Honestly try the inflatable ones. My dog chews for England but the blow-up collar stopped him being able to turn his head the right way to get at either it or the wound.

It didn’t impede his sight, hearing or smell though, and it was comfy for him to lie down.

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