Monday, March 28, 2016

The Better Alternatives To Elizabethan Collar

By Richard Green


The Elizabethan collar, simply known as the E-Collar, seems to the only solution known by the vets when it comes to stopping the dog from licking and aggravating their wounds. They are so common yet uncomfortable, a characteristic that has earned them a bad reputation among the dog owners. In fact, some people refer to them as 'a cone of shame'. It is more of a torture device than what it is meant to, which is to help the dog's wounds heal faster. As such, there is a need to explore the alternatives to Elizabethan Collar.

Instead of making your dog miserable and uncomfortable with this cone, it is important to consider other options. In fact, the classic cone easily renders any dog that has short legs immobile. It also means no peripheral visibility, which makes them crash on doorways and furniture. The cone also gets stuck in any tight spot and leaves the dog struggling unnecessarily.

As such, when looking for the alternatives, these are the factors to put in mind. They need to encourage visibility, should be light in weight and comfortable to move around with and should be made of soft materials. Even with all these, the cone must still play its primary role which includes preventing the dog from licking the wound, tearing the surgical stitches, removing the bandages and new injuries.

The first option is similar to the ordinary Elizabethan cone, except that the materials used make it softer and hence more comfortable. It is known as the Soft E-Collar. The paper is used as a replacement for the heavy duty plastic that is the norm with the Elizabethan cones. The paper cones too have their setbacks. They tend to wear off faster than expected and get torn off by the aggressive stubborn dogs. However, if the dog is calm, it gives a very effective and comfortable protection.

BiteNot Collars, as the name suggests, are the cones that can resist the bites. They resemble the neck braces that are commonly worn for fashion. With these cones, the dogs get it very difficult to get access to the wound and the bandages. It is comfort makes it favorite for most dogs, but even with this, it does not work well with the dogs that have fat neck or those with long hairs like the Bearded Collies.

The third alternative is the Kong EZ-Collar. This is a plastic cone. The plastic is transparent, allowing the dog to see through. It is light in weight making it comfortable, but the rigidity may be compromised as a result of this. Given that the inner and outer edges are lined with vinyl like material, the dog does not suffer from cuts especially when they bump onto a solid surface.

The ProCollar on the other hands features an inflatable core. It has a cover that makes it very durable and it comes in different sizes and colors. Normally, it has a doughnut shape and is very comfortable for dogs.

The full body armor is also an option. It is the solution for dogs that persist to get to the wound despite all other attempts to prevent it. This outfit is normally designed for the extra motivated chewers and can work well in such cases. In some cases, the boxer shorts, booties, sweaters and even the bandages may just work well but not for stubborn lickers.




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