Comfy Cone vs Plastic Vet Cone

[Carol and Banjo]

Hoping someone out there can give me some feedback.  Banjo was neutered today and I'm not sure who's more distressed....DH, myself or Banjo.    Poor little guy is "under the influence" and is not happy about the cone he'll be confined to for the next ten days.  I'm thinking once the drugs wear off he'll be even more unhappy.   I've looked online to find an alternative and the "Comfy Cone" seems like it may be better than the plastic cone the vet sent him home with.    Also, we're allowing him to walk about at will in the main area of the house....no stairs or climbing on furniture (he hasn't even tried) but should we be keeping him more confined...as in the bathroom?    Hope someone can help!   Thanks!!!!

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

No reason to confine him. Should not do stairs or furniture hopping for a few days, though. Since it is "only" ten days, which I know seems like an eternity, I would just stick with the plastic cone. Dogs and small children "under the influence" are so sad and pathetic looking. But Banjo will adapt quickly once the drugs wear off. If all goes well, he will seem just like himself day after tomorrow. Sometimes leaving the regular collar one seems more comfortable, sometimes not. Check occasionally that the cone has not acquired a rough or jagged spot, otherwise all will be well. Honest.

[Lee Seidman]

Billy was neutered two months ago, as far as keeping him quiet for ten days , forget about it! Leaving the vet I planned on lifting him into the car....no way, he jumped in the back. When he got home he was wearing the comfy cone we had purchased and met Lexi, our other Doodle and off they went. There was no stopping him. We tried to keep him calm, but within a few hours off came the cone and the two doods were at it again. We did not let him have water for a day, but he did steal an ice cube and threw it right back up...after that we had to keep them hidden. he was not supposed to get his stitches wet, we let him out back to go potty and he made a bee line for the pool.....after that, we tried walking him in front of the house.
To make a very long story short, Billy broke every rule the vet told us to enforce. Somehow he survived and is doing great...that is if only we could keep him out of the pool !
All you can do is your best, if he is in pain I would think he will take it easy, otherwise, he is only a baby, don't expect too much.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

CAROL--a must see/a must read

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/14-days-of-rr-really?comme...

There are a few more discussions from last year showing even more pictures.

Here are some alternatives to cones. They work so much better and the dog is less stressed.

Unless your dog is really pulling and tearing and in danger of hurting themselves the t-shirts and underwear worked well for most of us here.

Starlit was spayed a month ago and I had her shirt ready but she never needed to wear anything. She licked maybe once or twice a few times a day and left it alone. :)

Good luck. Hope this works better for you and Banjo

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Our experiences have been different with each dog. Our two girls were fine when they were spayed. The vet didn't even suggest the cone at all and they left their stitches alone. They were a little groggy the first night and both ended up with UTI's as a result of the surgery but other than that were fine. Our first foster boy was a little groggy the first night, vet didn't send a cone home. He ate like a horse that evening and was fine. However, he would not leave the stitches alone. We tried everything under the sun (undies, t-shirts etc) and he got them off within a minute. Ended up going and getting a cone at Petsmart (hard plastic). Anytime I couldn't watch him closely he had the cone on. Our last foster had some issues with the anesthesia and threw up several times that evening. Had to be very careful about reintroducing food. He would occasionally mess with stitches so I bought a cone and kept it on him when I couldn't watch him. By about day 4 he didn't need it any longer. As far as keeping them quiet, maybe days 1 and 2 but after that it was pretty hard. I didn't let them go outside to run and play hard for the 5 days the vet suggested, but they still jumped up on furniture etc. in the house. Short of keeping them in a crate, I think it is impossible to keep them completely quiet and not jumping. I think just like every vet is different in their post op directions, every dog is different in their recovery. Good luck. Hope little Banjo is feeling better this morning.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Murphy did better with the soft cone I got at Petco than the hard plastic one from the Vet. He kept that on for five or six days. The "shirt" wouldn't work for him, we will not keep anything like that on. My biggest challenge was keeping him separated from Guinness....they were both miserable. I also made sure to only leash walk him. It was a long week....for all of us. I agree that there's no need to confine him to the bathroom....just watch him to be sure he doesn't get too "frisky". Good luck - poor Banjo.

[Carol and Banjo]

Thanks all for your input.....it was a lonnnnggggggg sleepless night. First night that Banjo was not crated (can't fit in the crate with the cone)....he wandered around bumping into doorways, bedposts, walls and chairs for a good part of the night. I jumped up a couple of times convinced that he'd managed to get the cone off. (He hadn't). He just looks so pitiful....I don't know whether to laugh or cry. After reading about everyone's different experiences with this we removed the cone this morning and he just won't leave the area alone...so the cone is back on and DH is going to pick up the Comfy Cone while out this morning. He'll also grab some boys underwear and t-shirt....I'm assuming we put them on backwards...with the tail poking out the opening (?????). Luckily I don't have to be in the office again til Wednesday!!!!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

That's great that you can be home with him. By Wednesday, he'll be just fine. I really think he'll do better with the softer cone. Keep us posted.

[Zoe, Benny and Tyler]

try the medical pet shirt, worked perfect when Benny was neutered and no stress with a cone at all!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I liked the medical shirt also... and we just made our own. Really, we only used it for a few hours. Hope all goes well for really really really handsome Banjo.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I have never seen this picture....Noah even looks adorable in the cone of shame.

[Miranda]

comfy cone all the way! how would YOU like to sleep with hard plastic under your head? :)

[Carol and Banjo]

He's had the comfy cone on for about 2 hours now and does seem more at easy : ) Thanks all!!!