My turn for help, please.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Luca had a place on his foreleg that he has been licking for quite some time now. I kept looking for something but there was nothing there. I told him if he kept licking he'd end up at the vet and he did today. Last night I decided I didn't like the look of things. I put on some triple antibiotic cream and took him to the vet this morning. She decided it was a lick hot spot. She used a topical antibiotic/steroid cream and wrapped the leg. I am to check it, retreat and wrap in a couple of days. If it looks worse he'll need an oral antibiotic. The wrap lasted all of 15 minutes when we got home. Luca managed to push it up his leg and remove some of the inner wrappings.

I need a good alternative for the old plastic cone I have. He bumped into things with it on and was frightened by the whole thing. But clearly he can be allowed to go on licking this spot. Right now he is napping next to me with the collar on.

So what is the most comfortable, effective collar that will keep him from his foreleg? Thanks for your help.

UPDATE 1

Luca's current messy but effective outdoor wrap

Update 2

Thanks for asking about Luca. And thanks to all for all your suggestions and help. Luca slept all night and left everything alone. No collar needed.  That may be because with the ointment the vet used there is not only an antibiotic , but also a steroid and analgesic. It could also be that between me loudly telling him to leave it and the initial shock from the Elizabethan collar he was scared straight.

The ice is gone today, in fact it's like spring. So we went supply shopping. I found all necessary first aid supplies in the drugstore. Gauze pads and gauze wrap. I also found flesh colored breathable  self adhesive wound wraps of various widths. I like the fact that the wrap will blend in with Luca's coloring since he doesn't like to advertise his infirmities. I went looking for toddler long sleeve tees too, but I think the arms would be too short for the project. Also, what I used last night worked.

Next we went to Petco , where all three of us could shop. The first aid section was a poor excuse. They did have vet wrap but I I didn't need it by then. The sprays and lotions and potions were pretty useless it seemed to me. No gauze of any kind. One antiseptic had hydrochlorous acid, I assume it is weaker than hydrochloric acid. I will try to order the spray recommended to try to ward off hot spots. It's good to have some first aid supplies on hand for humans and doodles.

My plan is to re-wrap the whole thing later today. I will extend the adhesive wrap a little lower and higher and then secure those areas with the clear packing tape. That will leave the area over the spot able to breathe and still waterproof and Lucaproof the ends or so I hope.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks. We've never had one before but I guess I will have to keep some things on hand.

[Christine & Camus]

Keeping it dry for walks was a pain.  My solution was a plastic bag taped on top and a bootie.  Also, I only used the self adhesive wrap along the top of the sock.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Remember the IV bag boots that the ER once made for JD? They cut the bags to the appropriate length, then cut vertical slits all around the top about an inch below the top of the "boot" and threaded a long piece of gauze through the slits, the way ribbon is threaded through fancy lingerie, lol. The gauze is then used to tie the boot snugly closed and voila! Waterproof, cheap dog boots.  

[F, Calla & Luca]

I do remember now. We'll have to improvise. At least it's not right on his foot.

[Colleen, Jake & Baxter]

Karen-I can't remember which one of my dogs having to use an IV boot but I sure remember the sound of it dragging along the sidewalk....lol

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

It's like being between a rock and a hard place. You want to keep the medication on long enough to work, so that means a dressing to prevent licking, , and you want air for healing, so that means no dressing. When Murphy's is bad, I just have to keep it covered with something he can't get at. The cling dressing isn't as solid a material as an Ace, so it will allow air in. I would take it off at night while he was sitting with us and re wrap before bed. But it took constant supervision for him to leave it alone. The good thing is the medication does work pretty quickly if its just a hot spot and not infected.

[F, Calla & Luca]

This morning, when I woke to his licking I just grabbed his leg, put on some ointment and held it until we got up : )

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

When Murph seriously irritated the pads of his foot the Vet medicated it and then wrapped it really well with gauze wrapped around many, many times and then covered with tape.  It would last a whole day with him...I redid it each day.  I verbally corrected him every time I saw him try to go at it, and he would stop.  I got one of those soft cones from the Vet but he hated it...it was easier to just watch him and change the bandages daily.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

I'm thinking I would try the ace bandage but you may have to keep rewrapping.  Hope Luca is doing better soon.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Actually I'm thinking of that blue self adhesive wrap --so I guess that's vet wrap(?)