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.

[BG and Gavin]

Doesn't he though?  You are adorable Darwin!

[Camilla and Darwin]

Darwin appreciates the compliments. He he

[F, Calla & Luca]

What a helpful bunch of folks you all are. Thank you so much.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Did the Vet use Vet Wrap on It?  We have been having to wrap Sophie's Chemo injection site since back in December because she got a burn on the site.  We had to change the dressing and put some stuff on it twice a day.  In the beginning she left it alone, then every time we turned our backs she started trying to get it off.  I was getting up several times at night to check on it.  We finally figured out if we sprayed the outside with bitter apple that she would leave it alone.  We had sort of a gauze/cotten wrap and then the Vet Wrap over top of that and I just wrapped several layers of the Vet Wrap and then lightly sprayed it!  Worked great!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I am going to try something like this. He does have vet  wrap but I will go get him some more. I may get the Fooey stuff because bitter apple didn't always deter him as a pup.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Hoping Lucca's hot spot heals quickly. We are stuck with the plastic collars. Nothing else seems to really keep them away from their owies. 

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

We use the cling wrap that is used at the hospital. Elastic and durable. Probably similar to vet wrap from the looks of it. Maybe cheaper in drugstore. Not sure. The bitter spray definitely helps as well. We aren't fans of collars here either. I think they'd do more damage to me than themselves with it.
I love the T shirt idea, over the cling wrap so she can't bite it off. Murphy does usually figure out how to get it off now and then, so we have to really tape it on with either paper tape or silk tape to keep it there. Good luck, poor Luca.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The one thing I do know is that the air needs to get to a hot spot freely for optimal healing. Gauze seems fine, but things like Ace bandages and elastics, I just don't know. Seems like it would trap moisture and not allow much air flow. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

You are probably right The vet wrap breathes, or so it says. So I think a tee shirt or sock may be the way to go. Trouble is the vet said, and she quickly realized how silly it was, to keep the whole thing dry. It's raining out! But hopefully the roads are now just wet. It was getting icy when I was coming home. And I may try something like cling wrap, kitchen wrap stuff for when he goes out.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I was just thinking, F.....you might want to ask your vet for the spray for the future.  I use the spray (I believe it's cortisone but I could check the name if you want) the minute I even think a hot spot may be starting up and it works....they leave it alone and it goes away.  I always keep a bottle in the house.  Hope it clears quickly.

[Elizabeth & Cosmo]

We had quick results with Gentaved spray. It dries out the hot spot very quickly. We did use a cone at first,  but the alcohol smell of the spray was an effective deterrent for Cosmo. But then, he responded very well to Grannick's bitter apple as a puppy. If that didn't work for Luca . . . I'm not sure what to recommend.

But the Gentaved made the hot spot heal very quickly, shortening the time needed for cones, etc.

[Charlotte and Bo]

Ditto.  My last dog used to get irritations here or there from licking and that spray worked really well with the healing.  Staves off the infection.  Good luck.