Suggestions instead of the cone of shame for neutering

[Mary ann & Lincoln]

Lincoln will probably be neutered in a few weeks.  I know he will not tolerate the plastic cone of shame. Our previous poodle could not walk or see using one.   He is too noisy and always has his nose in something!

 What have you used, the comfy cone or the inflatable collar type?  

Do they work to keep them from reaching the stitches?  

Did you buy a bigger size?  

I have seen good and bad reviews, so not sure which type is best.  

Thanks!

[Amy and Annabelle]

Annabelle had the Kong inflatable collar. It worked well for her. She was a massive chewer back then, and it is bite resistant. She did manage to get out of it a couple of times during the night when I wasn't watching her. But then she figured out how to get out of her regular collars also.

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

Some have used a onsie or a T-shirt for the dog to wear so he can't get his mouth on the area. Depends on how big your doodle is as to which you'd use.

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

I have to say though, that my Bella didn't need a cone nor was licking an issue. And I never had to use a T-shirt or boxers or anything else.   However, I kept her well medicated for pain for the first few days, and just kept an eye on her during the healing process.  Had more trouble keeping her from jumping after day 2-3. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I used an inflatable collar for my foster after she was spayed. It worked very well, and she could eat, drink, play and sleep comfortably with it on. I tried the T-shirts, boxers, etc and nothing worked, she could still get at her incision. 

[Karen C]

Our double doodle was neutered a little over 5 weeks ago and our vet advised us we didn't need to use any type of cone. We had used the plastic cone the last dog we had neutered 8 years ago. He told us that if he seemed to bother the incision or lick at it we could purchase a cone to use. I was totally surprised that our over active/hyper 6 month old doodle never touch it and we got by that week without having to aggregate him with a cone! The day after he was neutered you would have never known he had anything done. The hard part was we were told no jumping or running for 2 weeks! That was the real challenge for us. We took lots of short walks and I pretty much kept him either in an exercise pen or tethered. Good luck!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Most of my dogs haven't needed a cone, but one sure did - and, he is the one who managed to bite his stitches out while wearing it!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I had to meet a foster with a freshly neutered dog at the vet yesterday afternoon; he had been neutered by a shelter two days ago just before the volunteer picked him up, and sent home without a cone. In 24 hours, he had licked the incision to the point of swelling and inflammation. 

[Leslie J]

I don't think most male dogs or cats need a cone after being neutered. When females are spayed the surgery is much more extensive and they are more likely to need a cone or inflatable collar so they don't pull out stitches.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Murphy had a growth removed earlier this week and came home with the plastic cone....he hated it.  I bought him the inflatable kind at Petco and that has been much better.  He can't get to the incision and doesn't seem to mind it.

[Joyce (Casey & Cody's mom)]

I have never had to use any type of protective device on any of my dogs. Give them their pain meds and lots of cuddling and they all did fine.

[Dee & Chappie]

Chappie will get neutered Tues Morning.  He is 5 months old.  I have been told the male neutering is pretty easy, so hopefully he won't need a cone.   

He is such a sweet guy, and not hyper, so hopefully he will breeze through this on Tues.  

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Neither of my female dogs needed a cone - they just didn't lick at the incision or anything. If I thought they were, I just told them to stop and they did. But, I've been at home with both of them after their surgeries and stayed pretty vigilant.
My dogs never got any pain meds either. Hmmm.
They were a bit groggy the first day from the anesthesia, but after that wore of they seemed fine.
Barkley came neutered, so I'm not sure how he faired with his operation.