After a dog has surgery, he may come home wearing a dog neck cone. Sometimes called an Elizabethan collar, or e-collar, the dog neck cone restrains the dog from licking or chewing on the surgery site. The dog's head movement is restricted, so he cannot reach his body. The neck cone doesn't hurt the dog, and keeps him safe during recovery.
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Identification
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A dog neck cone looks like a lamp shade. The smaller end is around the dogs neck, while the larger end flares out around the dogs face, extending a few inches past the end of their nose.
They can be made of clear, colored or patterned flexible plastic. Some styles are made of vinyl, and can be inflated like a child's pool toy.
Features
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Some dog neck cones come with a strip of padding around the edge of the cone near the dog's neck. This provides comfort for the dog.
Some dog neck cone packages come with stickers to decorate the cone. Since the pet may be wearing it for a few weeks, children might find it fun to sign or decorate the neck cone, as you would a cast on a broken limb.
Benefits
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When a dog wears a neck cone, it is not able to lick or chew on itself. If the dog has an injury, or is healing from a surgery or rash, a dog neck cone will allow the dog to heal without bothering the wound area.
The use of a dog neck cone will facilitate a speedy recovery for the dog.
Size
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There are a variety of sizes available depending on the size of pet wearing the neck cone. Extra small sizes are available for puppies and kittens, while extra large varieties are available for large breed dogs.
Most neck cones have adjustable clips to secure them on the dog. This makes it easy to adjust the size of the dog neck cone as shaved fur grows back in the neck region.
Effects
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When a dog wears a neck cone, it looks very silly. Your dog may get stares on walks or when visiting a pet store wearing a neck cone. However, the use of a neck cone is a great way to allow your dog to heal without interfering with the process.
Feeding a dog that needs to wear a neck cone can be tricky. Place the dog food on a small, raised surface (such as a cinder block) so his neck cone can fit around the bowl. Or, remove the neck cone for a brief time so the dog can eat and drink.
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