The Cone of Shame Survival Guide: Dog Spay-Neuter Recovery

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So your dog just got spayed or neutered, but you hate to see how sad they are wearing that cone of shame. Am I right? These cones, aka Elizabethan collars or e-collars, are both the best and worst solution for keeping your dog from licking their incision or ripping stitches open. While they hate the cone, run it into everything, and look at you like you’ve betrayed them, these devices work wonderfully in keeping your dog from licking, infecting, or ripping open their sutures. But, if you’re looking for some alternatives, we’ve got some more options for you.

Incision Care and Surgery Recovery Basics

Spay and neuter surgeries take 10-14 days to heal at minimum. Due to how common spay and neuters are, we can forget how serious they are. For girl dogs, think of spay surgeries as full-blown abdominal surgeries. For boy dogs, it’s a little less invasive and a smaller incision, but don’t underestimate the amount of swelling that can occur.

I’ve seen some ball sacks swell to grapefruit size. Ouch!

Tips for Spay/Neuter Incision Care

Your vet or shelter will give you instructions before taking your dog home. Some get more specific than others. If you need a recap, here you go:

1. Coming Out of Anesthesia and Surgery Meds: Your dog will likely be drowsy from anesthesia and still high on the nice pain meds the vet used for surgery.
2. Why Is My Dog Coughing After Surgery?: Dogs are intubated when put under. This may leave their throat a little irritated or dry, so they may occasionally cough at the sensation. This should go away within a day.
3. Pain Meds: The veterinarian may provide pain meds to help keep their mind off their incision. Use these as directed!
4. Monitor the Incision Site: Keep an eye on the incision site for any signs of infection or complications. Look for redness, swelling, discharge, or excessive licking.
5. Prevent Licking: Prevent your dog from licking or chewing at the incision site, as this can introduce bacteria and delay healing. You may need to use an Elizabethan collar (cone) or other methods (which we get into below) to prevent access to the area.
6. Keep the Area Clean and Dry: Keep the incision site clean and dry to prevent infection. Avoid bathing your dog or allowing them to swim until the incision has healed.
7. Limit Activity: Restrict your dog’s activity level as directed by your veterinarian. Avoid vigorous exercise and jumping to prevent strain on the incision site.
8. Ice Any Swelling, if your dog will allow it.
9. Provide Comfort: Make sure your dog has a comfortable place to rest during the recovery period. Limit their interactions with other pets to prevent rough play.
10. Incisions get itchy as they heal, so even if your dog “leaves it alone” for the first few days doesn’t mean they will leave it alone the whole time. Many dogs rip their stitches open at the midway point of recovery once you’re lulled into a false sense of relaxation.

Elizabeth Collar Options

First, let’s cover the basics of e-collars. Fun fact: They are called Elizabethan collars because they are reminiscent of the ruffled collars commonly depicted in portraits of Queen Elizabeth I of England. These collars, also known as ruffs, were fashionable during the Elizabethan era (late 16th century), and the shape of the veterinary collar resembles the wide, stiff, and frilled collars worn during that time.

They are usually hard semi-clear plastic, however soft and inflatable versions have hit the market in the last decade or so to provide more options.

Traditional E-Collars or Cones

Make sure to get one of the right size – both for the width of your dog’s neck and depth of cone so they can’t reach their stitches.

Pros:

• Prevent Licking and Chewing
• Non-Restrictive to Movement
• Versatility: Elizabethan collars come in various sizes and styles to accommodate different breeds and surgical procedures. Some are transparent, which allows for better visibility, while others are softer and more flexible for added comfort.
• Ease of Use: E-collars are relatively easy to put on and remove, making them a convenient option for post-surgical care.
• Durable: No matter what your dog runs them into, they generally fare better.

Cons:

• Discomfort and Stress
• Obstruction of Vision
• Difficulty Eating and Drinking
• Potential for Damage to Surroundings
• Potential for Social Isolation

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Inflatable Surgery Collars

Overall, inflatable surgery collars can be a comfortable and less obtrusive alternative to traditional Elizabethan collars for post-surgery care in dogs. However, their effectiveness may vary depending on the individual dog.

Pros:

1. Comfortable
2. Improved Visibility
3. Less Obstructive
4. Reduced Risk of Damage to Surroundings

Cons:

1. Less protection, especially for dogs determined to reach their surgical site.
2. Potential for popping if the dog bites or chews on them excessively.
3. Not Suitable for All Dogs
4. Requires Proper Inflation. If underinflated, they may not effectively prevent access to the surgical site. Overinflation can cause discomfort or restrict the dog’s movement.

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Surgical Recovery Suits

Surgical recovery suits, also known as post-surgery suits or onesies, are garments designed to provide coverage and protection to dogs after surgical procedures.

Pros:

• Full-Body Coverage
• Comfortable Fit
• Less Obtrusive than collars
• Less Stress
• Reusable and Washable

Cons:

• Limited protection: may prevent licking but could still chew through fabric
• Less airflow to the surgery site
• Potential irritation from rubbing against incision site
• Requires proper sizing
• It may require additional monitoring
• It may be too warm in some climates

The DIY T-Shirt Method

To DIY or get a quick solution until your ordered recovery suit arrives, you can use an old T-shirt or dress.

For Boy Dogs: Put the tail through the T-shirt neck, hind legs through the arm holes, and tie a knot to cinch the large opening. This method works for mellower dogs, as active ones can often escape this setup.

For Girl Dogs: Works best with an old dress or something longer to cover the abdomen, depending on the size of your dog. Put your dog’s head through the neck hole, front legs through the arms, and feed the underside through the back legs and gather above the tail.

What If My Dog Rips Stitches Open?

As someone who has had her dog rip his stitches open, it’s not fun. Some dogs are just really determined, and if you lapse on the cone or the suit for even a few minutes to “give them a little break,” you can pay for it. Plus, the clock resets on recovery and cone-wearing time.

1. Prevent further injury. Put an e-collar or suit back on and restrain. Give lots of treats and baby talk.
2. Assess your dog’s feelings – if in pain, afraid, or defensive, BE CAREFUL. Use a muzzle if you have one. If you don’t, wait a while to let them calm down before doing anything.
3. Assess the damage (if you can). If your dog growls or cries if you touch or get close to incision site, don’t put yourself in danger.
   • If your dog’s stitches are open but not bleeding, it may be healed enough internally to get by.
   • If your dog’s stitches are open and bleeding, control it if you can. Apply gentle but firm pressure, keep your dog still, and use bleed stop powder if you have some in your dog first aid kit.
4. Clean the wound if dirty. Use mild antiseptic solution and water. Avoid using hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, as these can be irritating to the tissue.
5. Call your vet to see if your dog needs to be brought in for new stitches. However, many of these incidents seem to happen in the evenings or on the weekends when your vet isn’t open.
   • If your vet is not available, you may need to call an emergency vet.
   • If the damage isn’t bad, resume post-surgical prevention of licking and chewing. Also, keep activity very low – no walks, no jumping up on furniture or people. Call your vet when they are open.
   • If you and your dog feel comfortable with it, you can try using superglue to tack the incision together. Do not completely seal the wound. *Disclaimer: Do this at your own risk and as an emergency action only.

Two weeks feels like an eternity when you’re trying to keep a dog from chewing their incision, but it’s really just a minor blip in you and your dog’s life. Hang in there, you’ve got this!