Saturday, March 26, 2016

The Popular Alternatives To Elizabethan Collar

By Richard Green


The E-Collar, a short form for Elizabethan collar, has become the symbol for the mistreatment to our pets. In fact, it is widely referred to as 'a cone of shame'. Nobody can readily admit that they have come across any dog that likes it. The dog owners see it as a perfect torture device. However, it is what you are likely to get from the vet should you take your dog for treatment of wounds in most body parts. Before accepting it, you need to explore the better alternatives to Elizabethan collar.

Instead of making your dog miserable and uncomfortable with this cone, it is important to consider other options. In fact, the classic cone easily renders any dog that has short legs immobile. It also means no peripheral visibility, which makes them crash on doorways and furniture. The cone also gets stuck in any tight spot and leaves the dog struggling unnecessarily.

As such, when looking for the alternatives, these are the factors to put in mind. They need to encourage visibility, should be light in weight and comfortable to move around with and should be made of soft materials. Even with all these, the cone must still play its primary role which includes preventing the dog from licking the wound, tearing the surgical stitches, removing the bandages and new injuries.

Perhaps closest to any Elizabethan collar is the Soft E-Collar. Instead of a heavy duty plastic material, this cone is made of a softer material like the paper. The possible setback of using a paper for a cone is the ease in which they wear off. In addition to this, are likely to be torn off in the situation where the wearer is too persistent in reaching the wounds. However, they offer a very effective solution for the dogs that are calm.

The other possible choice is the BiteNot Collars which resemble a neck brace worn by humans. The target is to make it difficult for the dog to reach the wounds on the neck and other body parts. It is very comfortable and most dogs tend to like it. However, the Bearded Collies and other species with long hair or fat necks find it inappropriate.

The third alternative is the Kong EZ-Collar. This is a plastic cone. The plastic is transparent, allowing the dog to see through. It is light in weight making it comfortable, but the rigidity may be compromised as a result of this. Given that the inner and outer edges are lined with vinyl like material, the dog does not suffer from cuts especially when they bump onto a solid surface.

The ProCollar on the other hands features an inflatable core. It has a cover that makes it very durable and it comes in different sizes and colors. Normally, it has a doughnut shape and is very comfortable for dogs.

The full body armor is also an option. It is the solution for dogs that persist to get to the wound despite all other attempts to prevent it. This outfit is normally designed for the extra motivated chewers and can work well in such cases. In some cases, the boxer shorts, booties, sweaters and even the bandages may just work well but not for stubborn lickers.




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