If they're handling the plastic cone well, but it's just too big for them to eat, drink, and use the litter box, you can try trimming it down. But don't remove too much length. You don't want to trim so much that they can then lick their stitches.
A well fit cone will be snug around the neck, loose enough to get one or two fingers between the collar and neck, but tight enough that the animal cannot remove it. Any hard edges should not be applying pressure to the neck.
Most cats should wear their cone for 5-7 days after neutering to avoid licking the incision. Most scrotal incisions heal very quickly. If an abdominal incision was necessary to remove retained testicle(s), then the cone should remain on for 10-14 days or until your cat's recheck examination to assess healing.
Patients can eat, drink, pee, poop, and sleep with a cone on. In fact, the stricter you are with the cone, the quicker they will get used to it. In addition, pets do not hold grudges, so they will not be mad at you for being strict with the rules. If the incision is over the chest or belly, a T-shirt may be worn.
Cones do not hurt cats nor do they cause any serious discomfort. The only thing they are meant to do is keep your cat from licking or biting at its own skin or fur. It is meant to aid in a cat's healing process by making it impossible for the cat to interfere.
The BiteNot Collar
The collar is made using flexible plastic and foam and appears like a more comfortable alternative to the hard plastic cone. It lowers the chance of the pet running into objects and the size and placement make it easier for the pet to perform daily activities.
Abdomen wounds: Short-sleeved T-shirts knotted at the waist are a good way to protect sutures located on your pet's abdomen. Hindquarters wounds: Short-sleeved T-shirts put on backwards (tail through neck hole, legs through arm holes) and knotted to secure can help protect hindquarters sutures.
The animal should wear the cone even at night time. It will adjust and be able to sleep comfortable with its cone on. In addition, animals don't always sleep when humans sleep, so there are still times when the pet is not being observed (like when the owner is asleep) that it can get to its incision site.
To keep him from pulling the cone off, I tied a long ribbon (actually a bandage) through the loops in the cone, once around his neck, crossing down on his chest - behind the front legs - and crossing once more on his back, before connecting to the loops in the cone again. Then it is neatly tied with a bow on his back.
Most cats hate the feeling of the cone around their neck and there's usually an adjustment period. During the first few hours, many cats have difficulty even walking around with the cone. Some cats walk backward while others walk into walls.
Yes she will get use to it. Just make sure you scratch or rub gently where the cone is . Just imagine you having to wear one.
1. Absolutely no licking of the incision area is allowed! If your pet is going to lick or begins to lick their incision, they need to wear an E-Collar (plastic cone) for 7-10 days after surgery. A pet can pull out stitches easily which can lead much more damage.
In the toss-up between the dog onesie vs. dog cone, the right choice will ultimately depend on the individual dog's situation. In general, a recovery onesie like BellyGuard is a great choice for dogs that are: Recovering from abdominal, chest, or spinal surgeries, or hotspots, rashes or injuries to the belly or back.
If your furry companion is on the smaller side, a “onesie” may be a good choice. Made of soft, stretchy fabric, this bodysuit covers cats and dogs beginning at the neck, along the body and over the hindquarters. There are holes for the legs and tail to pass through.
To prevent irritating the incision, we recommend you purchase an Elizabethan collar (E-collar) to keep your pet from being able to reach the area with their mouth. These cone collars are the most effective protection against your pet causing trauma to their incision, and should be worn for 10-14 days following surgery.
Pets don't hold grudges (though sometimes we wonder) so they won't hold it against you. You pet can pee, poop, eat, drink and sleep with the cone on. There are other options but they don't work as well. You can use bitter apple around the wound but some pets love the taste of it.
While Elizabethan collars are designed to reduce a cat's range of motion so they can't reach a surgical site or injured area, recovery suits take the opposite approach. They allow the cat to move freely but protect the injured or irritated area from teeth, claws, and tongues.
Contact your veterinarian to determine whether your pet needs to be brought in for a visit. If there is any possibility of infection (swelling, redness, discharge and pain at the wound site) or there is any change of exposure of organs, veterinary attention should be sought immediately.
Do not allow your cat to lick or scratch the incision, as he may pull the sutures out and could introduce an infection into the incision. If the incision is not bandaged, inspect it at least twice daily.
More importantly, a cat without the cone will start messing with its incision. It'll make them start licking the area and disrupt their healing process. Therefore, it's best to keep the cone on at all times until your vet confirms the wound is fully healed.
If your vet has him wear one, you can remove it the next day. Females must undergo a much more invasive surgery,and have stitches both on the skin level and underneath. It would be safe to leave the cone at least for 3 full days ,to make sure she does not remove any. .