Alternative To An E-Collar For An Incision Above One Eye

[phall]

My 11 year old girl, Faye, will be having some surgery on Thursday to remove a small lump above one eye. She will be coming home with an e-collar. I hate those things, and Faye is a spook so this will be especialy difficult for her. Does anyone have any ideas on alternatives to the e-collar that will prevent her from scratching/rubbing the incision with her foot? As mentioned, the incision is just above one eye.

 

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

Pat Hall

Ayer, MA

 

[Brandiandwe]

It might depend on the dog, but when Paige has had stitches or cuts anywhere, we haven't bothered with an e-collar at all. She seems to only scratch when it needs to be cleaned but otherwise leaves it alone. Would yours be the same?

[BatterseaBrindl]

Ruby de-gloved part of her ear a couple of years ago and I used a very large human bandage ... 2" x 4".

Surprisingly it stuck .... and she left it alone.

I suppose its in an awkward spot so that you can't just wrap around her head ...over her ear? .... with vet wrap??

 

[RedHead]

Some dogs just don't seem to bother with incisions if they are in a location that they can't lick. I am like you, I hate e-collars, they really seem to spook and confuse the dog. I have also used human band-aids when all else has failed. Teague had a patch of leg shaved recently for an IV and he has started licking a small patch raw. He hates wraps around his legs and paces and whines, so I just ended up sticking a large human Band-Aid on it. I do it loosely so that the unsticky part in the middle lets in a lot of air flow to the wound/incision.

 

Edited to add: I don't know how successful this would be if the incision is right over the eye...sorry didn't read that clearly.

Edited September 3, 2014 by RedHead

[Walliered]

I ask the tech's not to shave my hounds legs for IV's. Just put them in the vein. That way they do not lick and lick the site. It will cause a terrible sore from the licking..just a thought. On the e-collar question: I have a blow up collar for my hounds, the only thing is I have never used it..I would be glad to mail it to you. Please e-mail me privately if you think you want to try it. I think it is made by Kong.

[Sambuca]

Unfortunately, the eyebrows are one of the very few places I've found that nothing but an e collar can protect. I'm also very against using e collars on greyhounds, but they can get at it with all 4 feet. Muzzles and snoods can't protect the area.

[tbhounds]

You can cut the e-collar down. It only needs to just cover the area enough so her back foot can not scratch the eye. It doesn't matter if her nose extents out-you're not trying to prevent licking.

[phall]

Thanks, everyone, for your advice. I expect Faye will try to scratch it as it heals as she's an "ear/eye rubber" anyhow. She often paws her ears and eyes when she's laying down. I think I'll take the e-collar they give me, but cut it way back as tbhounds suggested. And I'll pick up some large non-stick band-aids to try as well. Thanks, Walliered, for offering to mail you your blow up collar. I just heard that a friend has one, so I can borrow hers.

 

Thanks again, everyone, for your help.

 

Pat

[MP_the4pack]

Get a tube sock and cut the foot off and put it on her like a snood. If she needs her ears out, cut slits for them. If you need to keep it from sliding, then just a smidge of paper tape (you'll find it in the drug store), it's adhesive is very weak. Or get rubber cement, put strips on a piece of hard plastic to dry. When it dries, it's soft and rubbery. Put that between the sock and head. It'll be less likely to slide anywhere.