If your pet has recently had surgery or been in an accident that required emergency pet care, your veterinarian will probably recommend that they wear a protective cone, called an Elizabethan collar, around their neck until the wounds have healed. Known as the ‘cone of shame,’ it may be an uncomfortable addition to your pet’s wardrobe, but it serves an essential purpose in promoting and maintaining their health. Consider the guide below so that you can understand why this piece of equipment is so vital to your furry friend’s recovery.

Why Is It Necessary?

If your veterinarian has given your animal a cone to wear, they’re doing it to prevent further damage and allow any wounds to heal. Cones can be made of firm plastic or a more flexible, but more extended, fabric material. Their purpose is to stop your animal from licking and chewing their injuries or a surgical incision. Without a cone, your pet is likely to irritate the site of their scar, which can cause a host of problems, such as infections, that will send them back to the pet clinic for further treatment.

My Pet Seems Uncomfortable. Can’t I Take It Off?

Even if your pet hates the cone, you shouldn’t take it off without checking with your veterinarian first. Animals have the instinct to lick, chew, and otherwise irritate cuts and scratches. In the wild, this helps clean the wound for faster healing, but in residential care, this process is already completed at the pet clinic. If you take the cone off before the wound has sufficiently healed, your pet could reopen the incision and pull stitches out, which would require immediate emergency pet care and even more time spent in the cone. It could also become infected, which is a serious issue if it’s deep or the result of surgery. They could also lick off medicines applied to the wound to promote healing, which could lead to permanent scarring and the inability for their fur to regrow.

If your pet needs emergency care or has damaged a healing wound, bring them to a skilled veterinarian at Countryside Veterinary Service. With five convenient locations, they provide expert animal care throughout Northeastern Ohio and Northwestern Pennsylvania. Their experienced teams offer comprehensive services like spaying and neutering, vaccinations, and emergency care for small animals. They can answer any questions about making your pet’s time in their cone as comfortable as possible. Learn about their small animal care services online, and find your closest location on their website.