When your pet gets spay and neuter surgery or another procedure, they may get an Elizabethan collar. The plastic headgear prevents them from disturbing their wounds. The cone can be frustrating for your pet, but there are a few ways to make them more comfortable when they get back from the spay and neuter clinic. Here’s what you need to know. 

How to Help Your Pet Adjust to an Elizabethan Collar

1. Teach Dogs to Walk With Their Heads Up

Dogs are used to walking with their nose to the ground to smell scents, but this can lead to them bumping into items or getting the cone caught on furniture. While they’re in the cone, train them to walk with their head up by holding a treat or toy just in front and above their heads and getting them to follow you. They’ll realize that the cone doesn’t get caught on as many items this way and preserves their field of sight.

2. Create Open Space in Your Home

The cones animals get after spay and neuter surgery have a broad span, and they catch onto the corners of furniture and decor. When this happens, it startles your animal, knocks items off tables, and pushes the cone back into their shoulder. To prevent this, create as much open space as possible in areas that they’ll be in. Move furniture, toys, and decor against walls or in another room so they can maneuver more easily, and block cats from making large jumps onto items, as the cone may get in the way. 

3. Only Take It off if Absolutely Necessary

Most pets can eat and drink with the cone on, and in most cases you can put one pet bowl on top of another to make it easier for your pet. If you do absolutely have to take it off, always stay right by your animal and ensure they don’t try to disturb their surgical site. Also, put it on immediately after they’re done eating or drinking, and make sure you can fit 1-2 fingers between the collar and your pet’s neck to ensure you pet can breathe easily.

4. Keep Them Calm & Entertained

Your animal may become frustrated by the cone. Give them a safe bone, new bed, or chew treat to keep them occupied and prevent them from running around, which can open their wound. Take dogs on slow walks to get their energy out. Also, stay calm, as animals can sense emotion, and if you’re worried, they’ll be on edge.

If your animal is particularly high-energy or anxiety-prone, speak with the clinic that performed the spay and neuter surgery about potential sedatives or calming agents you can give them until the cone is off.

Does your pet need spay and neuter surgery, but you aren’t sure if you can afford it? Our team at the Nutmeg Spay/Neuter Clinic in Stratford, CT, would be more than happy to help. We’re a low-cost, non-profit facility dedicated to providing affordable surgical care and pet vaccinations to residents all over Connecticut. Our spay and neuter clinic has performed tens of thousands of successful surgeries, and our pet vaccinations cover multiple conditions. View our dog services online, and call (203) 690-1550 to reserve an appointment today.