Pet Tales: See Cones soften post-op recovery
-
A pink-trimmed See Cone for a Yorkie.
Share with others:
Surgery went well for a former shelter dog named "Lucky," but he really hated that big plastic collar that his family put around his neck to prevent him from licking, scratching or biting his incision.
People call them "cones," "Elizabethan collars" or "e-collars." Generally they are made of hard plastic, and owners often hear things that go bump in the night -- or day -- as dogs bang their collars into walls and furniture.
And so it was with Lucky. The cone obstructed his vision, so he bumped into things. It also made it hard for him to lie down and sleep comfortably. So while mom was at work, one of the kids felt sorry for the unhappy dog and removed the cone.
By the time mom got home, Lucky had licked and nipped his incision so much that it later became infected. The inaptly named Lucky needed another operation followed by another round of wearing the cone.
Turns out there are newer, softer versions that may work better. Cardinal Pet Care's Viva La Dog Spa is introducing See Cones that it promises are more comfortable and pet-friendly.
These cones are made from softer, more pliable clear plastic that does not inhibit a pet's field of vision. They retain their shape, thanks to rigid "stays" placed at vertical intervals around the cone.
"These cones don't scare pets as much," said Barbara Denzer, vice president of marketing at Cardinal. "There is soft cloth padding around the neck" and Velcro and toggle closures to adjust the fit.
To add fashion flair, See Cones are trimmed around the edges with black or hot pink fleece. They come only in small sizes; the largest one would probably fit a cocker spaniel or a beagle.
"Big dogs seem to tolerate" the traditional hard cones better, Ms. Denzer said.
Prices are $12.99 for extra small (5 inches), $14.99 for small (6 inches) and $19.99 for medium (8 inches).
Most cats would need an extra small, Ms. Denzer suggested. Measure pets from neck to nose to get the size. The collars are available online at www.cardinalpet.com/vivaladogspa or at Petco stores.
Veterinarians sometimes supply e-collars for their patients, but Ms. Denzer said it's often cheaper to buy Cardinal products on your own. She suggests buying or ordering them in advance before you need them.
Cones and collars aren't just for post-surgical patients. They are also used to prevent dogs and cats from licking and biting wounds and hot spots on their bodies and to keep them from scratching ears that may be cut or infected.
The Washington Area Humane Society is taking orders for Valentine cards that feature a picture of a shelter pet with a message from you. Cost is $6. Feb. 3 is the deadline for ordering, which can be done online at www.washingtonpashelter.org or by mail: Washington Area Humane Society Valentine; Box 66; Eighty Four, PA 15330.
Nominations for the second annual American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards are now open. Last year's winner was Roselle, a yellow Labrador retriever who had led her blind owner to safety as the World Trader Center collapsed during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
There are eight categories: law enforcement/arson, service, therapy, military, guide dogs like Roselle, search and rescue, hearing, and "emerging hero dogs." That last category is for ordinary pets who do extraordinary things, the news release says.
Last year's top dog in the "emerging" category was Ricochet, a golden retriever who is thought to be the only dog in the world that does "surf therapy" with special-needs children. Ricochet surfs with children, including quadriplegics and amputees, and has raised thousands of dollars to help them.
A video of Ricochet in action has 3.6 million views on the Internet. You can see it at www.surfdogricochet.com and on her Facebook page.
Wearing a well-fitted life vest, Ricochet surfs in good-sized waves. Sometimes, she surfs by herself and other times she surfs with children. Amazingly, she knows how to shift her weight and ride the waves, even counter-balancing the board to help the children get a better ride.
Go to www.herodogawards.org to nominate a Hero Dog. The broadcast of the 2012 awards will air on Hallmark Channel in the fall.
The 2011 awards, broadcast last October, were such a big hit, there was an encore presentation in December.
First Published January 21, 2012 12:00 am
