Post op - cone or suit?

[Patterdale]

Morning – for those that don’t know, my dog has had an operation this week on her pelvis, and is hopefully coming home today.

The wound is around 4” long I think, near the hip. She will need something to keep her off the stitches, but I’m not sure whether to use a cone or a suit, or one of those inflatable rings. It’s a long time since I’ve had a dog after surgery, so I’m not sure what the best thing to do is at the moment. Obviously I’ll be guided by the vets too but just wondered what everybody else has found worked well. The suits look really good, but I’m not sure how effective they’ll be?
Anyway please let me know any thoughts, tips and ideas. Thank you

 

[gallopingby]

Morning Patterdale, the suits work well as long as there isn’t a danger of rubbing the stitches, l‘ve used them for foster dogs after neutering. The only draw back with some is that you have to unclip them when they go outside. Inflate able collars are much easier to work with and more comfortable than the evil cone which is alway out to get you. I think it depends on the dog and your situation. You’d probably need to wash the suit if you only had one but a good quality one is definitely worth considering.

 

[Clodagh]

If she’s a sensitive soul then suit every time. Mine has a breakdown with a cone. Get two though, they will get soiled.

 

[Patterdale]

Thank you - any recommendations for suits please?? Ideally with a pee/poo opening, I don’t want to make her uncomfortable taking her in and out of it all the time!

 

[Esmae]

I adapted a couple of elderly T shirts for mine when she had an op. Worked really well and cost nothing and washed like a rag afterwards. Cones are dreadful things and never seem to fit whippets. Never tried the inflatable sort.

 

[meleeka]

This MPS Medical Pet Shirt Dog, Surgery Recovery Suit, Blue, X-Large https://amzn.eu/d/eqIfDD7. (sorry i’ve linked to the XL size)

My nervous dog wore this after speying and it was no problem. It does have an opening for peeing. If the opening isn’t big enough, just trim with scissors, I think that’s what I did. I know I didn’t take it off so it must have been ok. My vets supply this brand, so that’s why I chose it. I’d personally never use a cone unless absolutely necessary.

 

[Clodagh]

The vets will provide you with one, but it’s the mps I used. It has easy poppers. (Mine didn’t have an automatic gap for a girl). I only changed it when needed, not habitually but do have a spare.

 

[rabatsa]

Two suits, I got mine from the vets. I had to undo poppers and move the flap for wee time but it worked very well.

 

[Boulty]

With the injuries she has she may actually be more comfortable in a cone initially, especially if she’s got a lot of bruising to the area that a suit might press on. You can get softer, non plastic cones that are a bit nicer for them.

Another consideration is if she’s currently able to get up to pee as if not it’s likely she will keep soiling a suit and then you’ll have the fun of taking it then on & off multiple times a day. Could work well when things area bit further along though.

 

[rara007]

Cone for orthopaedics

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I prefer the inflatable collars to a cone. I think that dogs can find the cone quite disorientating and I have known cones be damaged before the dog has got home from the vets'. In fact our Rottweiler managed to break one before she got back to the car!

 

[tda]

The suit with poppers worked fab when our bitch was neutered. I'd never seen one before
I still have it somewhere if it's any good to you , Jack Russell size

 

[Annette4]

With my long noses we have to use a cone and an inflatable collar (the cone long enough for their noses are too loose and slip back without the inflatable) but for 'normal' nose dogs I'd use an inflatable or soft cone. I'd sorry too much about the suits rubbing with the area it is.

 

[Sprout]

After spaying, I used the suit, and just undid the poppers for wees etc.
I had to use the cone for an eye problem … she hated it, and it made her very shut down and depressed, and my other dog was terrified as the cone kept attacking her!
I think a lot depends on the individual dog.

 

[planete]

Some dogs will lick and chew the suit over an area that is uncomfortable, keep an eye on her if you use a suit.

@Annette4. I used to buy a very long cone and pull it together until it was the right size for pointy dogs' thin heads and necks and wire it together leaving the neck opening to still close with the poppers supplied but in different slots. Sorry, not sure this is making sense!

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I hate the cones; having the thing on hugely distresses any animal at a time when they've already had the unsettlement of surgery and needing to recover from it. Imagine having a thing like this on your head 24/7! It would be horrendous, and I hate it when it has to be done.

I have used a suit in the past; worked ok, but beware they don't start chewing at it to get to the injury site. I'd use a Roll out of preference I think.

 

[Annette4]

Some dogs will lick and chew the suit over an area that is uncomfortable, keep an eye on her if you use a suit.

@Annette4. I used to buy a very long cone and pull it together until it was the right size for pointy dogs' thin heads and necks and wire it together leaving the neck opening to still close with the poppers supplied but in different slots. Sorry, not sure this is making sense!

It does, thank you! I will remember that next time we need one. Hopefully not for a long time

 

[Clodagh]

I think best we go with @rara007 as she’s the expert.

 

[splashgirl45]

I used a suit for my terrier when she was spayed and they works really well, I got mine from Amazon and it wasn’t expensive and I got 3 so she could have a clean one on every day. They were shaped so she could wee and poo easily, they did with poppers along the back, I’ve still got them somewhere

 

[FinnishLapphund]

I think plastic cones have their Pros. In general a well fitted one is very good at doing what they're supposed to do, and some are in a more see-through material, so doesn't affect their field of vision as much as non see-through ones. Extra bonus is that if you're in a hurry, and don't have time to take it off for a quick unplanned toilet break in the garden on a rainy day, you don't need to worry about it getting soaking wet.
Cons: The edges of it can get stuck on things, and can feel as if it tries to kill anything + everyone else within its reach.

I assume that the modern "softer" cones is meant to be more comfortable to wear, and easier for others living in the same home, but I haven't seen one in a see-through material.

I have/had an inflatable collar for dogs. Works great, easy to wear, easy to use, but I doubt it would always be enough for a pointy nose dog, though that might depend on where on the body the wound is.
Cons: Though very durable, after many years of owning, a tiny hole have appeared in a seam on mine, so it now deflates itself within some hours.

Haven't tried a bought body suits, only homemade ones from T-shirts. They're easy to both use, and live with, but depending on where the wound is, it might rub, or make it less airy around the wound site. Some dogs might gnaw holes in a body suit to get to itchy places.
Though it involved a dog coat, and not a body suit, I wan to mention that I had a bitch who simply refused to even pee the first times she went out wearing a dog coat. I assume it would've been the same if it had been a dog suit.

Many, many years ago when there basically wasn't any other options than non see-trough plastic cones available, I had a dog who ripped off a claw, had to have a cone for the first time, and it turned out she deeply disliked how it disrupted her field of vision. So I went and bought a roomy dog muzzle, but with holes too small for her to get her tongue out to lick/gnaw her bandage.
It was somewhat similar to this one in the front, but with a little more vertical bars on the side:

After that experience, all the puppies, and kittens I've had since then, gets trained to wear cones. I've only had Essy (kitten) for 2-3 weeks, and she's already had her first training session in wearing one. She tried to get it off/make anyone else in the home take it off for about 10 minutes, then she needed some help getting up to a basket in a cat tree, and after a few attempts finding a good sleeping position with the cone on, she went to sleep.
So it really doesn't always have to take a dog/cat that long to settle in wearing a cone. I've also had dogs/puppies who didn't seem to care one iota about wearing a cone, and some have even seemed to use it as a sort of battering ram to create more space for themselves.
(By the way, I woke up Essy when taking the cone off her after about 30 minutes, next time I plan to show her that she can get in and out of the Litter box wearing the cone, and I will leave it on for maybe 1 hour.)

Anyhow, whatever you do decide to use @Patterdale , I hope your puppy's recovery is smooth, and uneventful.

 

[Chiffy]

Another who recommends suits, no problem to just undo the back end. You don’t have to take them off . Cones are dreadful, inflatable collars slightly less so. Very best wishes for managing the next little while. Hopefully you will see improvement each day xx

 

[MurphysMinder]

Yes the suits are maybe better for the dog but I would be guided by the vets . Whatever they recommend they will be able to provide them .

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

I much prefer the pump up round collars, far less distressing for them to wear and once you get them used to having them on if you don't pump it up too hard they soon enjoy using it as a pillow for their heads too.

 

[Umbongo]

Cone for orthopaedics every time.
They can still lick through the suit. If the wound gets infected, then infection will spread through to the bone....which would be very bad news.
Legs can be amputated, a pelvis cannot. Speaking from experience as a surgical veterinary nurse.

 

[Chucho]

If a suit then make sure it fits well... ours was a bit stretchy and once feeling a teensy bit better post op he could somehow wriggle out of it in the night. Once they're used to a cone then it really hasn't bothered ours. We just move vulnerable objects out of the way. I guess she'll be on some sedating drugs to begin with so won't notice it initially. If she has to have restricted movement during recovery and a cone then we found a pen better than their usual sized crate as it was easier to turn around. Blow up collars have been removed and punctured, which is... irritating [face palm].

 

[Patterdale]

I’ve got an inflatable ring, but the dressing is still on and she hasn’t bothered it yet so they said just to see how we get on. I’m sure she’ll start bothering it as it heals..!
She still doesn’t want to be touched much tonight so I’ll let her sleep for now.

Thank you all!

 

[Chucho]

Bless her. Fingers crossed for a smooth and steady recovery!

 

[poiuytrewq]

Poor little love. I think its as stitches heal that they start getting interested in the area, having had stitches myself i found as they tighten and heal it gets itchy. maybe a suit at that point might help.
I like the blow up cones though, Cecil seemed happy enough in one and used it like a pillow, it look comfortable and avoids crashing onto door frames etc!

How is she this morning?

 

[Goldenstar]

I would use a soft cone ( pump up )or an inflatable collar
pearl had a suit after spaying she ate it to get her private’s so she could clean her self
I then worried she might do the same to get to the stitches so swopped to a collar

 

[Aru]

E-collar unless the vets specifically says otherwise.

I tried a surgery suit for my own dog post op for her spey recently because we were thinking of stocking them(they do seem kinder) She's having a rough time health wise at the moment so I felt sorry for her.
She got to the wound through the suit. Opened it but managable infection initially.
Then the wound reopened again few weeks later. We are 4 weeks post op and still doing some wound care. Shes been in a hard cone and multiple meds for weeks.
I'm kicking myself for being so stupid to not just have prevented all this mess by putting on a proper cone on at the start. Shes not usually a licker at all..but I should have known better given she currently trainwrecking healthwise. The sad thing is she doesn't even mind her cone. I just thought the suit seemed like a decent idea to try and I dont like to recommend things I haven't used. Its been a learning experience.

Abdominal wounds are much easier to revise and manage then orthopedic ones. I'm hoping this one will eventually come good so we dont have to do revision surgery which will he the next step if we hit a third wound breakdown.

You get bad infection in a pelvic wound and your in a lot more trouble then an abdominal wound.
You can't amputate the pelvis. You cant always remove implants from there easily.
Orthopaedics need extreme infection prevention care v other operations because the implants can harbour longterm issues if an infection gets in and onto the hardware. You really really want to avoid issues with these ....but especially in that particular area.

Most dogs won't need a cone for long, a week or two for most wounds. Your already part of the way through.
Hope all is going well so far!