Cone vs. water? Post-neuter question

1060 Views 4 Replies 3 Participants Last post by CobbersMom, Sep 6, 2013

CobbersMom

Discussion Starter · Sep 6, 2013

Hi! :wave: I'm relatively new here although I've lurked for awhile. My Aussie Terrier, Cobber, just got neutered yesterday. He was very slightly out of it last night, but only to my trained eye, everyone else thought he was acting just like normal - wild and crazy.

So I picked up a cone at the vet's just as a precaution, and around 2am I caught him in his crate, licking at the incision site. So I put the cone on him for the rest of the night.

I found I needed to take it off this morning because he wouldn't even try to pee with it on, since he kept getting the bottom of the cone stuck in the dirt/grass, so he couldn't pick his head up to balance while lifting his leg.

My plan was to put the cone back on and keep him in his crate while I'm at work today (going home soon to let him out for lunch), but when I got him set, he could not reach the food or the water, even when I elevated the water dish. So I took the cone off thinking it was more important for him to have acces to water for the 4-5 hours I'm at work.

However, since I've been here I've been second-guessing myself, worrying that Cobber's home licking that incision site. We're going away tomorrow for a week, and although there are vets where we're going, it won't be our vet, so I'd really rather not get into an infection scenario.

ANYWAY, my question -- for this afternoon, should I not worry about water access for the 4-5 hours I'll be at work after lunch and put the cone back on him to restrict the licking?

Thanks in advance!

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Fade

· #2 · Sep 6, 2013

You could try getting a different kind of e-collar.

The donut
these work good but you need to make sure they are big enough.

Bite Not Collars

Comfy Cone

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spotted nikes

· #3 · Sep 6, 2013

You can also put boy's underwear on him backwards so the tail comes out the crotch hole. I usually apply Cortisone cream on the shaved area to stop the prickly itchy feeling. Just don't put it on the incision.

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CobbersMom

Discussion Starter · #4 · Sep 6, 2013

Fade said:
You could try getting a different kind of e-collar.

The donut
these work good but you need to make sure they are big enough.

Bite Not Collars

Comfy Cone

Thanks - this particular situation I'm describing is just for today while I'm at work. After today, I'll be off work for the next 10 days, and Cobber and I will be on vacation at the family cabin where I can watch him all the time.

But I went home for lunch just now, struggled to get him outside to pee (he's totally amped-up insane already and this is just the first morning after surgery!) without having him jump, leap, and run, then put him in the cone and into a slightly smaller crate -- he has room to stand and turn around, but there isn't room for food and water. He should be okay in there for the next 4 hours till I get home.

Now that I've been through that one brief lunchtime period with him, and he was a total spaz no matter what I did, I'm not sure how we're going to survive 9 more days without him popping every stitch he has! I've read and read about keeping them calm, short walks, "gentle play" (HA!), short training sessions, etc. But he's a raving lunatic full of energy already. Just to get him to lie down and roll over so I could check his incision, I had to let him gnaw up and down my hands and arms -- something I've been trying to discourage since I got him in May.

I know I sound like I'm being overly dramatic, but I promise I'm not exaggerating, and really don't know how to keep him CALM when all he wants to do in the world is run and jump, or simply jump in place like he's a giant tightly-wound spring.

Ideas??!! I need help!

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CobbersMom

Discussion Starter · #5 · Sep 6, 2013

spotted nikes said:
You can also put boy's underwear on him backwards so the tail comes out the crotch hole. I usually apply Cortisone cream on the shaved area to stop the prickly itchy feeling. Just don't put it on the incision.

That might help him feel less trapped while in the crate sleeping at night. He weighs about 18 lbs - not even sure what size boys undies would work. Thanks for the idea! I can stop at Walmart on my way home and see if I can find something to try.

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