E collar

[Bomber]

I just brought my dog home from the vet after his cystomy for bladder stones and they put one of those e collars on him so as not to lick at his incision. I spent the morning watching him act miserable with this thing on and whining; he can't relax, eat, pee, or anything. He actually walks around like he's being punished or something. Anyway, I finally took it off of him and now he's able to relax and get some sleep. My question is, does anyone know what will happen if he does lick his incision? I've been able to stop him several times now from doing it, but I can't always be watching him. Thanks for your input because I am really worried about it.

[golden&hovawart]

It's,mostly, to avoid him from pulling the stitches/staples,off and causing,more damage,on the scar.
What you can do,is take it off when you're next to him and put it,on when you can't keep an eye,on him.
Do remember that it only takes a second for him to make some damage.

[fairlight]

An e collar?.....are you sure??? I'm surprised they didn,'t give your dog a cone.

[Bomber]

Well, they called it an e collar but it's one of those plastic things around his head shaped like a cone. The stitches are all internal, but they must have used a glue or something on the external incision. It's weird, but he seems to have a compulsion to lick at anything he can right now.

[mara]

Elizabethan collar as opposed to Electronic Collar.
Mara hated hers when she was spayed but I left it on when I couldn't supervise her. I thought it was better for her to be uncomfortable for short periods rather than pulling out her stitches or getting an infection.

[fairlight]

Ohhh a cone!!! Or what my children call "a satilite head!" Yes, your dog will be miserable but I had to do the same to my dog last year and she was 13 years old! She kept licking her leg until it was raw. The vet even gave her shots to try and control the licking and the itch but it didn;t work so we had to go with a cone. Believe me, she was not a happy camper. The only time we put the cone on is when we had to go out and could not monitor her. It took about a week for her to stop itching and licking her leg.....it might take that long for your dogs incisions. I would take the cone off if you are there to monitor him VERY closely. If not, keep the cone on.....even when he goes outside to do his business....all you would have to do is look away for a second and your dog may start licking. They tend to be a wee bit sneaky!

[Bomber]

I thank you for your feeback, but I'm really curious as to what the danger is with the licking? The incisions are on inside of his body.

[fairlight]

Even if the incisions are inside his body any type of stimulation can open that wound. Have you ever seen a dog just take ONE lick? It's like eating potato chips...ya can't have just one! The licking can cause an abrasion and can lead to infection.

[mara]

Even though the sutures are on the inside, the incision is on the surface. I think it is with a cystostomy,anyway....I could be wrong.
Anytime there is an incision through the skin into an organ....in this case the bladder, there is a chance of infection leeching in from the outside. Also anytime there is an incision into an organ muscles have to be cut and there is a chance of heriation through the incision line that can be caused by rough licking or playing.

[Discdog23]

.....speaking of infection....just think of all the other things your dog licks..... would you want them licking your wounds?? lol that is how my dad put it to me when i asked lol