Elizabethan Collar

An E-collar or Elizabethan collar is given to the animals who recently had stitches due to a surgery, wound or any such mark on the body that requires some healing time. The reason behind this is their habit of licking and/or biting that area out of irritation. Often referred as the Cone of Shame, due to their cone or night lamp like structure. The Elizabethan collar is used around the necks of the animals for purely medical purposes and pet care. They can be attached to the usual collar of your pets with help of the strings and tabs. One thing that you need to look for is that the collar should not be a barrier to the pet's eyesight as well food consumption.

How to Choose an Elizabethan Collar for Pets
You need to understand that Elizabethan collars for dogs are totally different from the ones for cats and other pet animals. Hence, make sure that you buy the correctly fitting cat or dog collar for your pets. E-collars that are available in the market come with adjustable settings and sizes ranging from 7.5 cm to 40 cm. Some brands also have them in clothing sizes like small, medium, large and extra large and king size. You also need to be aware of the right way to tie the collar to your pet. Always remember that the smaller part of the collar should be at the inner side (around the neck). The plastic loop of the collar should also be kept away from the dog's neck. Make sure that the collar is not too tight. You also need to keep providing them the routine love and care, so that they can understand that you have not punished them!

How to Make an Elizabethan Collar
You can make one with the help of some easily available household things. Depending on the size of the pet, you can use plastic bucket, flower vase, ice cream tube, materials and ensure pet health. Make sure that the collar that you make is not shorter than the length of pet's nose from its neck. Once you are sure about it, then cut the round bottom of that bucket/pot. Now, cut out holes around the bottom of it. You can use a screw driver for the same. Then, thread a stout twine through all holes. Then slip this collar through the neck of your pet and tie the twine ends firmly but not too tightly, which won't restrict them from pet food. However, make sure that you do not tie the twine too tightly or loosely. If you cannot get hold of these instructions, then you need to consult a vet and purchase a well fitting collar for your pet.

Alternatives
No matter how useful they are, pets surely don't enjoy this collar around their neck. Some pets might well tolerate these collars, but at the end pets start to rebel by refusing to eat and drink. Keeping the same thing in mind, many pet product companies have now made a dramatic change in the original appearance of these collars. You can find many alternatives for the E-collar. You can use a few temporary alternatives like small pairs of pants and shorts for dogs, while you can use socks for cats. You can attach a piece of sturdy elastic or drawstring to the inner side of the pants and then tie them around the pet's neck. Secondly, rather than those hard E-collars you can also opt for the collars that are made of paper like materials. You can also bring banded/inflatable collars that act as neck braces and do not restrict the dog off his regular head movements. Some dog owners, especially those with stubborn pets who discover every possible way to get rid of the Elizabethan collar, also prefer to use neoprene body suits to cover the wounds.

As I parting note, I would advice you to consult the vet in order to find the right kind of collar for your beloved pet!