Elizabethan Collar for Dogs — Uses and Recommendations

When a dog has a wound or has been operated on, its instinct is to lick the wound. This isn't always advisable, since it could make it worse, get it infected, or pull out the stitches if it's been operated on... this is where the famous Elizabethan collar comes in.

The Elizabethan collar is simply a cone-shaped plastic collar whose purpose is to stop the dog from licking or biting certain parts of its body. Let's look in detail at how it works.

How Does an Elizabethan Collar Work?

There are different sizes of Elizabethan collar, which are fitted around the dog's neck with the help of its own collar or a bandage tied like a cord. The Elizabethan collar should always be a little loose, so it doesn't get in the way of the dog's normal breathing.

In practice, the Elizabethan collar is adjusted to the same size as the collar the dog normally wears. Its conical shape stops the dog from licking its paws, genitals, head, or the back of its body.

This way, if for example our dog has been neutered and has stitches, the Elizabethan collar will help stop the dog from licking the wound.

The Elizabethan collar's only purpose is to protect the dog from itself — from its instinct to lick its wounds or its attempts to scratch if it feels itchy. This way the wounds heal faster and the collar can be removed once the vet decides it's appropriate.

When Should an Elizabethan Collar Be Used?

It's the vet who will tell us when it's necessary to use this type of collar and for how long. It's normally used when the dog has been operated on or has a wound that could get worse if it scratches or licks it.

The dog should always wear the Elizabethan collar, day and night. Dogs become very clumsy in the first few days with this type of protective collar — they'll bump into everything and give us those puppy eyes so we take it off, but they need to get used to it.

During meals or when we're present and keeping constant watch, we can take the collar off so it can rest a little. But always under supervision, to prevent it from licking its wounds or scratching at them. We should never take the collar off and leave it unsupervised — it could be disastrous.

At night, it should also wear the collar. It will get used to sleeping with its head stretched forward to be comfortable. No matter how much it whines or gives us those looks, we shouldn't take the collar off so it can sleep, since it could wake up and pick at the wound without us noticing.

Do Dogs Suffer When Wearing the Elizabethan Collar?

Yes and no — dogs do not suffer physically from wearing the Elizabethan collar; it doesn't cause them any kind of pain. However, they won't be able to live their normal life, so in a way, they will suffer somewhat. They also won't be able to lick the wound or scratch it even if it itches, which can also make them suffer in a way — but remember, it's for their own good.