We just had our 7.5-month-old husky mix neutered today. Now that it’s nighttime, we’re trying to put the cone on, but he’s freaking out. He thrashes around, even with treats and someone holding him.
Anyone here dealt with this before? Would love to know how you managed.
If this keeps up, does anyone have a backup plan for stopping him from licking his stitches? We’re currently taking turns keeping an eye on him, but it’s exhausting. Any help is really welcome.
Some folks on this forum have tried baby onesies and just cut a spot for the tail. There are also cone alternatives like those neck pillow-style ones, which my dog tolerated way better.
Maybe a soft cone would help. My dog hated the hard one, but he tolerated the soft cone enough to even sleep with it on.
We don’t use the cone after surgery with our pets. We just keep a close watch and distract them if they start licking. We’ve found it helps if we give them a stuffed Kong or something to keep them busy.
You should be able to have enough control over your dog to put the cone on. My dog didn’t like it either, but he stayed put when I told him to sit. Another option is an old t-shirt, maybe putting his back legs through the sleeves and tying it up so it doesn’t drag.
@StewartTyler
We definitely need to work on training, but he’s mostly just scared of the cone. I’ll try putting it on the floor with treats around it tomorrow to help him get used to it. I’ll give the t-shirt trick a go, too. Thanks.
@Meech
Put the cone near him and give him treats each time he looks at it. If he’s calm, you could put a treat through the head hole to reward him. Keep repeating, lots of praise, then try putting it on for a bit while giving treats. This approach has worked well for us.
@Meech
It’s normal for him to be scared. If he trusts you, though, he should eventually be okay with it. I actually think the t-shirt might be more comfortable for him in the long run. Best of luck.
@StewartTyler
That seems a bit harsh. It’s totally normal for a puppy to be freaked out by a cone at first. The t-shirt idea is a great workaround.
Ronald1 said:
@StewartTyler
That seems a bit harsh. It’s totally normal for a puppy to be freaked out by a cone at first. The t-shirt idea is a great workaround.
Obedience and trust go hand in hand. If the dog trusts you, he’ll eventually do what you ask.
We got our puppy a recovery suit on Amazon. It worked really well and was more comfortable for him.
Our vet recommended the MPS doggy onesie. Worked like a charm for us.
If he’s really stressed, maybe call your vet about a low dose of a calming med like Trazodone. It’s important to protect the incision without making him too miserable. There’s usually a way to balance it out.
Some alternatives might be helpful: soft cones, inflatable collars, or even a wrap-around style that clips rather than slides over the head. A lot of people also suggest training videos online, where you start by just letting the dog see the cone without pushing it on them, and then working your way up slowly. It takes time, but it can help reduce fear. Sometimes it’s also helpful to have the vet or a tech help show you how to put it on so it’s less stressful for the dog.
Nope, this isn’t how you build trust. Do you really want your dog to be afraid of you? There are ways to gain control without being aggressive. A trusted dog will listen to you, and that’s real obedience.
@Gia
I’m not saying be rough with the dog! I’ve seen vets use gentle restraint to inspect a wound, and sometimes you need to hold the dog still for medical reasons. It’s not mean; it’s necessary.
You’re not going to be able to keep eyes on him 24/7. You need rest, too, right? So the cone is the safest option, even if he doesn’t like it.
Wow, great advice… but all you’re really doing is risking creating aggression by handling him this way.
xavier said:
Wow, great advice… but all you’re really doing is risking creating aggression by handling him this way.
It’s not about aggression; it’s about making sure he doesn’t hurt himself. The cone is there to keep him safe after surgery.
@Nathan
The dog doesn’t understand why he has to wear the cone. If he bites out of fear, it just reinforces that force isn’t the answer. If he learns that fighting back gets him out of the cone, or if he learns fighting doesn’t work, it just escalates things either way.
If the cone has become a big issue, maybe another option like a t-shirt or one of those inflatable collars would be a better fit. Sounds like he’s really scared of the cone now, so anything gentle would be worth a try.