Can I use a pool noodle dog collar instead of a cone of shame/e-collar? Well, the answer to your question is no, yes, and more yes.
Please don’t go mad at me for being vague, I’ll explain it to you thoroughly.
So read on to know.
Does a pool noodle collar really work?
A pool noodle cone is as effective as any other cone, it has been a comfy, cheaper alternative to conventional recovery collars.
The best thing is you will find the required material lying around you in your home, so it doesn’t take you much to give it a try.
Can I use a pool noodle dog collar instead of the cone of shame?
Well, the answer differs from dog to dog, and it might not work for every sort of dog from reaching his wound.
Small or Normal-sized Dog
Generally, any donut-shaped collar, whether it is an inflatable or pool noodles-made dog collar, for sure, will work if a dog has an incision or something on his body, even on his legs.
Flexible Dogs with Long Legs & a Long Tongue
Any collar, be it any typical recovery collar or a pool noodle collar, is not sufficient for a big flexible dog with long legs and a long tongue and can get at things on his legs, so if he has sutures on his legs, they are likely to be licked or chewed. In that case, you’d have to double up (two pool noodle collars or one pool noodle with a cone, etc., just to name a few combinations).
Yes, if the dog has something on his body, then you can surely wear him a pool noodle collar.
Other Alternatives
Bandages, surgical suits, and T-shirts can be replacements for Elizabethan collars.
Fear of Shredability?
What is a pool noodle dog collar?
If you’re familiar with pool noodles, then the name would surely be obvious, a dog collar made of pool noodles. It is way comfier, less itchy, breathable, light, and spongy than a typical recovery collar/Elizabeth cone, which you use to put around dogs’ necks to thwart them from reaching and licking surgical sites, incisions, wounds, etc.
The vet didn’t ask me to wear my dog any cone? Tho, I heard the opposite of that.
It is because he must have used surgical glue instead of suturing the wound, then there is nothing left unguarded.
If you see your dog not mess, lick or chew his stitches, then a cone is likely to be unnecessary.
But if you caught him even smelling his suture…
Then even if your dog sleeps all day, it is still recommended to put something on him.
Some dogs don’t give a shit about their incision, and then there are some whose lives become hell unless they don’t lick it.
Crux: Keep your dog under your supervision so things don’t go wrong.