Help! My dog keeps chewing through her bandages!

[mickeymedic]

My dog had surgery on her front leg to remove a cyst. I am having a heck of a time keeping bandages on her leg. As soon as she can get out of sight, she starts chewing at them. We have tried both bitter apple and black pepper gels - but she seems to actually LIKE both of those flavors. Go figure.

I wrapped her bandages in duct tape last night - she made it all the way through the night. Then when I was in the shower this morning she went into the back yard and was somehow able to get the gauze and coflex out from UNDER the layer of duct tape. (The duct tape was actually still there - she couldn't get that off.)

And we can't leave the Cone of Shame on her 24/7. She won't eat or drink with it on and can't fit through the doggie door. In fact, she will barely walk with the darn thing. She hangs her head so low with it on that it catches in the carpet and she gets stuck.

Has anyone else dealt with this problem? Did you find anything that worked?

FYI - she is a german shepherd/hound mix.

 

[abdmom]

I had a dog that needed the cone several times. They do eventually figure out how to walk with it. Can you get an elevated stand to put the dog dishes on? Maybe you need to let her out the door for now. Generally, it they don't get at the bandage, it should heal relatively quickly.

 

[Luvchefmic]

My dog had surgery on her front leg to remove a cyst. I am having a heck of a time keeping bandages on her leg. As soon as she can get out of sight, she starts chewing at them. We have tried both bitter apple and black pepper gels - but she seems to actually LIKE both of those flavors. Go figure.

I wrapped her bandages in duct tape last night - she made it all the way through the night. Then when I was in the shower this morning she went into the back yard and was somehow able to get the gauze and coflex out from UNDER the layer of duct tape. (The duct tape was actually still there - she couldn't get that off.)

And we can't leave the Cone of Shame on her 24/7. She won't eat or drink with it on and can't fit through the doggie door. In fact, she will barely walk with the darn thing. She hangs her head so low with it on that it catches in the carpet and she gets stuck.

Has anyone else dealt with this problem? Did you find anything that worked?

FYI - she is a german shepherd/hound mix.

Is anyone home during the day with her? That's going to help alot. When one of our dogs had cysts removed last year we had the cone of shame too. They're always so big. I had to cut it down all around. I removed it when he ate & drank & had to go out but I was home. When I had to go out I had to put him in the laudry room so that I could leave the cone on and it wouldn't catch on anything. Can you put her somehwere like this? Don't think the duct tape or the gels are a good idea at all...although I CAN understand your frustration with this. Vet have any ideas ?


Dillon...not a happy camper but it worked:

 

[cabanafrau]

My goofball, but absolutely beloved, golden was a complete mess w/ the cone on -- and moped and pouted to the max to increase the guilt I felt about making him wear it. I had to come to grips w/ the fact it was the only way he would heal.

I understand your pain & I'm sorry I don't have a better answer for you. Best of luck.

 

[mickeymedic]

Is anyone home during the day with her? That's going to help alot. When one of our dogs had cysts removed last year we had the cone of shame too. They're always so big. I had to cut it down. I removed it when he ate & drank & had to go out but I was home. Don't think the duct tape or the gels are a good idea at all...although I CAN understand your frustration with this. Vet have any ideas ?

Yeah...the vet's ideas...where do I start. We didn't have any problems until we followed the vet's instructions. We were told by the vet to remove the bandages after 1 1/2 to 2 days. (She didn't chew at her bandages the first couple of days - she was still kind of out of it from the meds.) Within hours of doing this, though, she had pulled out her stitches. We took her back to the vet. The vet said that her wound was too inflamed to re-stitch, so we would just have to let it heal without stitches. The vet recommended we keep it wrapped and use either the bitter apple gel or the black pepper gel to prevent her from licking/chewing at it. The vet also suggested keeping her somewhat sedated with Benadryl. After the first 2 days, though, the Benadryl didn't really slow her down. Luckily we had a Cone of Shame from a previous issue with our Husky. Unfortunately the shepherd/hound has not adapted AT ALL to wearing it. (The Husky wasn't happy about wearing it, but she figured out very quickly how to eat, drink and even get out the doggy door with it on.)

As far as someone staying home with her all the time...DH works nights and I work days. 1/2 the time that either of us are at home, we are sleeping. My inlaws have been "babysitting" when they can. But there is no way to have someone home AND awake at all times. We are currently using the cone when no one is home and most of the time when we are sleeping. The Cone just stresses her out sooo badly that I want to minimize the amount of time that she has to wear it.

 

[pumba]

My daughters victorian bulldog had surgury last fall on his knee and because he WOULD not stop licking it the area became inflamed this spring and had an opening.....he is on antibiotics again and this time if no one is in the house with him he has a cone on ......he mopes around too

 

[mickeymedic]

My goofball, but absolutely beloved, golden was a complete mess w/ the cone on -- and moped and pouted to the max to increase the guilt I felt about making him wear it. I had to come to grips w/ the fact it was the only way he would heal.

I understand your pain & I'm sorry I don't have a better answer for you. Best of luck.

I'm thinking you are probably right. It was much easier with my other dog - she let us know she didn't like it, but she still was able to function. This dog just stands there an panting and shedding. The first night she didn't sit down for hours. I thought she was going to fall asleep standing up and then just fall over. And at the rate that her hair falls out when she gets stressed - and with the Cone she is stressed - I'm thinking I'm going to have to start knitting her a sweater.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Yeah...the vet's ideas...where do I start. We didn't have any problems until we followed the vet's instructions. We were told by the vet to remove the bandages after 1 1/2 to 2 days. (She didn't chew at her bandages the first couple of days - she was still kind of out of it from the meds.) Within hours of doing this, though, she had pulled out her stitches. We took her back to the vet. The vet said that her wound was too inflamed to re-stitch, so we would just have to let it heal without stitches. The vet recommended we keep it wrapped and use either the bitter apple gel or the black pepper gel to prevent her from licking/chewing at it. The vet also suggested keeping her somewhat sedated with Benadryl. After the first 2 days, though, the Benadryl didn't really slow her down. Luckily we had a Cone of Shame from a previous issue with our Husky. Unfortunately the shepherd/hound has not adapted AT ALL to wearing it. (The Husky wasn't happy about wearing it, but she figured out very quickly how to eat, drink and even get out the doggy door with it on.)

As far as someone staying home with her all the time...DH works nights and I work days. 1/2 the time that either of us are at home, we are sleeping. My inlaws have been "babysitting" when they can. But there is no way to have someone home AND awake at all times. We are currently using the cone when no one is home and most of the time when we are sleeping. The Cone just stresses her out sooo badly that I want to minimize the amount of time that she has to wear it.

Oh good grief...I don't like your vet...I don't know what else to say except I hope she heals fast this is tough on all of you

 

[cabanafrau]

I'm thinking you are probably right. It was much easier with my other dog - she let us know she didn't like it, but she still was able to function. This dog just stands there an panting and shedding. The first night she didn't sit down for hours. I thought she was going to fall asleep standing up and then just fall over. And at the rate that her hair falls out when she gets stressed - and with the Cone she is stressed - I'm thinking I'm going to have to start knitting her a sweater.

Aw, so sorry for her, and for you. I hope she adjusts -- and heals quickly!

 

[stichy]

I had the same problem with my boxer a few years ago. She refused to wear the cone of share. She was able to get out of it no matter what size we tried. She was eating through the bandage every day. I would have to take her back to the vet to get it rewraped and it was costing me $15 each time. After 2 or 3 days the vet finally gave us some drops that were safe to us but was bitter to rub all over the bandage. I worked somewhat.

 

[Jingle]

I had a similar problem with my dog. What finally worked was a Soft Elizabethan (sp?) Collar that looked more like a soft life ring around his neck. I got it from my vet. I swear he actually liked it and would lay back with his head resting on it like a pillow. I could never stand putting one of those plastic cones on him.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

What we did for this is take an old long sleeved tee shirt and put it on the dog. She looked pretty funny but it worked like a charm. Just be careful of overheating where it's summer.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Another vote for the Elizabethan Collar. For our first cocker after neutering (who had actually started biting at the incision before he even came awake), he found a way to work around the collar and still get to his stitches (he must have practice yoga when we weren't home) and actually had to get a taller one. It was a pain for all of us, but it saved the stitches.

 

[shortbun]

I had a dog that needed the cone several times. They do eventually figure out how to walk with it. Can you get an elevated stand to put the dog dishes on? Maybe you need to let her out the door for now. Generally, it they don't get at the bandage, it should heal relatively quickly.

This. Remove the cone when needed but only in your presence.

 

[bgirldeb]

Sorry! I couldn't resist!

Our Jack Russell Terrier just got neutered yesterday. They gave us an e-collar to bring home with us, but we haven't needed it yet. He was too groggy to use it last night, and is still sleeping a lot today.

I believe they have softer versions of e-collars at the pet store. Not sure if that would work any better for her.

 

[mickeymedic]

I had a similar problem with my dog. What finally worked was a Soft Elizabethan (sp?) Collar that looked more like a soft life ring around his neck. I got it from my vet. I swear he actually liked it and would lay back with his head resting on it like a pillow. I could never stand putting one of those plastic cones on him.

Ooooh. I'll have to see if I can get one of these. It would certainly be worth a try - and probably a little less stressful for my poor puppy dog.

Thanks to everyone who has offered up stories and suggestions! I knew I could count on my dis friends to help.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Ooooh. I'll have to see if I can get one of these. It would certainly be worth a try - and probably a little less stressful for my poor puppy dog.

Thanks to everyone who has offered up stories and suggestions! I knew I could count on my dis friends to help.

Wow I hope you find it...love the Dis too never saw anything like that

 

[damo]

Here is the comfy cone.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002MVURV2...e=asn&creative=395093&creativeASIN=B002MVURV2

I made my own and it worked great.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Here is the comfy cone.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002MVURV2...e=asn&creative=395093&creativeASIN=B002MVURV2

I made my own and it worked great.

Thanks with this pack someone will certainly need it in the future for one thing or another !

 

[uconndz]

the cone freaked out my dog. my vet suggested taking a beach towel and rolling it up. put it aroung the dogs neck (where the collar would be) and duct tape it. It's thick enough that she can't lick her legs. This worked well with my dog. (she also has had several cyst removal surgeries and we used it every time.) Good luck