Tips for Pets with the Cone of Doom?

[Ms. Toad Esq.]

I appreciate hearing about everyone's experiences. It makes the whole process seem a little less daunting, knowing other people have dealt with it.

Unfortunately, the cone does need to be on for the whole 3-4 weeks because the cut turned into a really nasty infection (thanks to her constant scratching at it) that must be left alone. If she gets reinfected we have to restart her course of antibiotics and the infection could become chronic.

I took the cone off her this morning while I cleaned off her face and let her eat, drink and use the litterbox without falling all over herself - all while watching her like a hawk, of course. Thankfully she didn't go crazy when we put it back on, and just went back to laying on the carpet and shooting me daggers with her eyes. I wish there was a way for me fast forward through these three weeks for her!

 

[torinsmom]

I don't need sugar coating, but I won't tolerate rude either, and to me that was rude of her. Big difference.

I asked my vet about not wearing one and she told me that the dog needed to wear one or else he would pull his stitches out, and it could get infected or start bleeding, there was no sugar coating it was yes he does, end of discussion. There was never any mention of wasting time or questioning my education concerning being a vet. That was rude.

ITA. When I am a paying customer, I don't need someone treating me like a child. If I ask if it is necessary, just tell me why it is and what might happen if don't do it, so I have the whole picture. When my vet suggests something, I ask a lot of questions. Once, the vet recommended I leave my cat at her office overnight to get intravenous fluids. I couldn't afford that cost, so I asked for other options. She didn't question whether I loved my pet or whether I was wasting her time, she gave me options. Ended up putting a bolus in and then I gave the cat fluids with a syringe every 1-2 hours all night long.

 

[sunshine girl]

Have you tried Feliway? You can buy it on Amazon... It is a little hard to find. I used the Feliway diffuser when transitioning my cat to a new environment and it seemed to really relax her. She went from hiding under the bed to relaxing on the bed and calmly letting my niece/nephew pester her (which she never usually allows). Look it up, i've heard it can be useful in cone of shame situations too. There's a diffuser and a spray. I don't know if it really works or not, but my experience was that it seemed to help!