Alternatives to the “cone of shame” are inflatable collars, soft E-collars and neck brace collars. Try covering the wound with soft fabric secured by medical tape to prevent licking. Keep pets busy with other fun things to distract them from licking wounds.
Belly Guard - Dog Recovery Onesie - Cone Alternative - After Surgery Wear. This veterinary recommended alternative to the cone is designed to promote a quick and comfortable recovery from spaying, neutering, rashes, hot spots and abdominal area wounds, and more.
You can use any shirt that will cover the wound and prevent your dog from licking at it. You can make your own dog cone, too.
If your furry companion is on the smaller side, a “onesie” may be a good choice. Made of soft, stretchy fabric, this bodysuit covers cats and dogs beginning at the neck, along the body and over the hindquarters.
Keep the Cone On
Only remove it sparingly when absolutely necessary. Most dogs will eventually learn how to maneuver and get along just fine with their cone. A little extra encouragement by way of attention can help your dog feel a little less worried about the contraption around their head.
So while licking will slightly help decrease these two types of bacteria, there are many other bacteria that can start to overgrow in the wound. Unfortunately, this means that dog saliva ultimately does not help clean or heal the wounds, so it's best to prevent dogs from licking their wounds.
Dogs are not immune to infections due to the slight antibacterial properties of their saliva. Allowing them to lick your wound doesn't make it heal any faster, and it is not a terribly effective way to prevent infections either.
Bandages
Bandaging a wound on your dog can be enough to stop your dog wanting to lick the wound, as it's often a case of out of sight out of mind. Tip - You want to ensure that the bandage is on firmly but not too tight, that it is comfortable for your dog and they are able to move around easily.
Excessive licking can irritate the incision site causing inflammation, leading to further infection, and will even cause it to reopen. Licking and chewing on the wound will also tear the sutures and require you to visit the vet again to close it properly.
You can also cover the stitches with a bandage. This might be necessary if the wound is on a limb. If the dog scratches at the wound with a back leg, try putting a snug-fitting sock on that paw so the nails can't rip at the stitches.
Flexible fabric E-collars: Soft and flexible yet keep most dogs away from their wound site. Neck control collars: Immobilize your dog's neck so he can't access the surgical site. Inflatable E-collars: Puffy and padded but not the best option for determined chewers.
The cone should stay on until the site is fully healed, and/or the sutures are removed. Most sutures and staples are left in for 10-14 days. Other lesions may take less or more time than that to heal completely.
It is important that the incision is kept dry for 14 days. That includes preventing your pet from licking the incision. It is their instinct to lick and soothe wounds, so it is very likely that your pet may do so. The licking may disrupt the external stitches or glue, as well as introducing bacteria into the site.
Treating the sores:
Anti-inflammatory medications (to reduce the skin tingle) Bandages or an Elizabethan collar (“cone of shame”)
Initially, attempt to stop the bleeding by applying direct pressure to the wound with an absorbent dressing, such as dry gauze, followed by a layer of bandage material or a clean, dry cloth. This will protect the wound during transport to the veterinary clinic and prevent any further contamination of the injury.
You can also distract your cat by using one of their favorite toys. Toys are a great way to keep their attention away from their wound. But be careful not to get them riled up and excited. If you get them running and jumping too much it can aggravate their stitches or reopen a wound.
Because of their incredible sense of smell, dogs can detect subtle changes in human scent caused by disease. They can smell out illnesses such as cancer. It turns out that cancer and other diseases or infections have a smell. Chemicals called volatile organic compounds are produced by cancer cells.
The Root of the Behavior
Humans, dogs, as well as other species, will desire to quickly attend to their wounds. It is an instinct. When your dog licks a wound, there are healing capacities in their saliva and it can also help cleanse the area. They are natural healers when it comes to grooming and cleaning.
Bandages can be readily applied to the head, neck, chest, tail, or lower legs of a dog.