Elizabethan Collars - Veterinary Orthopedic Sports Medicine Group

Elizabethan Collars
After surgery, your pet will need to wear an Elizabethan
collar at all times, especially when unsupervised. This is to
ensure that he or she does not lick or scratch the incision or
potentially ingest the sutures or staples. We strongly recommend the collar be worn as it is for your pet’s own safety
and health. Your pet will be better able to recover without
complications including infections, prolonged healing
and bleeding at the incision site. Ideally, while wearing a
protective collar, your pet should be able to move freely,
eat and sleep comfortably. There are a variety of options for
Elizabethan collars, both traditional (eg. plastic cone) and
non-traditional (eg. inflatable neck cushion). Some of the
less traditional collars are more comfortable but may not
adequately protect your pet from surgical complications.
Types of Elizabethan Collars
1. Traditional Elizabethan Collar*
2. Fabric Collar
3. Cushion Collar
4. Structured Velcro Collar
When worn regularly, this
plastic cone protects your
pet from licking or biting
the incision post-surgically. However, some pets
tend to dislike the traditional e-collar because it
is heavy, makes walking
*Supplied by VOSM at surgical discharge.
and balancing difficult,
and is rumored to make them feel shameful (not really).
These are often smaller
than traditional e-collars but do not extend
outward to fully block
your pet from licking or
biting his or her incision.
They are softer and wrap
around the neck, either filled with stuffing or air.
5. Structured
Fabric Collar
Similar to the traditional
e-collar in shape, these
fabric collars are softer but
still protective.
These may include handmade, decorative options
that do not hold a definitive shape to Velcro options
that can be bent backwards
so your pet can still see
where he/she is walking
and can lay comfortably.
They may or may not be structured enough to keep your
pet from licking or biting at the incision.
A hybrid between a rigid plastic
collar and a cushioned collar,
these allow your pet to see where
he/she is walking while also
keeping them from licking or
biting the incision. They may be
uncomfortable for resting.
Elizabethan Collar Brands
Clinic Collars
Pet Botanics
Kong
Trimline
ElizaSoft Recovery Collar
ProCollar
Cloud Collar
The Comfy Cone
Hagar Collar
BiteNot Collar
The Cuddle Cone
Cardinal Laboratories
Veterinary Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Group (VOSM) - 10975 Guilford Road Annapolis Junction, MD 20701 - (240) 295-4400 - www.vetsportsmedicine.com