Quote: Connie Sutherland

.... Chip, there are other post-surgery collars that are less traumatic for many dogs. Let me know if you want links.

This article is 5 pages long ..... I think the alternate collars start at page 3, but the whole article is well worth reading:

http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/13_8/features/Best-Dog-Cones_20037-1.html


Also, http://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/cone-of-shame
and http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/veterinaryqa/a/E-collar-alternative.htm

Wow, thanks for all the links, Connie! I might try more than one. I own a pet shop, and should look into carrying more anyway. Do you have any favorites among these?

It depends on the size and shape of the dog and the location of the protected wound.

This one http://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/cone-of-shame explains the better uses for each pretty well.

That first one and the donut are pretty comfortable, I think, and not traumatic, but you need to figure out if they will keep the dog's face from the site.

Hey guys, just wanted to update. It's been really, really bad -Rose is in critical condition at the 24 hour clinic. I've had the worst day of my adult life, and I know I am going to be unclear on some details. Rose had 6 tumors, so one whole side of mammary tissue was removed and part of the other. And the vet did remove the uterus during the spay because she said there were follicles in it or something. I will get the details on that later. That was yesterday morning.
I got the call that everything went well, but she was in a lot of pain. When I came to take her home, the vet sat me down, explained that there were more tumors than expected, it was far more complicated, etc. and presented me with bill. Now I had the next set of choices; take her home, take her to the 24 hour clinic, or leave her at the vet, where no one would be overnight, but she would be drugged and coned. Since just moving her was so painful, I opted for "C" and made the worst decision of my life. When the staff got there this morning, she had "De-cyst"? Never saw the word she said in writing, but she had busted through her sutures and opened her belly up really badly. They did another operation on her this morning, and I took her to the 24-hour emergency hospital just tonight. You never want to carry a stretcher with your own screaming dog into an emergency clinic. I would have had them do the surgery to begin with if I knew I was going to have to move her. That is the only thing I feel like my vet should have been more upfront about.#1 that she might have to be moved, and #2, the owner has to deal with it. I would have 100% had the surgery done there before signing up for putting my poor dog through this. She's so special, and was just SO painful and delirious. All I can hear is her screaming.

Oh, Chip, I'm so sorry!

One reaction I have :Please don't think (if it feels right) that helping her on her way is giving up on her, if the vet has not given a good and hopeful prognosis.

We all know how terrible it is to say "it's time," but we all face it sooner or later. I don't know if it's time, but you'll know. Then there's this to consider: You might want to request that she be medicated enough to stop the pain and then go to be with her while she is injected. Such a special dog .... you will want to think about this and do what she needs most. It's a gift to be able to assist our best friend in their departure from the broken body.

Maybe I am wrong and she has a good prognosis, but if not, please take what I'm saying in the spirit I mean it. Sometimes love is deciding that the dog has been through enough.

A whole lot of hearts are with you, Chip, no matter what.

I'm so sorry. You've done everything right. All we can ever do is our best, and you've certainly done that.

Another thought from my own POV: sometimes excruciating pain is reason enough, even if the prognosis is good.

The only prognosis was "day by day but stable for now." I told myself she would tell me _I'd know when I saw her. Her tail wagged so hard when she saw me, I know she recognized me, but she tried to get up and come towards me and just started screaming. The rest of my time with her she was drugged and/or being moved in a TON of pain. So my immediate being sure she was going to be okay deflated just as fast. Shortstack hasn't stopped looking for her, and smelled her on me and whimpered when I got back. I never thought about her little sis taking it hard, too!
I really think she's gonna be okay and make it through this. I hope a couple of weeks from now, my only complaint is how broke I am!

"I really think she's gonna be okay and make it through this. "

OK, gotcha. Yes, post-surgery pain can be horrible.

I think you'll know tomorrow (at least within 48 hours) if the pain is receding.

Oh, poor Shortstack .... smelling Rose and blood and meds and anesthesia all in one sniff.

This is when we can do our best to stand tall for our pack, making sure they know that they are safe and that their pack is stable.

I hope it's useful to you to know that you always have the option to release Rose if that's what she needs most. That choice is always there. You never have to let her suffer if it turns out that her condition is poor and the prognosis is dim.

We're with you, Chip.

" I hope a couple of weeks from now, my only complaint is how broke I am!"

I hope so too!

Thinking of you Chip.