Best Alternatives to Surgical Dog Cones (2024)

Surgical dog cones can help stop your dog from licking wounds, stitches after surgery, or other problem spots. Though useful for preventing further irritation, the traditional dog cone is an often-uncomfortable plastic cone that can quickly get grimy. You have several dog cone alternatives to consider to replace the typical “cone of shame” for your dog.

Here’s what you need to know about the traditional dog cone collar and popular alternatives to find the best solution for your dog.

When do pets need a dog cone collar?

If your pup recently had a surgical procedure — like a spay or neuter procedure — a dog cone collar prevents them from licking, biting, or scratching their wound while it heals.

Veterinarians typically send dogs home with a plastic surgical cone to wear after surgery or to stop them from licking or scratching irritated skin or hot spots. These plastic cones can be uncomfortable or problematic for some pets. You may see cones with this shape referred to as Elizabethan collars, or E-collars.^[1]

Issues with traditional dog cones

Traditional cones can create problems for dogs in a few different ways. For starters, pet cones can cause pets to bump into walls, feel discomfort, and experience psychological distress.^[2]

Traditional dog cones can also make it harder for your dog to:

• Eat and drink

• Play

• Sleep

• Exercise and go for walks

• Walk up and down stairs

Learn More: What Does Pet Insurance Cover and Is It Worth It?

Best surgical dog cone alternatives

If your dog doesn’t like wearing a dog cone, or it upsets you to see them wearing one, you have comfortable alternative options for your pet, including soft cone collars, inflatable collars, recovery clothing and onesies, and protective clothing for hind and front legs.^[3]

These alternatives can help you keep your dog’s wound site clean and healthy without putting your pet in an uncomfortable plastic cone. If the following best dog cone alternatives don’t fully work for your dog’s situation, you can ask your vet about medication to prevent pain or itching. Reducing the wound’s sensation might help your pet stop licking it.

Soft collars

Made with soft fabric, soft collars resemble cones but provide more comfort than their hard plastic cone counterparts. If you’re looking to buy a soft collar, you may also find them sold as a “comfy cone,” “comfy collar,” or “pillow collar.”

Soft E-collars have a couple potential drawbacks to keep in mind. Due to their cone shape, they can still block your pet’s peripheral vision like a plastic dog cone. And your pet may be able to chew through the collar’s soft material, exposing the wound or affected area to further irritation.

Keep Reading: How Can You Lower Pet Insurance Costs?

Inflatable collars

Inflatable collars look a bit like pool floaties, but they’re popular with many pet owners because they don’t obstruct your pet’s peripheral vision. Inflatable dog collars are available in a wide array of fabrics and colors.

When not in use, you can deflate these collars, which makes storing them easier. This type of collar is a good option that provides more comfort than a hard plastic E-collar.

Recovery clothing and onesies

Recovery suits and sleeves are protective clothing items made with comfortable fabric that your pet can wear while recovering from surgery or an injury. You can use this protective clothing to keep bandages or gauze pads in place if your pet needs them.

Whether you have success with protective clothing for your pet will depend on how comfortable your dog is with wearing a layer of fabric.

Some pet owners also purchase onesies or use one of their own T-shirts to make a protective layer. These solutions might help protect mild wounds, but it’s still possible for pets to scratch through layers of thin fabric.

Hind-leg and front-leg protective clothing

If your pet has a wound on its leg, you can also try placing a sock or a bootie on the limb — perhaps keeping it in place with a wrapped bandage tape. This will be more comfortable for your dog than wearing a cone.

But unless they’re fitted very well, these guards can easily fall off.

Ways to manage your pet’s discomfort

In addition to having your dog wear an alternative to a standard dog cone, you have other ways you can try to reduce your pet’s discomfort and improve its quality of life.

Here are some ideas to keep in mind when your dog is recovering from surgery, injury, or irritation.

• Make sure your pet has a comfortable place to rest. Place extra pillows or blankets in your pet’s rest area. Add one of your old shirts so your pet has the comforting scent of you while recovering.

• If your dog sleeps in a crate, make sure it’s large enough to accommodate a dog cone or alternative. Your pet should be able to turn around in its crate without bumping into the sides, even while wearing a cone. If your crate isn’t large enough, ask your friends, family, or even your vet if they have one you can borrow when your pet recovers.

• Purchase new toys and gentle games to keep your pet engaged. Check on your pet often to assess its mental well-being and see if it’s feeling better or worse after surgery.

• Give your pet extra attention and speak to it softly. What your pet likely needs most during this time is to feel like it’s not alone. Surgery can be scary for animals, too.

• Set up your pet somewhere it can look outside. This can be especially beneficial if your pet can’t go for a walk or play during the healing process.

Dog cone alternatives FAQs