If you need to prevent your dog from licking a wound, you will need to fit him with a cone. Also known as Elizabethan collars, e-collars, or recovery collars, they fit around your dog's neck and prevent him from being able to access the wounded area. Learning how to make a dog cone can save you money.
We've all seen a sad dog wearing ‘the cone of shame' while recovering from surgery. The dog is uncomfortable, the cone looks ridiculous, and it's just as upsetting for the owner who has to make their dog wear it.
This DIY dog cone is much more comfortable than a large plastic e-collar. It's also easier to put on your dog, and I think your Fido will be much happier with this than the alternatives you can get from your veterinarian.
How to Make a Dog Cone
You'll only need two things to make a dog cone:
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- thick twine (like this one)
- pool noodle (like this one)
I know what you're thinking, a pool cannot make a good dog cone, right? Actually, the porous material of a pool noodle is soft and breathable, making it very comfortable for your dog to wear.
Measure the circumference of your dog's neck. Add 6″ to the measurement, and cut a piece of twine that long. Set it aside for now.
Now, you'll need to cut the pool noodle into small pieces. The smaller your dog's neck, the thinner the pieces will need to be. As you will see in my video guide above, I cut the pieces about 1.5″-2″ in width for our Beagle. She has a neck circumference of about 18″.
You'll need to cut enough pieces to fill the length of your twine, but leave enough room to space them out a little bit. You can see what I am talking about in my video guide or in the photo above.
Now that you've learned how to make a dog cone, all you have to do is secure it around his neck. Just tie the twine around Fido's neck until the noodles fit snuggly. You can trim off any excess twine at this time.
Your dog should not be able to bend his neck around to lick his wounds while wearing this collar. Whether your pup has a skin irritation or is recovering from surgery, this DIY dog collar should prevent him from irritating the area.
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