Back last Summer, Fifi had some mammary tumours removed and had to wear the Cone Of Shame for ten days. She hated it for the first few days, then gradually adapted to moving and sleeping with an unwieldy plastic funnel clipped to her neck.
This week, another trip to the Vet meant either another plastic cone, bandaging or some other method to prevent her from literally licking her wounds.
I found some leftover fleecy fabric from a nightshirt that No.3 Son made, and decided to make her a comfy coat instead. Whilst she already has several coats, none of them were long enough underbelly to cover the affected area.
So, for those of you who would rather not put your own dog through the trauma of The Cone, here’s a quick way to make a lick-prevention jacket.
Measure your dog around the widest part of her ribs, just behind the front legs, then add an inch for seam allowances.
Measure from the back of her neck towards the tail, at a point just in front of the back legs (so he/she can still wee easily!).
Cut a rectangle of fabric to these measurements.
With right sides facing, sew the short ends together with a half inch seam.
I pressed open the seam and top stitched it flat so there would be no irritation next to the skin.
Measure the distance between the front legs and cut two leg holes on the underside. The distance from the neck to the legs will determine how far back these openings are placed.
How long did that take? Five minutes at the most, but your dog will thank you for your efforts, trust me!
See? She can’t get to her wound because the coat is completely covering it.
She soon gave up trying and settled down happily.
a) she won’t keep us awake with her licky sounds all night long – you’d be surprised how loud (and annoying) licking can be in the middle of the night.
b) no oozing on the (very white) duvet cover. Yes, she sleeps on our bed. She’s 14, what the hell.
c) she can actually get comfortable and sleep, which is virtually impossible when wearing a plastic cone to bed.
Failing the ability to actually sew a seam, just grab one of hubby’s old long sleeve T-shirts, cut it to the right length and make two leg holes in the appropriate place. No sewing needed:)
February 10, 2017 at 11:33 am
Sensible!
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February 13, 2017 at 3:20 pm
I thought so, too – wonder why vets don’t suggest this as an alternative?
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February 10, 2017 at 12:01 pm
Good ide to make it yourself my vet gave us a kind of long t shirt after neutering and it’s so much easier for dogs than the cones and it diminishes shedding too.
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February 13, 2017 at 3:21 pm
The cones are horrible and I’ve yet to hear about a dog that actually likes wearing one!
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February 10, 2017 at 12:03 pm
Now here’e a business venture if ever I saw one! Bless your lttle woofer.
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February 13, 2017 at 3:22 pm
Coats for dogs are not a new idea, I know, but a more practical, surgical type might be a new thing?
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February 13, 2017 at 3:31 pm
I honestly think you would be on a winner.
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February 10, 2017 at 12:08 pm
Very nice 🙂 Hope your puppy gets better soon 🙂
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February 13, 2017 at 3:23 pm
Thanks, she is much better now although, at 14, every time she gets ill we wonder if it’s her last!
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February 10, 2017 at 12:38 pm
Bless her – that face!! Hope she’s all healed up very soon. x
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February 13, 2017 at 3:23 pm
She’s much better now, thank you – and still wearing the coat!
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February 10, 2017 at 1:09 pm
Sorry to hear Fifi’s had to have more attention from the vet. Hope she’s fully mended very soon. Meantime she looks fab. You’ve missed mentioning that it also saves the doors and door frames getting battered. Having a bigger dog, I’ve cheated completely and put the kids t-shirts on Hicks when they were younger – although you still can’t leave him or go to bed with him in them, because he rips them off when you’re not looking 😦
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February 13, 2017 at 3:25 pm
Yes, I’d forgotten about the damage cones can cause! Not to mention the ricked neck they get from misjudging the width of the cone and ramming into door frames, table legs etc.! A T-shirt is a great idea for a large dog:)
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February 10, 2017 at 1:22 pm
Wow, this is a great idea!
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February 13, 2017 at 3:26 pm
Thank you – she seems quite happy in it.
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February 10, 2017 at 2:18 pm
Reblogged this on winwithmindyb and commented:
This is one of the best ideas I have ever seen. Thank you
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February 13, 2017 at 3:26 pm
Thanks so much!
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February 10, 2017 at 2:22 pm
Hope Fifi feels better soon,good idea so much more comfortable than the plastic thing
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February 13, 2017 at 3:27 pm
She is well on the way to being back to her normal self, thank you. The cone was never going to be an option after the last time!
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February 10, 2017 at 5:40 pm
Bless her! She looks so glam while recovering. Get well soon Fifi!
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February 13, 2017 at 3:27 pm
Thanks – she is improving every day and is almost back to normal now:)
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February 10, 2017 at 8:04 pm
Aww gorgeous idea! Looks so cute!
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February 13, 2017 at 3:27 pm
Thank you:)
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February 10, 2017 at 9:54 pm
Terrific idea. Our litter beagle was neutered and had to wear the cone of shame. Somehow he managed to tear it off and play with it. When we looked in the morning he had torn the entire cone in half and was sleeping with one half under him. He is a funny little beagle and makes us laugh because of his non stop antics. Thanks for all your information. I love your blog
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February 13, 2017 at 3:29 pm
He probably wasn’t playing with it, but was more likely killing it in revenge!! A coat is a much less traumatic option, isn’t it?
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February 10, 2017 at 11:04 pm
A super stylish solution !!
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February 13, 2017 at 3:29 pm
Thanks Caren – now she and No.3 Son have matching nightwear:)
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February 15, 2017 at 9:47 pm
LOL 🙂
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February 10, 2017 at 11:28 pm
This is a brilliant idea and far more humane than those cones. I hope you’ll share this idea with your vet, any local animal shelters, etc. I love that you were able to come up with such a creative solution, Sheila.
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February 13, 2017 at 3:31 pm
You would think it was an obvious solution, wouldn’t you? Dogs are already traumatised by having been through an operation, so adding to the terror by sticking a plastic cone around their necks is exacerbating the problem, surely? Our vet thinks it’s a fab alternative, by the way:)
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February 23, 2017 at 10:45 pm
Yes! Yes, yes, yes.
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February 11, 2017 at 2:24 am
Grand solution, Sheila! 👍
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February 13, 2017 at 3:32 pm
Thanks Del – our vet thinks so, too! Although she hasn’t placed her order yet….!
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February 11, 2017 at 4:09 am
Such a good idea! Fifi makes the perfect little model too. Is she feeling better now? We’ve had a real struggle with cones for Buzz: we went through 3 last time. I may try this next time. I’m also thinking this would be good for them almost as pajamas, so when I let them out in the morning they won’t get wet tummies!
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February 13, 2017 at 3:34 pm
Cones are just the last straw after dogs have been through the trauma of a visit to the vets – I would definitely try this next time if I were you. Fifi wears a coat all Winter as she gets so cold, but I’m sure Buzz would like one as a nightshirt!
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February 11, 2017 at 7:38 am
This is a great idea! I don’t know why the Vets aren’t handing these out, instead of cones!
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February 13, 2017 at 3:35 pm
Cost, probably – it’s not as if coats for dogs is a new invention!
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February 11, 2017 at 8:22 am
Hope she recovers soon. It’s so much better & less distressing than having a plastic thing on your head. We have always tried to cover any wounds with t shirts etc, as we have dachshunds with long noses & short legs, not a good combination for a hideous plastic cone. Al though funny to watch when they are better
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February 13, 2017 at 3:36 pm
Oh yes, the amusement factor is high when they are on the mend! When they’re in pain and distressed from trying to adapt to a cone, it’s a different matter entirely, isn’t it?
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February 11, 2017 at 9:36 pm
She looks great in her camouflage bodysuit! Great idea😃 & hope she’s better soon.
I remember how loud the licking can be!
Almost a year since losing our dog but dog sitting this weekend has reminded us of what we have been missing….she’s currently sat between us on the sofa!!
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February 13, 2017 at 3:37 pm
Aw, how good of you to dog sit after your loss. Fifi only weighs six pounds, but it’s amazing how loud even her tiny lick is in the middle of the night!
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February 12, 2017 at 8:38 am
I can’t imagine trying to sleep with a plastic cone around my neck. I can’t believe these body tubes are not standard issue. What a lucky dog!
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February 13, 2017 at 3:38 pm
I know, and after the trauma of a visit to the vet, a cone is the last thing a dog needs!
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February 12, 2017 at 9:28 am
Poor thing those cones look terrible what a lovely alternative hope that the recovery goes well x
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February 13, 2017 at 3:39 pm
Thank you, she’s much better and recovery without the cone has been much less stressful for her this time.
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February 13, 2017 at 5:09 pm
No wonder… thank goodness you are so talented!
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February 13, 2017 at 5:53 am
OMG! So coot! That fabric nearly gave me a miagraine……..Meiji has never had a cone of shame…..sadly. And she sleeps on my bed too. Trust me it’s easier to just give in.
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February 13, 2017 at 3:40 pm
She’s so old, I just want her to be with us all the time, if possible and, at just six pounds, we don’t even notice her at the end of the bed.
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February 14, 2017 at 8:02 am
I hear you sister! Jamima has spent most of winter under the dooner but on top of the wool blanket on her side of the bed. With her little nose sticking out………
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February 13, 2017 at 5:53 am
Soz…..Meimi. Short for Jamima………
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February 13, 2017 at 10:07 am
She’s so sweet. A Silky terrier?
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February 13, 2017 at 3:40 pm
She’s a pure Yorkshire Terrier:)
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February 13, 2017 at 8:51 pm
Ah, sorry. I had a Silky once that looked very similar. 🙂
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February 14, 2017 at 4:19 pm
Excellent idea – and no bruises on your legs from the cone too!
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