Elizabethan Collar

We have all seen them - dogs with lampshades around their necks. And if you are yet to know what these lampshade thingies are, you will most probably ask what the deal is with these open cones thrust upon the necks of seemingly hapless pets.

Well, we have one answer for you: The Elizabethan collar - yes, that's exactly what it is called although it can also be called a space collar, a cone or an E-collar - makes for effortless pet ownership in many ways. Thus, even if you think it as ridiculous on, say, a huge St. Bernard or a German shepherd, it does have its purpose.

What It Is

Remember those pictures of the women during Elizabethan times where elaborate ruffs were in fashion? The Elizabethan dog collar was so named because of their great resemblance to said ruffs although you can safely surmise that the latter were not designed with the purpose of the former in mind.

Anyways, the Elizabethan collar is a truncated cone made out of various materials designed to provide pet owners some peace of mind that their dogs will stop biting and licking on the lower parts of their bodies as well preventing them from scratching on their faces and eyes. (Why, we will come to that later)

E-collars come in many styles although most types are adjustable to suit the size of the dog's neck. As such, I can often use the same space collar for all of my dogs depending on who needs them the most at present- saving me some serious money better spent on dog food.

You can choose from the rigid plastic type with loops attachment to the regular collar, the soft style that makes for easier adjustment for the dog and even a donut type designed to prevent the dog from having a go at its rear end. The choice of the Elizabethan collar depends on your personal preference although your vet may have a few words about it.

What It Does

So, when exactly is an E-collar necessary? Well, as previously mentioned, it keeps your pet from scratching, biting and licking a strategic part of their bodies, which is necessary after surgery such as spaying/neutering and injury on the lower extremities as well as on the face and eyes.

Keep in mind that, just like small children, you simply cannot train your dog not to do something that is almost instinctive or like an itch that needs to be scratched. Thus, the best thing to do is attach an Elizabethan collar and be done with that particular problem.

How to Attach It

And speaking of attaching the collar, it is usually very easy to do so although the getting- used-to-it part is another story. Just attach your dog's usual collar to the strings and/or tabs through the holes punched at the sides of the space collar. You will usually find detailed instructions on the attachment so it should be a no-sweat operation.

In many ways the E-collar makes for effortless pet ownership. At the very least, you can sleep soundly at night knowing that your beloved pet that has just gone surgery will not be able to undo what has been done for his own good. Or at least, I have slept soundly with this knowledge, thanks to the right Elizabethan collar!