Tell me it'll be okay

You'll be ok I got through it ! I was uneasy for a week then I was fine !

Now he is hyperventilating and I'm real close to taking it off.

Just remember that your anxieties can feed his. Get him to just lay with you and be quiet or distract him with a favorite toy or treat.

Gretchen , our little pointer rescue is having similar issues. She was spayed on Monday and came home in her collar Tuesday . She HATES it . She freezes whenever you put it on her and will barely move . She will sit up with her head hanging down pitifully. Sh e will start licking if she doesn't wear it , though. So we have had her out of her crate quite a bit, curled up next to me by the computer and I watch and tell her no if she starts licking. At least she gets a break from the collar . We let her eat and snack before the collar goes back on and she knows it's bedtime . My other pointer,Heidi didn't mind hers very much . Maybe Gretchen is claustrophobic? good luck , it will be over soon!

We'll be okay. He's been through so much in his 4 years it's hard for me to add to it. I've never had an older pet fixed before. All my other animals were S/N when they were puppies & kittens.

Leo will be fine. He just needs to relax and take it easy for awhile,it will take some time and lots of CHeeseburgers. UMMM CHEESEBURGERS.At least it wasn't done on his B-DAY like mom and dad did to me for my 1st. b-day . Now tell me if that is not 1 heck of present don't you think. Did I say that I love CHEESEBURGERS UMMM.

He won't get off the couch unless we pick him up & put him down. He hasn't gone to the bathroom since I put it on him. He just stands right next to me outside. Like I said I've never had to use an e-collar before but this behavior seems extreme to me. He won't move!

Can you take it off of him while he's distracted, like going outside to sniff and potty? It sounds like he's terrified of that thing, poor little guy. Maybe he's freaked out because he can't see all around him with that on.

I took it off him. I couldn't stand to watch him just lay there anymore. He jumped down from the couch drank some water, ate some food, & took his pill. Then I took him outside and I didn't think he'd ever stop going potty.

I'm not sure what his clot looks like, but I know that we were given some bitter apple to put around the area to keep him from licking. You have to make sure to not get it near the sutures b/c it is pretty antiseptic and stings (kind of akin to rubbing alcohol).

anyway, if the e collar doesn't do the trick, maybe try that?

I've been putting some triple antibiotic on the wound. He didn't just lick himself but bit it. I bought him the bloomers that dogs in heat wear. He just wears them when we sleep or not at home. Seems to be working. The clot has gone down to about half the size & the wound is healing. Thank you.

Mom saw this idea on "Beagles on the Web", instead of an e-collar, use a towel aroung his neck. It prevents him from being able lick, but isn't so big that he can see it. Just wrap it around and make sure there's no loose ends, use like a clothespin or something. It may be more comfy for him.

I went back and found the day. It's Jan. 28th, 2002. Here's a link to the pic to show you what I'm talking about

http://www.beagles-on-the-web.com/dailyDigital/archive/jan02/jan28.html