If you have a dog or a cat it is likely at some point in time you will have to put up with the infamous cone collar or Elizabethan collar.
This is a device used by veterinarians when you pet needs to be restricted from chewing or licking places on their body.
It is particularly used after any type of surgery.
The regular cone collar is made of stiff plastic usually translucent or opaque in color.
The design is such where it fits around your pet's neck and forms the shape of an ice cream cone with the smaller end around the animal's neck and the larger end extending past their nose.
This keeps the animal from getting to any place on their body.
The cone collar works and is essential for surgery, skin conditions, hot spots, etc.
Although essential in these types of situations there are drawbacks of having to live with an animal that has one of these devices around their necks.
If you have a larger or energetic dog they will bang into everything with this collar knocking over things on tables, running into doors, and creating general havoc while they go through their daily routines.
If it is in the summer and you have shorts on; watch out because they will run into the back of your legs and the edges of the cone smarts.
In general they do not like wearing these and although they do get used to it you will still have a fight on your hands to get it back on after the initial wearing.
These have to be worn while the healing takes place which means your pet could be wearing this for weeks at a time.
Thankfully pet accessories are a profitable market and some clever people have come out with alternative devices to protect your pet in a similar fashion as the cone collar.
First there is inflatable U or doughnut shaped collars that fit over the neck area.
These provide a limited barrier for keeping your animal protected.
This design, although comfortable, does not provide protection for the whole body.
A pet could get to hind quarter or tail areas pretty easy with this.
Next there is a collar that is made of similar plastic to the traditional cone collar with padding inside.
This device fits over the neck and is wide to cover most of the neck area restricting the animal from bending its head back to reach any part of the body.
In addition there is a strap that goes around the chest area right behind the front legs that adds additional movement restriction.
The animal may be able to reach the tail area but this is a good design that works.
You do not have the cone extension to deal with and it is more comfortable for the animal.
Finally there are soft collars that are made in the same design as the traditional cone shape.
These are made of either a softer plastic or a nylon material over stiff foam padding.
These are very comfortable for the animal and do work.
They give if some object is encountered and bend if needed.
It is still possible for the animal to reach areas around the hind quarters if they work at it.
Since you will likely have to put up with the infamous cone collar at some point you should research and have an alternative collar on hand.
They are all very reasonable and from my personal experience are well worth the money for you, your home and your pet.