Ask the Vet: ; Collars useful for dogs after surgery, but not requirement

Q: I am getting my dog spayed when they do the Big Fix here inKanawha County in a couple of months. I'm glad I got on the list atmy vet's office. I know they will spay her and give her a rabiesshot if she needs it. Do I have to get a collar for her to wearafter the surgery so she won't lick her stomach? You know the typeof collar I mean - like a big funnel or lampshade. I don't think shewill like it since she is a 70-pound mixed breed.

A: I am so glad you are getting your dog spayed during the BigFix. It is the time of the year when all the veterinarians in thevalley volunteer to spay and neuter animals for a greatly reducedcost. In this economy, anything we can do to help our furry patientsand their people out; we will gladly participate in. What is greatabout the Big Fix is that you get to take your pet to his homeveterinary clinic and still get low-cost clinic prices. What couldbe better?

About those collars. They never taught us how to assemble them inveterinary school, so it was trial by fire when I was a new graduatetrying to learn how to be a veterinarian. I struggled, said some badwords, hurt my fingers and basically felt inept. This 15-minutesweaty rampage often left my technicians laughing until tears rolleddown their faces. I have been scarred forever.

Years have passed since those terrible moments and I have sincemastered the assembly process, basically because we now buyElizabethan collars with instructions printed on the plastic, at myrequest.

I think the collars are useful in certain circumstances but not,by any means, a requirement after a surgery. Most dogs do fine aftersurgery. A little lick here and there is OK and expected. Owners areoften surprised at how well dogs do. This is, of course, partlybecause of the dogs and partly because of how well veterinariansplace skin sutures, comfortably snug yet not constricting.

I will reach for a collar if I genuinely believe the pet is atrisk for chewing or licking stitches out of an incision site. Buthonestly, dogs (and cats, too) really don't like wearing them andthe initial few hours can be like watching a bucking bull out of thegate at a rodeo.

They have no peripheral vision and are unable to see their feet.They will run into every doorframe, shinbone and end table in theirenvironment. This hurts dog and owner alike. The path of destructioncan be impressive. My beloved Nehlen destroyed his collar, a vaseand a few toenails years ago when I put one on him. Luckily, afterthree days and three collars, he settled down. And his incision wassaved.

But seriously, if you have any doubt that your pet will lick orchew at her incision and you are worried that you won't be able towatch her closely enough, please get one when you get her spayed.Don't worry; they do come big enough for a 70-pound dog. There willbe an extra charge for the collar, but often if you return it ingood shape you can get a refund.

Ask your veterinarian for advice. We would much rather sell you acollar than charge you to sedate and resuture your pet's abdomenwhen she has eaten all her stitches out.

Most dogs don't require a collar after spaying. If you areworried, you can get a collar. Veterinarians don't like to assemblethem, but will dispense them to save the pet from havingcomplications post-op. I am reluctantly available to assemblecollars at no cost to clients - provided the instructions comeprinted on the collars.