E collar nightmares

jaseface

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Hello!
As some of you will know Luna was diagnosed with pyometra and was given an emergency hysterectomy yesterday. She is doing good, she's not slept much but she's now eating - not back on her usual food but she is having boiled chicken and some tuna advised by the vet. She's had her pain killer today and taken her antibiotics fine.

My only issue is these horrid collars they give. Luna just looks depressed in it. She can't sleep properly in it and she doesn't look very comfortable and it's not nice to see. Last night she flipped out and it came off and so I placed it on tighter. She then flipped out even more and it still came off. We decided that it's the first time she's ever been in a different room to sleep without myself or my partner there so I slept on the floor with her and she settled. Today she's not tried taking it off until now- now that the pain killer has kicked in she seems very alert. I took it off for her to eat and she became her confident self again proudly walking around and as soon as its back on its dragging across the ground and she's trying to get it off. I'm worrying because 1. Sleep - what happens if this comes off as we sleep and she picks at her stitches? 2. I'm a primary school teacher so from Monday I'm back at school and my partner will be on shifts so he will leave at 3. If I leave work early as possible taking work home she will be alone an hour. I'm just worried that these stitches are going to come out.
I've seen jumpers and inflatable collars but she wouldn't like jumpers and I'd be scared she'd get to it.
Every time I see her there in the corner of the room I get upset. I hate this :( X
Sorry for the rant I'm just new to all this and don't like seeing her distressed
 

zed xyzed

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I really like going to Amazon and checking out the reviews. nothing like getting feedback from people who use the products. You might want to check out some of the Elizabethan collars they have.  
 

handsome kitty

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I really like going to Amazon and checking out the reviews. nothing like getting feedback from people who use the products. You might want to check out some of the Elizabethan collars they have.  
Great idea!  I just googled and took the first one so you could see them.  My cats don't like Kong products.
 

donutte

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Aside from the difficulty in the procedure, I'm not sure if the after-care is different for a regular spay vs a pyo-spay. I did not have an e-collar on Penelopy at all after she was spayed. Several folks on here and even my vet said e-collars are not usually needed by cats. Dogs are another story, but not cats. Belly bands work best for them if absolutely needed.

But again, if the aftercare for a pyo-spay is different, then what I said may not apply.
 
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jaseface

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Aside from the difficulty in the procedure, I'm not sure if the after-care is different for a regular spay vs a pyo-spay. I did not have an e-collar on Penelopy at all after she was spayed. Several folks on here and even my vet said e-collars are not usually needed by cats. Dogs are another story, but not cats. Belly bands work best for them if absolutely needed.

But again, if the aftercare for a pyo-spay is different, then what I said may not apply.
I'm not sure but because everything is inflamed, there's a bigger incision compared to what I've googled. Like you say I think recovery is the same now but the risk was during the surgery as its all inflamed. But it looks quite big and you can see the stitches
I've taken the e collar off and she becomes so much more confident. She has gone to lick the wounds but the vets said that can create infection so I'm not sure what to do. You can see the stitches sticking out so I'm not sure what she would do. I'd much rather get something like a band that just goes around her tummy but wouldn't know where to purchase one from in the uk. Any help? X
 
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donutte

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That's definitely a big incision! Penelopy only has two stitches. I know there are lumps that will show because of the internal stitches. They said the main thing to worry about was making sure she didn't pull out the stitches, but since there was already infection involved because of the pyo, maybe they are worried about it a bit more with Luna.

Hopefully someone who's dealt with a pyo-spay can give some commentary. We only had one cat that had a pyo-spay but it was ages ago. I think I was still a teenager when it happened.
 
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jaseface

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Ohhh yeah that's true, everything should be out but they did say infection can run through the blood stream so she's on antibiotics for that. She's managed to lick the cut on her paw though where her anaesthetic went in so I hope that's not bad. I am happier and more positive today I know it's just a spay but I've never had a pet like this before and she literally feels like my baby hahaha. She's eating more today, she's managed to sleep, she's grooming herself and she's managed to do a tiny wee lol
 

zed xyzed

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I've taken the e collar off and she becomes so much more confident. She has gone to lick the wounds but the vets said that can create infection so I'm not sure what to do. You can see the stitches sticking out so I'm not sure what she would do. I'd much rather get something like a band that just goes around her tummy but wouldn't know where to purchase one from in the uk. Any help? X
would this work ?  
 

nekohugger

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Hi, does anyone happen to know of some calming product suitable for post surgery? My kitty had a foreign body and is currently assigned an e collar that hes confirmed to be his swarn nemesis :( he is not supposed to be moving yet he does back flips and cart wheels to try and get it off,l and is shivering a lot.....i dont want him to get to his incision either, any suggestions?

Thank you!
 

stephanietx

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You can try Rescue Remedy, Feliway diffusers, or ask the vet for something like Zylkene.  You can get Zylkene without a prescription as well.
 

nekohugger

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Thanks, im seeing the diffuser can take up to a month to start seeing effects but they have the same product in a spray so im going to try that. He's settled down since yesterday so hopefully it will work just fine.
 

stephanietx

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Just fyi, I usually see a difference with the diffusers within 24 hours, but I use them 24/7.  Glad to hear he's settled down a little bit.
 
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