My dog or cat has a cone. Can I remove it for eating and drinking?

Yes, you can take his cone off while walking and feeding, however every time you take it off and put it back on he has to get used to it again. So he may be more stressed by taking the cone off and putting it back on than if you leave it on. I see that he has a lovely soft cone, so it is not really the rigid cone that gets bumped into everything. If he cannot eat with it on, you can feed him with his bowls elevated.

A cone on a cat can be a little stressful for them, and they can react by hiding, sleeping more, and refusing treats. She will eat when she is hungry, however, and just give her some time and space. She will adjust to the cone, but if she does stop eating altogether, you can take her cone off at mealtimes so she will eat. Be sure to watch her the whole time to make sure she doesn't lick at her bottom, and put it right back on when she's done eating.

Hi and thank you for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Even under supervision, animals that are recovering come surgery can bother their incision site, so it is preferred and advised that the e collar stays on her for the specified time indicated by your veterinarian or unless told otherwise by your vet. Having it on her at all times lessens the chance of agitating the incision site and prolonging healing times. Hope this helps and I hope Blossom has a swift recovery!

She is probably a little sore from the surgery and falling off the bed. She needs to rest and sleep so she can recover more quickly. When you are with Kitty you can remove the cone so she can eat and drink. Just make sure she isn't licking the incision. I would do this four times a day so she can get her food and water. After a few days they usually figure out how to eat with the cone on. Often the incision will heal in a week so you can remove the cone when the incision is healed. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Kitty.

Poor Gizmo! Unfortunately, he truly does need to wear his E-collar at all times to prevent damaging his cornea further. If he scratches his eye, he can tear the cornea completely, causing permanent vision loss and an even more painful ulcer. If his cone is not comfortably for him, you can get him a donut shaped pillow that would also go around his neck, but allow him to eat/drink.

Hi there! Poor Bosco, allergies are rough! I always encourage my clients to keep the cone on until they see everything at the point we want to get it-that is 95-100% better (general aim). If he has not progressed that far yet and the food hasn't had time to work properly (I am unsure by your post how long you have been on your diet trial) and you remove the cone it may all be for naught. I generally give the food trials at least 30 days. The steroids will definitely help and if your vet has given you clearance to remove the cone-you can always do it on a trial basis. If he starts scratching again-back on with it! Hope this helps!

Hello. I would definitely take the collar off for a bit & see if he relaxes without it. You can always put the collar back on if he will not leave the biopsy site alone. If he truly needs a collar, check with your local Petco or other pet supply to purchase one of the soft, cloth-like collars. They are much more comfortable & Whisker's may do better with one of these. But if he leaves the site alone, he may not need to wear anything at all. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.