My dog is sad and lethargic after wearing a cone. What can I do?

It may be a combination of factors. Certainly as you mentioned the e collar may be bothering her, and she may just be recovering. I’m not that concerned about pain as it’s been several days since the surgery and she should no longer be in acute pain. I would take off the e collar when you are watching her, then play with her, brush her or interact with her with playing with toys etc. If she becomes more active she’ll get hungrier and will start back eating. As long as she’s drinking and eating treats you’re fine to give her another day or so to see if she returns to normal. If she still isn’t eating and is lethargic then please take her back for a recheck. She may have an infection from the surgery but that is unlikely. Be patient and I expect her to be better in a day or so. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Dewey.

It is normal that a kitten will be quieter than usual after a spay. It is an abdominal surgery, and it's important that she does stay as quiet as possible so she can heal correctly. Wearing an Ecollar can also lead them to be quieter than normal, as cats do not like them and act resigned to wearing them. As long as she eating and drinking normally, I wouldn't be too concerned about her but you can mention your concern with your vet at the appointment tomorrow. I hope this helps!

Yes, Minnie should be wearing an Elizabethan collar at all times until the wound is completely healed. Make sure to avoid trauma to the wound such as hitting the tail against the wall. If it does not start to improve within one week or if it starts getting worse, have her examined by the veterinarian. I hope this helps.

Hopefully he will do better tonight as he gets used to the cone. You could try a different type of e-collar - some dogs will do better with a clear plastic or an inflatable version. I’ve had some patients that have needed a sedative to keep the collar on as well. Since he’s a little dog a post surgery bodysuit might be an option. I’d recommend seeing if your vet carries any other types of e collars to try first.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Lack of energy can be the sign of many things that go from just being tired to actually representing a problem like due to pain for example. If he is otherwise fine, I recommend you keep a close eye on him for now. If there is no improvement within the next 2-3 days, have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a great day!

It could very well be a combination of both. However most dogs get over the e-collar after the first 1-2 days. If you are concerned about her pain level then I would ask her vet if they can prescribe additional pain medication for her. Also depending on what pain medicaitons she is on it may be making her drowsy. Take care and I hope Pepper is able to make a fully recovery from her surgery soon.

It could be that Mickey is feeling unwell, and that's leading him to be a little more lethargic than normal. I would keep an eye on him for now, and if this lethargy continues over the next 24-48 hours, I would have him seen by a vet for a health check. If he develops other signs such as anorexia, vomiting, and/or diarrhea, I would take Mickey into a vet sooner.