Cones for Pets Now Have Alternatives

Your pets will do longer have to endure wearing uncomfortable cones when they have wounds, stitches or hot spots in their bodies. There are definitely a lot of alternatives for this so-called "cone of shame."

Capital Gazette said cone manufacturer KVP International are coming up with ways to replace the stiff plastic cones with other alternatives. KVP's president Ken Bowman said they have designed 14 unique collars which are made of soft materials whole others are inflatable.

Another option is The Comfy Cone of Pet Barn in Annapolis. This is a soft cone with pads to make it more comfortable to wear. Store manager Kristina Pierce said she used this for her cat and she observed a different behavior.

"It's very playable, and clearly more comfortable for them," she explained. The pet owner also claimed that the material of the soft cone does not scratch the walls of the house or any furniture.

Meanwhile, The Whole Dog Journal explained that another very good alternative for the traditional cones is the ProCollar. The donut-shaped collar has an inflatable core and a vinyl-like outer cover.

The same report said that it also comes with a Velcro strap that keeps in place the outside of the collar. Dog owner Nancy Kerns mentioned in her The Whole Dog Journal article that her pet Rickey did not have a hard time navigating their home while he was wearing the ProCollar.

"He seemed to understand his limitations and cope with them without getting upset," she added. "Unlike his peeved response to crashing into the furniture with the stiff vet-supplied cone, Rickey barely seemed to notice when the cushioned ProCollar knocked into something."

Despite having all these types of dog collars, Dogs: A Fun Times Guide said that owners still need to keep their eye on their pets. This will allow them to observe how well they are adjusting to their collars and if there is a need to replace it.