Idea Exchange: Prevent rearward licking with a backward collar

A clever client gave us this idea. Maggie, a large-breed dog, had a wound on the tip of her tail, which we treated. We placed an Elizabethan collar on her, but after banging into just about everything, Maggie could still lick the wounded area. So Maggie’s owners reversed the collar, with the wide portion facing and resting on her shoulders rather than encircling her head. This placement prevented Maggie from reaching the wounded area. We have since found that placing a collar on backward works well for patients recovering from neuters and many other surgeries.

Dr. Kristi Zimmerman

Manchester, N.H.