30 November

Dropping Zinnia At Vet, Inflatable Collar On The Way

by Jon Katz

I dropped Zinnia off this morning at the vet for her spaying. I’m pretty easy normally dropping a dog off but Zinnia was harder.

The vet tech took her out of the car (we can’t come into the vet’s offices during the pandemic, they come out to get us.

Zinnia bounded out of the car, trusting as always, but as she got to the door, she turned and looked for me and tried to rush back to the car. She didn’t make it, as she was pulled through the door she turned her head I saw a pleading look in her big black eyes.

I’m not into dog dramas that aren’t real dramas, but that got to me. Zinnia is the most trusting and loving creature I know of, and that is the first time I saw her alarmed in her life. She’ll be fine, and so will I, but that is never fun.

Zinnia and I are pretty inseparable these days, she is my writing coach and companion, it feels a bit empty with her out of the house. Bud has grabbed her toys and bones and happy.

I dread the hood they want me to put on her for two weeks, Fate used to take them off before we got back to the farmhouse, I can’t imagine a more uncomfortable thing to put on a dog.

But thanks to my blog, there might be a better solution.

Kay  Welty messaged me this morning and suggested an inflatable dog collar for Zinnia, who comes home tomorrow. My Chewy.com delivery should arrive with the collar about the same time she gets home.

 

Chewy is fast and reliable. The inflatable collar seems like a great idea to me, I’ll share the experience.

Today, I’m off to the eye doctor to check on my eyes, my restoration work continues.

 

17 Comments

  1. When my girl came home after her spay (she’s a lab, too) there was no collar, no licking, no problem! Maybe she won’t even need the donut.

    1. I was popping over to say the same – my vet doesn’t recommend collars unless there’s an issue since they’re so annoying to dogs. My girl never bothered her incision site at all.

  2. Hi Jon. My sweet little Riley had a ruptured anal gland ( yes. Yuk)! Anyway, the poor little guy had to wear the inflatable donut for about 10 days. He adjusted quickly and even sleeping wasn’t a problem. And even though we know our dogs are well cared for at the vets, they don’t understand what exactly is happening and of course we can’t communicate that with them. Here’s to a happy homecoming tomorrow!

  3. Know how you feel! Zinnia will be okay and I think the donut collar is great; it’s a bit more “giving” than the other one. Hang in there!

  4. I’ve used inflatable collars on my dogs when needed and have had mixed results. Zinnia, being such a good girl, will probably do fine with it. One of my Airedales liked his – he was able to use it as a pillow when he took naps. Another option that one vet suggested when I had a dog that really fought the cone was to put a child’s T-shirt on the dog, probably with something to tie it on to make it snug. The T-shirt covers the surgery incision and keeps the dog from licking it or taking out the stiches. Worked pretty well.

  5. Yes, these inflatable collars are wonderful. Our rescue wore it for 10 days and was fine. She didn’t even notice it and even used it as a pillow when she laid down to sleep. Good choice!

  6. I had the inflatable collar for my Basenji

    skipper when when he came home from surgery. He was mauled by a pit bull. The collar worked beautifully.. We both survived. He lived to be 16 yrs.

  7. The vet gave my welsh terrier an inflatable collar just like that after she was spayed. It took me about half an hour to get it on her, and it took her about 5 minutes to get it off and chew off the plug that kept the air in. Good luck!

  8. The inflatable collar was recommended to us several months ago when we had our golden retriever, Jaxie, spayed. We were so grateful for the recommendation as Jaxie seemed very comfortable in it and it almost seemed like it served as a pillow when she slept. The first day we took it off, she carried it and placed it in her bed. That lasted for about two hours and then she forgot about it as she resumed her doggie routine. Hope it’s the perfect thing for Zinnia!

  9. Your note about Zinnia’s alarmed and pleading look got to me too. It’s so hard to leave them. Hugs and prayers for Zinnia – and for you and Maria too. I have used the inflatable collar in recent years and it works so much better than the cone. It accomplishes the same purpose and my dogs seemed not to mind it at all. So happy you’re getting one for that precious girl.

  10. The poor lovey. Let’s hope Zinnia forgets this experience quickly.
    What a great idea this inflatable collar is! We call those horrible plastic shield types “The Cone of Humiliation”! They are awful things. As you say, they look ridiculous and rip off in a flash.

  11. Hi Jon,
    Thinking of you and Zinnia.
    My dog loved the inflatable collar after his neuter surgery. He slept with his head on it, like a pillow. It never got caught over his food dish or water bowl like some of my previous dogs did with the cone collar. He never tried to scratch it off. I should mention that he is a border collie, and active, but he adjusted really well. I did tie it in place around his neck with a piece of cotton gauze so it would’t slip over his head.

  12. I can only imagine how much you are missing Zinnia tonight………. that lingering look in her eyes when dropping her off will be emblazoned in your memory…..but it will be a thing of the past when she gets to come home tomorrow! I think that inflatable collar looks like a wonderful thing…..compared to the cone of shame……… I am sure she will do well under your wonderful loving care. Here is to a wonderful reunion for the two of you, and a speedy recovery to Zin!
    Susan M

  13. If the inflatable collar doesn’t arrive on time, roll up a beach towel lengthwise (I had Newfoundlands so a regular towel was too short) and tape it with duct tape. Should hold you until the collar arrives. Best to your sweet girl and you!

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