Elizabethan collar help please

Hello
Lottie was spayed last Thursday, she is licking her stitches and is becoming secretive about it, i have tried the usual of putting a T shirt on her but it just isnt working.
So i took her to the vet this morning and he advised an elizabethan collar, obviously she hates it, all she is doing is standing in the middle of the room looking very sorry and wont lie down for her usual sleep.
What i would like advise on is do you think a muzzle would be any better, do dogs lie down to sleep ok with E collars because she has to wear it through the night, or would a muzzle be easier, she has to keep her stitches in longer now than usual.

I wouldn't use a muzzle as she will still be able to damage the surgery site.

Have you maybe looked into getting an inflatable E collar? http://www.vetuk.co.uk/veterinary-su...-collar-p-2535 is a link for them

Or you could try this one, I got it for my little one and you can fold it back so they can eat more flexible than the Elizabethan collar.
http://www.amazinganimal.co.uk/comfy...m-p-30868.html

Thank you for the link, i will look now.
I have never heard of an inflatable one, it sounds a good idea.
Lotties mum

I used the inflatable one on Toro recently, it was good in that it gave us a break from constantly stopping her at her bandage, although she could still reach it, she knew the collar was there so didn't bother nearly as much when it was on, not the kinda thing to leave on unattended though as Toro knew how to get it off lol

It is so distressing to see them miserable in their collar, but most dogs do get used to them and learn to cope.

The one thing that used to help me when going through this was the thought that without the collar it was more than possible that we could end up back at the vet and would have to start the whole process all over again with new stitches and a wound that would possibly take longer to heal.

It will only be for a relatively short time, but I do sympathise with you.

Have you tried taping the t-shirt? I put DIY tape round the loose bit (round the tummy). Dogs don`t like to chew it.

Cherry is just back from the specialist vets after her eye surgery (cataract) and she came with a fabric collar which seems much better than those plastic ones that they bash into everything (including your legs!) with. She wasn't bothered about it anyway.

Thank you for your advice.
I have persevered with Lottie and the collar and she seems to have got used to it, i have taken it off when walking her and when i am in the same room, but she will have to wear it tonight, so feel sorry for her,it cant be very comfortable to sleep with.
Thank you to everyone
Lotties Mum

It is amazing how dogs will adapt to whatever we daft humans throw at them! Lottie will make herself comfortable enough to sleep, so try not to worry too much and before you know it those stitches will be out and the wound healed. I knew a labrador once who permanently had a black bucket (yes, bucket.......not E collar) on his head - originally they had to stop him from worrying at a raw patch on his thigh, and only a thick farm bucket was tough enough to withstand his clumsy bumbling about. He had it taken off for walks etc. but other than that he lived in it, negotiating all hazards with varying success. Unfortunately, he became so attached to it that he ended up wearing it for the rest of his life!!! He was so sweet and obviously felt safer inside his "cave".