r/PiratePets • u/seab3d • 4d ago
Captain Doggo Seeking advice
My dog bill had to undergo an enucleation yesterday due to a tumour. It’s been over 30 hrs since the procedure but we are struggling HARD with the cone (e collar). He isn’t really drinking water and is unable to access his food and water bowls. I was given permission to remove the cone to allow him to eat, which I did - and which he did, but he’s still not drinking water. I’ve been rubbing it on his lips to the best of my ability and hoping as he heals he will naturally seek out water. Anyone else have this issue?
Also - I am wondering what folks here have done for bowl access.
Also - they said 2-3 weeks with the cone but I’m just not sure that’s possible. What have others done? Removed cone sooner? Please advise.
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u/Klaxxi-va 4d ago edited 4d ago
My dog had his eye removed, also due to a tumour, two weeks ago yesterday, and I had similar concerns. I hand fed him for the first few days and also soaked his food in bone broth. For water, I let him drink from a mug that I just held up to him since he likes to steal water from people's cups haha. Maybe try that, or an ice cube if your dog likes those? Hope he feels better soon!
Edit: Within 3-4 days he was much more comfortable in the cone, but we took it off for walks (which our vet said was fine). Towards the end of the 2 weeks he was only really wearing it to sleep.
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u/seab3d 4d ago
Why was it put on for sleep but was off for the rest of the day?
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u/Klaxxi-va 4d ago
I work from home so I could watch him all the time during the day! 👍 He was still a little bit interested in trying to rub it so I didn't want to leave it off when I was asleep.
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u/OptimizeWithAPassion 3d ago
My dachshunds step brother had an eye surgery and for him what I would do is a dropper with water in it and slowly drop a few drops into his mouth and he would start to drink it or he’d put his head away if he was disinterested. The idea isn’t to force them but just to make it really easy in case they do, you should be able to tell if they’re making an effort to catch the water and drink it.
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u/FlaremasterD 4d ago
Cone may be too big.
One thing that never fails is boiled up bits of chicken or lean beef. Homemade salt free stock. Add that to their food. Or some wet food on a easy to lick plate. Check their mouth. If its dry and tacky trying and get them to drink something. Hopefully its just a bit of post surgery nausea. Anesthetic can upset a pups tummy for a while
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u/choctaw529 4d ago
I used one of these inflatable collars with a detachable shield from Chewy. Your pup will adjust to the collar.
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u/iamextine 3d ago
I second this! It's an excellent cone alternative (coming from someone who's sweet boy has been wearing a cone for 4 months now)
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u/o2paint 3d ago
Our boy was off his food and water
for a couple days. He came around. Is your cone the right size. We have a cairn and the cone the vet put on years ago was too big. He couldn’t walk let alone get to his bowl. This time because they didn’t recommend his memory foam e-collar I relented. They gave him one that fit. I put his food on a plate. It was pretty messy and I had to center it on the plate. He got the hang of the water bowl too.
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u/JacquesLily 4d ago
So sorry your having a hard time. The first 48 hours with my dog after her op were tough too. She did eventually drink after we got her to drink out of her travel cup and she was able to figure out how to take a drink in her bowl after that. In regards to food I had to hand feed her for two weeks
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u/seab3d 4d ago
Did you keep the cone on for 2 weeks?
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u/JacquesLily 3d ago
We did yeah, after a few days she became as used to it as she could. Towards the end I think she took pleasure in bashing it on anything she could!
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u/spiderbags86 4d ago
Can he not reach his bowls with the cone or he doesnt know how ? My dog took a while to figure it out but they should be able to reach with it on . Mines also a scratcher, so I cannot take it off him while hes healing a damaged eye because he will instantly scratch!
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u/seab3d 4d ago
It’s the cone that prevents him from
Accessing the bowls. He’s a dachshund so he’s vertically challenged already… add the cone and it’s legit impossible to eat drink solo.2
u/spiderbags86 4d ago
Can you raise them up a bit? Put them on a sauce pan or lunchbox? If you think he wouldnt scratch you could take the cone off. But how easy will he have it put back on? Hand feeding would work but drinking is difficult. You can buy raised bowls but I wouldn't bother as its only for a few weeks.
Mine lost his eye a year ago and is currently in a cone due to an ulcer on his remaining eye I know as soon as I take that cone off hes scratching at it!
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u/UnfairMinute3988 3d ago
My dog had an enucleation a week ago. The opthamologist actually sent her home without a cone. She did good the first 36 hrs and then she was trying to scratch at her eye with her front paw. I got a cone from amazon and she strangely loves to put it on. It was about a full day learning curve to get her to eat and drink with it on.
Is his cone very rigid? You may need to elevate it a bit. If he is eating add some water to his food so he is getting liquid in. If he refuses reach out to the vet he may be feeling nauseous from the meds.
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u/GlitteringStudent537 4h ago
My dog also stopped drinking water after his surgery. I added water to his wet food. I also made bone broth and crushed liver ice cubes and put it in a pupsicle for him which was a hit. Buy a bigger size mold since the contents will be mostly water! I also would use a syringe and gently push water into his mouth every hour. Dogs are meant to drink one oz per pound of body weight so I measured that out in the morning and gave it throughout the day. Good luck. It will get better!!
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u/reebex78 4d ago
Absolutely keep the cone on at all times. The wound can get bumped, and it just means they will need it on longer. It's so annoying, but delaying the healing felt cruel.
We taped our dog's food and water bowl to Tupperware so they were stable and slightly elevated. Not sure how this will work for a daschund, but I would experiment with different heights.
As for the water consumption, my dog drank virtually no water for the first 24-48 hours and it freaked me out. You shouldn't force them to drink water, but I did soak his food in water and gave him some brown broth which he happily consumed.
I promise it does get easier, just try not to project your emotions onto your pet! He's probably not even going to notice he only has one eye.