An important part of the healing process is ensuring that the area is left alone to heal, and a dog recovery cone keeps them from licking, biting, and scratching their wound dressing or stitches. As you might expect, dogs usually don’t love wearing these cones, so choosing a soft recovery cone or recovery suit may be a more comfortable option for your dog.

Our expert panel of veterinarians rounded up their top choices for the best recovery cone for dogs, based on their personal experience when helping pet parents find the best cone for their dog.

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All Four Paws™ Comfy Cone E-Collar for Dogs & Cats, Black, XX-Large

A soft recovery cone that conforms to doorways, folds down, and is opaque to reduce shadows that may cause stress. 

This recovery cone option is more in line with a traditional dog recovery cone. It’s hard-sided and made with PVC material, which is a type of synthetic plastic known for its strength and durability. This quality, according to our vets, is ideal for pups that are more energetic.

A hard-sided cone does its job well, but with its fabric edges you don’t have to sacrifice your pup’s comfort. This PVC plastic is also easier to clean than a fabric cone. The translucent material also gives the dog more peripheral vision, but that could be a downside if your pup is timid of any shadows that a recovery cone will cast. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Alfie Pet® Zumi Soft Edge Velcro Closure Dog & Cat Recovery Collar, Red, Small

A hard recovery cone that offers the durability and effectiveness of traditional cones but is lined with fabric to keep your dog comfortable. 

Doughnut collars are comfortable and give your dog enough range of motion to pick up toys, drink water, and eat. However, the increased range of motion means that your pup may be able to reach areas such as their feet, paws, backside, and abdomen. This could pose an issue, especially if your pup is recovering from surgery with stitches that shouldn’t be touched.

A doughnut recovery collar may be a good choice for dogs that are easily anxious when wearing a traditional hard cone collar. That said, this type of collar may not be the most effective recovery cone, depending on where their injury is.

If you want to stop your dog from licking their chest, back, and sides, a doughnut could be a comfortable and less anxiety-inducing choice. If you prefer this type of collar during their recovery, our vets advise closely monitoring your pup to ensure they can’t reach their stitches.

Comfurt Collar® Dog & Cat Recovery Collar, Black, X-Small

A comfy alternative to hard-sided cones that offers range of motion and visibility. However, dogs can still reach many areas of their body, which means this type of cone cannot be used in all situations. 

This classic recovery dog cone will get the job done without breaking the bank. It’s made of durable, hard material and offers three Velcro® size adjustments. The hard plastic is very easy to wipe down and clean. You don’t have to thread this cone through your pet’s collar, so it’s easier to take on and off.

However, this also means it could be easier for your pup to work it off if they are aiming to get rid of it. There’s no fabric trim, so it may not be the most comfortable option for your pup either. It comes in a variety of sizes, is adjustable, and is transparent, so it doesn’t block peripheral vision.

KONG® EZ Clear Collar for Dogs & Cats, Small

A budget cone for dogs that’s durable, clear, and easy to adjust.

A recovery suit for dogs is a comfortable alternative to traditional, hard-sided recovery cones. This dog surgical suit option is washable and features a snappable opening so your pet can use the bathroom with ease. It’s ideal for dogs that don’t tolerate cones well, because it’s soft and doesn’t block vision or mobility.

A dog surgical suit works great if your dog has a surgical incision or wound on their neck, chest, back, and abdomen. However, your pup could easily reach their face, eyes, ears, mouth, limbs, paw, and tail. It’s not ideal if the affected area is leaking discharge or pus because the fabric may stick to the site.

Overall, it’s a comfy, breathable fabric that might be less stressful for your pup than a typical recovery cone. If you prefer a surgical suit over a recovery cone for your pup, our vets caution to keep a close eye on your dog to ensure they aren’t interfering with any stitches or open wounds that need to heal. Be sure to unsnap the suit and check the wound or incision at least once a day to check for excessive redness, swelling, discharge, or odor.

While the suit is washable, you will need an alternative means to keep your pup from licking or chewing their incision or wound while the suit is cleaned.

<h2>Finding the Best Recovery Collar for Your Dog</h2>

The best dog recovery cone will depend on your pup and where their wound or incision is located. A hard cone will be more durable, while a soft cone will be more comfortable.

Consider whether you want a clear cone so your dog can keep their peripheral vision, or an opaque cone so that it will block shadows that may scare a timid pup.

A dog recovery suit may be a good alternative for dogs that don’t handle cones well in general.

You’ll also want to think about mobility, and if your pup would prefer a soft cone that allows them to get through doorways or a doughnut cone that lets them eat and drink with ease.

Recovery cones are meant to stop your dog from licking so that they can heal, so whichever one you choose should be the primary consideration.

Featured Image:&nbsp;JulPo/E+ via Getty Images

Suitical® Recovery Suit for Dogs, Pink Camo, Medium

A dog recovery suit is a great option for dogs who don’t handle cones well, but it won’t stop dogs from licking every area (including the area they might need to avoid). 

The 5 Best Recovery Collars and Cones for Dogs

The product reviews in this article are compiled from feedback provided by a panel of veterinarians that are employed by Chewy, the publisher of PetMD. 
 
Veterinarians are asked to provide honest reviews of the products based on their knowledge and practical experience and review information published by the manufacturer. The opinions expressed are their own and not reflective of Chewy. Manufacturers cannot pay to be included in Vet Verified, and product reviews are never made available to manufacturers before publication. Similarly, the veterinary review panel does not receive any external compensation of any type for their review. Product links are to Chewy’s website where the product can be purchased.

An important part of the healing process is ensuring that the area is left alone to heal, and a dog recovery cone keeps them from licking, biting, and scratching their wound dressing or stitches. As you might expect, dogs usually don’t love wearing these cones, so choosing a soft recovery cone or recovery suit may be a more comfortable option for your dog. Our expert panel of veterinarians rounded up their top choices for the best recovery cone for dogs, based on their personal experience when helping pet parents find the best cone for their dog.

Our vet experts round up the top recovery cones and collars for dogs, including best soft cones and best recovery suit for dogs.

The 5 Best Recovery Collars and Cones for Dogs

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