My dog has an eye sores from allergies and needs to stop scratching-- alternative to e-collar?

Question

My dog has allergies and the skin around his eyes is tender and swollen. He keeps scratching and rubbing at his eyes and they are now raw. The vet recommended an e-collar, but I am hoping there is an alternative.

I need something that would cover his eyes so that he won't scratch, but will still allow him to eat and play-- he's only a year old. Any suggestions would be helpful.

He is on allergy medicine which helps prevent the problem from growing worse. We have isolated the source of the allergies. My concern is that while the sores are trying to heal, he keeps scratching at them-- like a child with chicken pox. Any suggetions on preventing him from scratching his eyes would help.

PS-- Our vet is very helpful and has suggested an e-collar. I am just wondering if there is something else out there for situations like this.

NEVERMIND!! Very few people have actually read the question and the majority of the answers have been silly and things I had already stated in the question. I was looking for something to prevent him from pawing at his eyes-- he takes Benadryl, the allergies are not from his food (they are from a plant that WAS in the yard), our vet gave us eye salve. But he is still scratching at the wounds around his eyes, so that they cannot heal. Like I said, it is like a child that is recovering from chicken pox-- the sores are still there and itchy even though the kid isn't sick anymore.

Answer 1

So sorry to hear he is so miserable. I would take the vet's suggestion and use the e-collar. He probably won't have to use it very long (just till the eye problem is better) maybe a week or two but you will feel better not having to see him scratching his eyes all the time.
Good luck

Answer 2

If your dog is able to get the the e-collar then it is not properly put on. If you have an e-collar that slide to adjust the length then you need to get the correct length for your dog, you should be able to put 2 fingers snuggly between dog and collar, then get a rubberband or a metal twisty to put right up against the slider and secure it. This will help keep it from moving or sliding down when your dog tries to get it off. I have had to do this method and it worked for me. Have you used the collar while the dog was trying to get it off along with the "no" command and gave it a treat or toy when the dog stopped, at least 5 seconds of it not trying to take collar off? Labs can be very hard headed, but usually once they get something down it sticks. The e-collar is not going to hurt it because it is around the neck, unless you have the setting way to high for a first correction.

Answer 3

Ideally you should find the source of his allergies and if possible eliminate the offender(s) from his environment. Dogs can be allergic to many things, cleaners, your carpet, grass, pollen, ingredients in their food etc. You may want your vet to allergy testing to determine what he is allergic to.

Ask your vet for some medication that will help relieve his itchiness. He sounds pretty miserable.

You can also put a 100% cotton t-shirt on him. This sometimes helps relieve itching. I can't really say how it works, I don't know. This was a tip I heard several years ago, and when I had dog who was constantly chewing his feet due to allergies I tried it. He quit chewing feet. :)

Good luck.

Answer 4

See another vet. He's not the one itching like crazy.
Mine has allergies and she was getting tender on her lip, the vet gave her a cortisone shot to stop her from scratching right away and and I have her on benadryl, one tablet twice a day. Also you can have blood work done and this will tell you what she is allergic to that's what I did once I knew it was easier to control. Seriously get another vet.
MP

Answer 5

I would hope your vet gave you eye drops. Clean the area witha warm damp paper towel/wash cloth and apply eye drops if you have them. Do research and change his food, you can read about what you need to look for (the first two ingredients need to be different than what you are feeding him now.) It takes about 6 weeks to see results. For now, take 3 tube socks, and cover his legs, use the 3rd sock to secure softely around his chest, so the socks don't fall off. Keep an eye on him. I hope you do have eye drops, because that will help alot! Hope I helped. Good luck!

Response to additional details.: You didn't tell us all that in the beginning, don't freak out, we didn't know.

Answer 6

your vet recomended an e-collar, and for good reason. it may seem cruel to you,but would you prefer to be like my neighbor who had a similar problem with scratching around his dogs eyes? the dog went blind in one eye and the other surgically removed due to massive infection. once the irritation clears up the vet can give you creams, pills ets to help with the allergies. Please be kind to your dog and use the collar.

Answer 7

dear friend the e-collar will help and the can eat and play very well my little 2 year old does the same thing ask your vet to give some allerigy pills they cost about 6 dollars a month and wipe the area around their eye gently with a damp cloth I hope this helps god bless you and your little puppy

Answer 8

How are you going to cover his eyes and allow him to see?? Get him a Hallowe'en mask?? Put socks on his back feet so that he can't rub and scratch his eyes.

Answer 9

Benadryl

Answer 10

Change his food to Natural Balance. I guarantee you that is the best brand that is healthy and it has one especially made for allergic dogs. This stuff is reccommended by doctors and can be found at Petco.