Hey there! I've been through many surgeries with my dogs over the last couple years. They all hated the collars and I only used when I wasn't sitting in the same room as the injured pup. The elizabethan collar doesn't come out like a cone its flat on there neck all my dogs preferred the elizabethan to the cone b/c they could lie down w/ head on ground/bed comfortaly where as the plastic cone is more severe. I always took the cone off for bathroom time/walks/eating. (**are they able to get water w/ out smashing bowl? is it elevated?. They are extremely embarrassed by the cone (they know they look funny). Try a little walk he/she shouldn't need the cone if you are walking and able to stop them from licking. Just remember everyone hates being in a cone, plain and simple it sucks! Good luck! I wish you and your 4-legged friend the fastest and best recovery and hopefully you will only need the cone for a few days til the wound heals.