Did you try lifting a smaller water bowl to Kyra's mouth?
This collar probably feels less humiliating (sorry don't know where to find one, Grumpy):



Do ask the vet if she/he has a post-surgical bodysuit that's high-necked enough. Or fashion a broad gauze collar?

When our foster Lab was spayed, they put her in a fitted bodysuit which protected her wound (which, by the way, didn't sport stitches; the incision was biologically 'glued' shut, the vet explained). She didn't like it so much, merely tolerated it and gave me humiliated looks; and it slid off 'shoulder' sometimes when she sat down. A few times she managed to wiggle out of it by morning and gave us a scare. Thank Dog she healed well and quickly.

P.S. Hey, how about trying to re-fashion an old turtleneck for Kyra? Would that work, you think? Unrolling it would give the extra 'high' protection.