Eye Protector prototype - comments please

A breeder who lives not far from me was approached by a fellow who wanted to borrow a pug as a guinea pig (or would that be guinea pug? ) to help him in his desire to design an alternative to Elizabethan collars for flat-faced breeds of dogs and cats. She has been supplying models for his design and offered to take some of his prototypes (small, medium and large) to a recent pug club function for comments.
I saw the device there and offered to post pictures online, to gather opinions and comments from other pug owners. Here are the pictures:
side view:

front view:


Sorry my pics are not very good, but you see the general idea.The medium size is being modelled in these pictures.

Personally I was very impressed, mostly because my shins would be ever so grateful never to be bashed by another Elizabethan collar wielded by a pug at full speed, but also because the device does not impede drinking or eating and doesn't stop them curling up to sleep. It also occured to me that it would be a feasible thing to use when travelling your pug in an open vehicle like a bike or convertible with the top down, as the doggles available are designed for dogs with muzzles.

I will pass on any comments or questions via the breeder to the designer.Who knows, you may have an opportunity for some input into the design!

very interesting!

With the open bottom, could they still potentially lick at a paw (or other body part - theirs, not mine)? I think that's the main thing I'd use a e-collar for, is to keep them from licking a hot spot, incision, etc.

I certainly like the way they'd protect our shins! but that's selfish. and I imagine that once they got used to something being in front of their eyes, they'd find it easier to navigate with this vs. the cone of shame.

Now, whether or not they'd get used to wearing it is a whole nuther question. I suppose if they can get used to wearing doggles, this isn't too far off.

Let us know how it goes!!

I'm assuming this is primarily to protect eyes as opposed to a general use E-collar? Hmm. Looks interesting. Hard to gauge what it's like from pictures or how it fastens on. I'd worry primarily about dogs like my Tank who have bigger necks than their heads are--makes fitting anything that will stay on tough. Does this contraption get around that problem?

I like the overall look of it. I find E-collars useful for everything EXCEPT protecting eyes post surgery. Too many clever pugs have figured out how to rub itchy post surgical eyes in the E-collar.

northernwitch wrote:I'm assuming this is primarily to protect eyes as opposed to a general use E-collar? Hmm. Looks interesting. Hard to gauge what it's like from pictures or how it fastens on. I'd worry primarily about dogs like my Tank who have bigger necks than their heads are--makes fitting anything that will stay on tough. Does this contraption get around that problem?

I like the overall look of it. I find E-collars useful for everything EXCEPT protecting eyes post surgery. Too many clever pugs have figured out how to rub itchy post surgical eyes in the E-collar.

Quite right Blanche, it is an eye protector only. It is not designed to prevent chewing or worrying at abdominal leg stitches etc. You would still need to use an Elizabethan for that. I really like that it does reduce the amount of dust etc. that can get near the eye and is designed so that the dog cannot rub at the eye any which way. Of course you would have to remove it to medicate the eye, but I find that I have to remove the cone to do eye drops or whatever anyway, so no difference there.

The wide neck syndrome has supposedly been attended to in the design, there is a velcro strap under the chin and a width adjustment also though I am not very clear on how it works. Your point about the wide necks was brought up at the event where I saw it and someone said brightly "Oh, but you could just attach it to their collar!" Methinks that person has never owned a wide neck...collars do NOT stay on them in my experience. Not unless they approve anyway.

I have wondered how often you would have to clean it if your pug enjoys a frequent sneeze...one clever lady on OzPugs suggested a mesh (there are some goggles available in it) which would overcome the sneeze factor, personally I would still prefer the perspex over the eyes themselves as the mesh is opaque from the outside and I would like to see the eyes to monitor healing anyway. So maybe the mesh in the lower half of the mask?

I must see if I can arrange a video of putting it on and so forth that would be more informative when asking for opinions...will think about that!