I want to get a Buster Collar for my Rottweiler that will not leave her split tail alone.
I have been looking on line and cannot work out the sizes. The range from 7.5cm up to 40cm.
What does the cm refer to? As it cant be circumference.
Regards
Lea :)

I'm not certain but I would guess that it applies to the depth (ie length of 'funnel'). Id be a bit cautious sizing with a rotti though as you need one that is not too long with their short muzzle but I imagine she has a pretty chunky neck? Can you not get one from your vets? I've always been horrified at the price from mine ( about £6 depending on size) but it has the advantage that they will have all sizes and you can make sure it fits her.

If she is likely to need to wear it for a while then it might be worth looking into something comfier. I've seen people on here recommend comfy-collars. (think it looks a bit like an inner tube round the neck)

The sizing is the depth of the collar - how long it is from where it goes round the neck to the end just beyond the nose. Labradors generally need a 25cm, if that's any help.

Are you looking at a buster collar as in the plastic type or the blow up type?

My Vets want to charge me £15 for a buster collar hence looking on line.
Tara has got a 47cm circumference neck, so would a 30cm collar fit? I have just measured her from collar to nose :)
I dont think a comfy collar will stop her reaching her tail :(
Lea :) 

The neck sizes are adjustable, so I'd think a 30cm would be fine. :-)

These are a reasonable price.

That's horrific for a rubbishy bit of plastic! I wonder what the mark up is, they must be pretty cheap to make, surely?!

I think the other poster has given you better advice than I can on size.
Just thought I'd mention though, if you don't get on with the collar or want to take it off sometimes I have heard people recommend pipe insulation bandaged on with vet wrap to cover a tail that needs protecting.
Hopefully it will heal up quickly once she can't get at it :-)

> I want to get a Buster Collar for my Rottweiler that will not leave her split tail alone.

I made a collar for Buster when he wouldn't leave a hot-spot alone, he needed something quickly as he was doing himself some damage and hates the rigid collars. I used pair of tights with cushion wadding stuffed in each leg, to make a soft collar (tied up legs so they are like 2 sausages, joined at both ends - infront & at back of neck). It has enough stretch in it, to simply push on over his head.

It doesn't stick outwards very far like a rigid collar, but I made the stuffed bits wide enough (from front to back) so he couldn't reach around them to nibble his butt :)

It does look like a bit he's wearing a gurner collar, LOL.

He doesn't mind his 'gurner' collar and enjoys using it as a built in chin-rest when he's snoozing :) I've kept it, as it's come in handy on the couple of occasions I've noticed the start of a hotspot.

Thanks JG, one ordered today :)
Mastifflover, that sounds a great idea :) Will try that as well :)
I have been using the mesh to protect metal taped on with masking tape. But she keeps chewing it/pulling it  off :(
Thank you again everyone :) :)
Lea :)

He'll ! I just remembered I saw a thing on the internet last week that fitted over a dogs tail to protect it if it was damaged....off to see if I can find it.

[url=].http://www.bonovate.com/dogends.html  [/url]

Success !

Apart from the fact that obviously the problem needs sorting out, why not look at getting a soft collar, something like those in this link ... http://www.petvetcare.co.uk/acatalog/Elizabethan_Collar_Opitons.html which are far less restricting and frightening I'd suggest.  Quite honestly we've never been able to leave these on our hounds as for the size neck (which would be the same as their normal collar size) they need, the lampshade part just bashes on the ground, frightening them to death.   Mine usually make it as far as the car outside the vets after surgery at which point I remove it!!  Our vet doesn't stock the soft sort, and if there is a next time, I'll buy one elsewhere.

Add -  sorry, too late.... you obviously have this sorted.   I'm liking the idea of the stuffed tights - see there is always something new to learn, even when you are ancient, like me.

Thanks Celli, I have actually manufactured one out of some stuff to protect metal in transport thats exactly the same but free ;)
The problem is, she keeps chewing it off!!! Hence the buster Collar :)

>Apart from the fact that obviously the problem needs sorting out

Which is what I am doing, protecting the tail, using antiseptic on it and now a buster collar to try and stop her thwarting everything I am doing!!!
If it stops her chewing her tail I will look at doing more, but also going to try the tights idea once I can find some wadding. :)

Lea :)

The buster collar one of my dogs wore was no good as it didn't go past the end of the nose so he was able to get to his hind leg and caused a lot of bruising by bashing the edge of the collar onto or near the wound. Then I got one with a padded edge which would've been better (saving my legs and the wallpaper) if it had been longer. I tried the blow up collar which didn't work and eventually had to resort to a bigger collar which was longer.  I've seen something like a human surgical collar but don't think it would work on a thick necked dog or a tail problem.

The soft collars look good but are expensive. My friends vet included it on the insurance claim.

I've seen something like a human surgical collar but don't think it would work on a thick necked dog or a tail problem.

Used one of those on a Rott after a spleen removal and a few other times - it worked well but don't know about 'end of tail' scenario

Was just thinking back to when one of my dogs split his tail end, I used a baby bottle over it and vet wrapped it up.
Also used pipe insulator too again with vet wrap and put it right up to the end of the tail base, also he wore a blow up collar too!!!