The collar is an essential accessory for every pet and a fashion highlight for some too. However you should choose carefully as a poorly selected, and fitted collar may cause injury.
From time to time we see pets who have come to grief with their collar. The most common injuries are underarm lacerations caused by a collar being caught under a front leg.
Cat collars should always have a safety feature, such as an elastic strap or buckle that pulls apart under a pulling force. This allows the collar to stretch & be slipped off or the collar to undo if the cat gets caught in a fence or tree.
Dogs should never wear choker chains as a permanent collar, these can get caught on a branch or fence paling. As the dog struggles the collar tightens and causes a strangling action, leading to damage to the throat; sometimes permanent, but even worse you dog could suffer fatal injuries from the airway being closed off.
No collar is 100% safe, but some precautions can be taken to reduce the risks. Next time you're in the clinic ask one of our healthcare team to help you select the best collar for your pet.
