Collars are a vital part of dog ownership. They allow you to walk your dog on a leash and they provide a place to hang an ID and registration tags. However, it is important to make sure you are using your dog's collar safely to avoid potentially serious injury. Here are some things to watch out for, along with some tips for safe, responsible collar use.
Could your dog's collar be damaging their neck?
Posted by Pet Direct on 23rd Nov 2020
Neck Damage
When choosing a dog collar for your dog it can be helpful to take their breed into account. For example, Greyhounds use martingale collars. If you have a large breed dog such as a Mastiff or Rhodesian Ridgeback, you may want to consider using a wide collar such as this one.
The most common collar-related neck issues are due to the dog pulling too hard on the leash during walks, or if the pet owner uses the leash to pull the dog around. The neck is a very, very sensitive area and by jerking your dog when on a leash, it potentially damages the dog’s neck. The best solution for dogs who pull on the leash on their walk is a harness or a Halti Head Collar. Both of these are safe options to keep both you and your overexcited pooch safe from strong pulling.
To avoid neck injuries, it’s important to teach your dog from an early age how to walk on a lead. Check out our blog on how to get your dog to stop pulling on the leash here.
Limb or mouth injuries
Apart from strangulation hazards, a collar can present other serious physical risks, especially if it’s too loose. For example, if a pet is scratching its ear and the collar is loose, their back leg or their front leg could get stuck inside the collar, looped through and can lead to a limb breaking.
It is possible for a dog to get their teeth or tongue caught in a too-loose collar while grooming themselves, which can lead to broken teeth and other mouth injuries. To avoid both physical injury, make sure your dog's collar is fitted correctly. As a general rule you should be able to fit your middle and pointer finger in between the collar and dog's neck. For any advice on fitting a collar, Pet Direct's Customer Service Team are always happy to help.
Skin problems
Clearly a collar that is too tight is both uncomfortable and harmful to a dog. Even a moderately tight collar can lead to skin irritation. Collars that are too tight can cause hair loss, and the skin in those areas can be more prone to infection.
In general, to protect your dog’s neck, have several good quality collars on hand and rotate them on a regular basis; checking that they still fit well. Also, let your dog sleep at night without a collar to give its skin a chance to air out.
General discomfort
Even if a collar does not lead to any serious injuries, the wrong collar can simply be irritating for a dog. Pet owners should use common sense when collar shopping - if a collar looks rigid and uncomfortable – it probably is. Always get a quality collar for your dog, and if you are unsure which type of collar is best for you ask one of Pet Direct's Customer Service Team.
An uncomfortable collar can lead to your dog constantly scratching at it, which can cause additional medical problems.
Collar safety tips
When sizing a collar, make sure you can fit your middle and pointer finger between the collar and the dog’s neck. If you can fit your hand in, it’s too loose; if you can’t fit your finger in, it’s too tight.
Also, keep in mind that a collar can fit differently depending on the position of the dog. If the dog sits down or rolls over, their skin and body fat is redistributed - a collar that sits perfectly when your dog is standing up may be too tight when it sits or lays down.
Finally, while collars are vital for holding tags, make sure your dog is also microchipped so that it can still be identified if the collar comes off and your dog runs away or in an emergency.
For any questions on collars, leads or harnesses, don't hesitate to reach out to one of Pet Direct's Customer Service Experts on 0800 200 240.