I think it depends on the dog. Syd had the e-collar at my request because I couldn't keep her from bothering her stitches. They were itchy when they were healing and she wanted to bite at them. However my childhood pet (a poodle) never had anything over hers and never bothered them.
Syd hated the e-collar...but in the end that was a good thing because it depressed her enough that she didn't try to play until a few days after the surgery.
If I were you I would watch him the second day (the 1st he'll probably be to doped up to do much of anything) and see if he tries to bother his stitches. If he doesn't take the collar off and see how he is. I wouldn't leave him alone without anything on though. Just in case.
Ps. Make sure you bathe him right before you take him in for his appointment b/c you can't bathe him again for 10 days after. I didn't know this (although it seems like common sense in hindsight) and Syd was VERY stinky by the time she was able to get a bath. |