No, it's not cruel to put an e-collar on a dog to prevent them scratching themselves when they are causing more injury to themselves. I had to do that with one of mine, she tore her ears up so bad, they were bleeding and scabby and twice as thick as they should have been when I first brought her home. I was afraid she would hit a vein and bleed to death when I was out one day.
My Yorkie had Sarcoptic mites, ear mites, and skin wounds from all the scratching. She was also not liking me messing with her ears, so the vet prescribed Revolution to get all the mites under control, and an antibiotic creme to apply to her ear flaps. She was itchy mainly on her ears, eyes and front feet. When the scabs on her ears cleared up, I was able to remove the e-collar, as they caused itching also. |