Did the vet give Paget a rigid plastic cone or the type of cloth cone shown in these threads? https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/125553/Default.aspx and https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/125415/Default.aspx. I imagine that the rigid plastic ones would be very uncomfortable and make it hard for a rabbit to eat and drink and sleep. I know that some people do cut down the collars. I’ve never had to use one on any of my rabbits.

You can put Neosporin ointment on her rash area. Just use the plain ointment, not the kind with pain medicine in it. You could also use Bag Balm to soothe the area, but it doesn’t have the healing properties that Neopsorin has.

You said that you can’t find the softer collars anywhere. Did you call other vets in your area or had you just looked in pet supply stores? It could be that some other vets might have them and would hopefully sell one to you, if you have trouble making one.

I just did a search and found at least one site that sells the soft collars – http://www.entirelypets.com/eliza-recovery-collars.html. It doesn’t say what material they are made of, but they look like the ones in the other threads here that I linked to. Of course, you need one right away, which is why I thought you could call some area vets and see if they have one that they would sell to you.

I hope that you can either make or find a good collar for Paget and that she will heal completely soon.

I had wondered if there was something ready made or homemade that you could fit around the rash area. I have read about diapers for rabbits. I assume they are sold in pet supply stores. I don’t really understand how they would work, though, since it seems like they would prevent dropping from coming out. When you do a search for e-collars and their alternatives, there are sites that mention making collars out of towels or adult or baby clothing items, thin paper plates (cut a hole in the center) etc.

The fact that the sock you used is so tight that she is sometimes falling over, makes me think that it might not be good for her, but I can’t say for sure. I wonder if she would leave the area alone if you covered it well with Bag Balm or Neosporin. She might not like the taste or consistency in her mouth and maybe she would stop picking at it. I don’t know if the brand name Neosporin is available in NZ. Here is the info on it: Neomycin/polymyxin B/bacitracin sold under the brand name Neosporin among others, is an antibiotic cream that contains neomycin, polymyxin B, and bacitracin. It is used to prevent infections. Bag Balm is a salve originally used to treat cow’s udders, to soothe any irritation on them, but it’s now sold in stores for human use, to soothe irritations. I don’t know if that’s available in NZ.

Hopefully, someone else will chime in here and have some suggestions for ways to cover the area and what to use, or some homemade soft collars, since you may not be able to find any of the soft collars locally.