Uh-oh, another incision licker.  We struggled with this for months.  I think it was a nervous thing with Tate, he'd go at it especially when he got stressed, or just when he felt like it.  It reminded me of a kid that sucks his thumb.  We tried all kinds of stuff and it really became a problem.  Just when we thought it was all healed, he'd tear it open again.  They put him on gabapentin thinking it was phantom limb pain.  They put him on an antibiotic.  They suggested cold laser and some other kind of laser.  I don't even like to think about it, it was just this constant nagging thing that complicated everything.

Okay, so long story short - deal with it now.  I'm sorry to have to tell you that the only thing that worked for us was the dreaded cone.  We tried assorted clothing pieces, the donut thing, and some big wide neck brace thing.  We tried yucky tasting stuff, apple bitter maybe?

Tate hated the cone, too.  Hated it.  My husband brought him outside and just let him work through it, bumping into stuff and everything.  After awhile he finally accepted it very grudgingly.  I can't say if Fergus will accept it or not but please give it a try.  It takes so much discipline when they are resistant; recovery is difficult enough without torturing them even more.

The thing that finally solved it for us was lidocaine.  It's a topical numbing gel.  The vet was going to use it for a laser treatment, and I said, "Well heck, just give me some of that stuff!"  We'd slap it on and he'd leave it alone for awhile, maybe an hour or two.  So everyone could have a break from the cone.

I'm sorry I don't have a magic answer.  This is just our experience, go ahead and try some of the other stuff.  I'll send you the neck brace if you want but Tate could still reach the incision and he's a flat coat, about 65 lbs.

Best of luck, let us know how it goes.  Hang in there, it really does get better.

Jan & Tate