BENCMATE Recovery Collar for Dogs & Cats — Shark

$17.99 USD

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Eat, drink, and sleep normally — no rigid plastic cone
Full peripheral vision — less stress and fewer bumps
Soft, adjustable, and machine-washable cover

Size Small (Neck: 4"-7") Medium (Neck: 7"-11") Large (Neck: 14"-18") X-Large (Neck: 18"-21") XX-Large (Neck: 21"-23")

Vet-approvedWon't block vision1-year warrantyEasy returns

The most memorable recovery collar in any waiting room. The BENCMATE Shark Inflatable Recovery Collar keeps your dog protected from any wound, incision, or post-surgery site — without the hard plastic cone that blocks vision and disrupts everything from eating to sleep. It does the job. It just also looks like a shark fin, which is its own kind of bonus.

Cats wear it too. The BENCMATE collar is designed and vet-approved for cats as well as dogs. Most adult cats take Small (4"–7" neck); kittens and petite cats take X-Small (up to 5"). It sits low at the neck, so your cat keeps full vision and can still groom their face and front paws — no cone panic, no refusing to eat.

Inflatable protection without the tunnel effect. Hard plastic e-collars work by extending a rigid cone past your dog's head. The BENCMATE collar works by creating a soft inflatable barrier around the neck that prevents bending far enough to reach a wound. The difference: your dog's peripheral vision stays completely clear, their eating posture stays normal, and they can actually sleep in a comfortable position instead of pinned flat by a plastic cone pressing into the floor.

Five sizes, including the ones that actually fit your dog. Available in Small through XX-Large, covering neck circumferences from 4 to 23 inches — because getting the collar slightly wrong means it doesn't protect correctly. Measure snugly at the base of the neck, add half an inch, and match the size chart. The velcro closure adjusts for a precise fit that holds through rolling, scratching, and determined escape attempts.

A shark fin collar that earns its own Instagram photo. The design is fully committed: shark fin shape, ocean print, the whole thing. Other dogs stare. Owners at the vet smile. You stop dreading the two-week recovery and start finding it slightly entertaining. Recovery weeks are long. A collar that makes them memorable in the good way is the one worth choosing.

What's in the box: 1× BENCMATE Shark Inflatable Recovery Collar, 1× inflation straw, 1× velcro closure strap. Size guide: Small (neck 4–7"), Medium (7–11"), Large (14–18"), X-Large (18–21"), XX-Large (21–23"). Machine-wash outer cover; air-dry insert. Valve holds inflation 24–48 hours. Satisfaction guaranteed — return if not satisfied within 30 days.

Large vs Large+ — which one? Both fit a 16"–18" neck. Large (14"–18") is the standard-depth fit; Large+ (16"–18") is the Extra Coverage version — the ring extends deeper, so a pet can't bend around it to reach a belly incision or a wound on a leg or tail. If the neck measures 14"–16", Large is the one that fits. If it measures 16"–18", choose Large for head, ear or neck wounds, and Large+ when the wound is on the body — or when your pet has beaten a cone before.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an inflatable recovery collar better than a hard plastic cone?

Yes, for most dogs. An inflatable collar like BENCMATE keeps your dog's peripheral vision fully intact, lets them eat and drink from their bowl at a normal angle, and allows comfortable sleep in any position. Hard plastic cones restrict all of these things. Vets recommend inflatable collars as the preferred alternative for post-surgical recovery, hot spots, skin allergies, and wound protection.

How do I choose the right size BENCMATE collar for my dog?

Measure your dog's neck circumference snugly at the base, where the collar will sit. Compare that measurement to the neck range shown on each size in the size selector on this page, and choose the size your pet's neck falls within. If your dog is between two sizes, always size up. The adjustable velcro strap fine-tunes the fit within each size.

Can my dog eat and drink normally while wearing the BENCMATE collar?

Yes. The inflatable collar sits at the base of the neck and does not extend past the chin or in front of the face, so your dog can lower their head to eat and drink from a standard bowl without any obstruction. This is one of the key advantages over hard plastic cones, which often prevent dogs from reaching floor-level bowls.

Can my dog sleep comfortably while wearing it?

Yes. Dogs can curl up, rest their head on the collar like a neck pillow, and sleep in any of their usual positions. The soft inflatable material doesn't press into the floor or force the head up the way a hard cone does. Most dogs settle into their normal sleep routine within 1–2 nights of wearing the BENCMATE collar.

How long should my dog wear a recovery collar after surgery?

Most vets recommend keeping a recovery collar on for 10–14 days after routine surgery (spay, neuter, laceration repair), and up to 21 days for orthopedic procedures. Follow your vet's specific instructions — the rule of thumb is to keep the collar on until the incision is fully closed and your vet has confirmed healing at a recheck appointment.

Can cats use the BENCMATE inflatable collar?

Yes. BENCMATE collars are designed and vet-approved for both dogs and cats. For cats, use the XS size (neck up to 5") or Small size (neck 4"–7"). The soft, inflatable design is especially well-suited for cats after spay or neuter surgery — it doesn't block vision and allows normal grooming of the face and front paws.

How do I inflate and put on the BENCMATE collar?

1. Thread your pet's everyday collar through the inner ring loops of the BENCMATE collar. 2. Use the included inflation straw to inflate the collar through the air valve until it is firm and fully rounded. 3. Place the collar around your pet's neck and fasten the velcro strap. The collar should sit snugly — you should be able to slide two fingers underneath it. Re-inflate via the valve as needed; it typically holds air for 24–48 hours.

How do I clean the BENCMATE collar?

Remove the inflatable inner chamber and machine-wash the outer fabric cover in cold water on a gentle cycle. Air-dry only — do not tumble-dry or heat-dry, as heat may damage the PVC inner chamber. Wipe the inflatable inner chamber with a damp cloth; do not submerge it or put it in the washing machine. The valve seal should be kept dry.

Is the BENCMATE Shark collar vet-approved?

Yes. BENCMATE inflatable recovery collars, including the Shark variant, are veterinarian-approved for use after surgery, for skin allergies, hot spots, and wound protection in both dogs and cats. The inflatable design has been endorsed by vets as a more comfortable and practical alternative to traditional hard plastic e-collars.

What's the difference between Large and Large+?

Both sizes fit a neck measuring 16"–18". Large fits necks from 14"–18" at standard depth, while Large+ (16"–18") is the Extra Coverage option — its ring extends deeper, making it much harder for your pet to bend around the collar and reach a wound on the belly, legs, or tail. If your pet's neck measures 14"–16", choose Large. If it measures 16"–18", choose Large for head or ear wounds and Large+ for body wounds or determined lickers.

My pet's neck is over 23 inches — what should I order?

XX-Large is our largest size and fits necks up to 23". We don't recommend sizing down — a collar that can't close properly won't stay on or protect the wound. If your pet's neck measures over 23", contact us through our contact page before ordering and we'll help you find a solution.

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Excellent, adorable dog cone! Highly Recommend!

Love this shark cone so much! Not only is the cone itself extremely functional & works like a charm, but it comes in all these super cool patterns & themes! My Pittie has always had the nickname 'shark' 🦈 or 'chompers' lol so naturally when I was on the hunt for a cone to stop him from licking his feet & came across this shark one, I had to have it!

All joking aside, this cone was really perfect for our needs. My Pittie has horrible environmental as well as food allergies (we've been thru all the testing & such) & his feet are suffering while we work through trying to help him. We've been managing pretty well with the Cytopoint injection every 7 weeks, while he's going through his Allergy Immunotherapy Injections, but we had a mishap with his dermatologist who gave him an extremely too low dose this last time & we have to wait a full 4 weeks before he can get his next Cytopoint, while this low dose did absolutely nothing for him. So his allergies kicked in full force while he had no medication on board & was licking his feet quite a bit. Then within the same week of purchasing the cone, due to the licking & no allergy meds on board, he got an infection in his rear toe! Long story short, he can't lick his foot at all while we're taking antibiotics, anti-inflammatories & Epsom salt soaks.

And this cone has worked wonders for us! It's super easy to inflate, with your own mouth & breath or with an inflator if you have one; just simply pinch the nozzle as you blow. I inflated mine the day after I got it on Oct 15th & it's still holding the same amount of air today Nov 2nd; I have not added anymore air to it. I like how it's adjustable with the velcro strap, to get the perfect size for your dogs neck without any hassle or struggle at all. And it's super easy to put on, just open the velcro strap, slide it over his neck & reattach the velcro strap. No hooks to be found all up the side, like the cheap plastic cones, no ties to then loop through the hooks & tie around there neck, etc. None of that, this is as simple as it gets. And the velcro is very strong, my dog has worn it for around 6 hours a day M-F for 2 weeks & never once got it off or even undone. It seems pretty comfortable for my dog to wear around as well; it pretty much doubles as a pillow for laying down as well. It's definitely more convenient for us, not having that huge plastic cone bumping into your legs, into the walls, knocking things over left & right. With this one, there's almost none of that! Of course they can't squeeze through smaller spaces, but once he's worn it for a bit, he seemed to figure out his spatial awareness pretty quickly. The only thing my dog had trouble with is our tight spiral staircase; he couldn't understand that he had to lift his head higher to clear the stair, so he couldn't go up them without help. I was a little worried he would still be able to get to his feet, since there are quite a few reviews saying exactly that, but my boy is 64lbs American Pitbull & he couldn't even get to his front feet, let alone his back.

The only cons to this I would say is that if you have other playful, young dogs who are into toys, they may see this as a toy & try to get it & could pop it. We have a playful GSD & she tried to grab it while on his neck not understanding he wasn't holding a toy. And with this shark one, it does have 3 little fins that hang off the sides & top of the cone, so at first my guy would swing his head side to side quickly to try to grab those little fins. He never succeeded as far as I know, but figured I'd let you all know that in case that would be a problem for your dogs. Overall this has been phenomenal for us & I would highly recommend it.

Good

It looks better in the product photos, but it works well for my dog, so I'm happy with it. The only thing is that I think I should have ordered one size up, even though I followed the measurement instructions provided. Overall, I'm satisfied with my purchase.