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It has many names. The Elizabethan collar, the E collar, the Buster collar, or simply the pet cone, is a protective medical device that prevents animals from biting or licking their wounds while their injuries heal. However, the way the critters look while wearing it has earned the device a few nicknames as well: the pet lamp, the pet radar dish, and, most notably, the cone of shame.

To explain the origins of these alternatives, Bored Panda has collected a list of photos where our four-legged companions’ expressions perfectly describe the way they feel inside the darn thing.

Discover more in 35 Pics Of Pets Not Rocking The Cone Of Shame At All

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#1

Suddenly, the cone of shame isn’t so bad.

The collars are named after the ruffs worn in Elizabethan times. The first U.S. patent was filed by Frank L. Johnson in 1959.

The vets usually suggest them in order to prevent the animal from irritating a wound or removing stitches while self-grooming. The cones of shame are used to either prevent the animal from licking or biting its wound or using its limbs to scratch its head, eyes, or ears. The collar is sometimes also used to stop animals with self-destructing habits from hurting themselves. Also, the cones of shame help animals that suffer from allergies. For example, it can prevent the critter from ingesting any of the medicine that’s applied on its skin.

#2

Despite their regular use, relatively little is known about the effects of these collars. One survey, aimed at owners whose pets wore the cone of shame during the past 12 months, showed that 77.4% of their respondents reported a poorer quality of life in their companion animals while the collar was on.

The poorer owner-perceived quality of life score was mostly due to the way the collar interfered with the animal’s ability to drink, play, or caused irritation. So, animal healthcare professionals suggest pet owners do their research when choosing the right design for their little buddy.