How to Make a Homemade Muzzle for Your Pet

Just recently our poor dog had surgery. When we brought him home, he had several medications he needed to take for the pain. Unfortunately, one of the medications involved applying a salve to surgical stitches.

Our dog is as friendly and loving as any family pet. But there was no way he was letting us near those stitches. We tried talking quietly to him. We attempted to distract him with his favorite treat, peanut butter. Nothing worked. He was going for blood whenever we tried to apply the salve.

Of course, this was on Thanksgiving Day. No stores that sold muzzles were open. The vet was closed. I remembered a trick that a vet used when my dog tried to bite him during an examination. He used the dog's leash to restrain him.

I made a homemade muzzle from our dog's thin leash. It worked like a charm. My daughter didn't hold our dog quite firmly enough, as she thought she might hurt him. He fought so hard against the homemade muzzle that he flipped onto his back. But he still didn't manage to get the muzzle loose. Because of this, we finally managed to apply the needed salve to his stitches. He's now healing just fine.

It's very simple to make a muzzle if it ever becomes necessary. There are several items you can use if you don't have a thin, nylon leash. Pantyhose, a thin tie, strong twine, soft nylon rope, and cord all work to make a muzzle. It should be at least two feet long.

Tie a knot in the middle of the homemade muzzle. Then make a loop with it that is big enough to slip over the dog's mouth and nose.

Stand over and behind the dog. Quietly and gently slip the loop around the dog's snout. Be sure to wrap the muzzle closer to the dog's eyes away from the soft part of the end of the nose. Otherwise, the homemade muzzle could interfere with the dog's breathing.

Then quickly tighten the homemade muzzle. Pull both ends down under the chin. Tie a knot under the chin. Wrap the muzzle a couple of times around the dog's mouth. Pull both ends of the muzzle back behind the neck, under the ears. Tie a bow. Tie the muzzle securely. Be certain to tie a bow instead of a knot, in case the homemade muzzle needs to be removed quickly for some reason.