Keep my laid-up dog entertained
June 30, 2022 10:20 AM Subscribe
My 8 year-old sled dog mutt Kesugi had TPLO surgery 5 days ago.
His primary interests are running, jumping, roughhousing and fetching and he's used to at least 90 minutes of off-leash activity a day. He cannot run, jump, roughhouse or fetch for at least 12 weeks, it looks like, and can't be off-leash at all. Tell me all the best, specific ways you would keep your dog's brain busy when he can't keep his body busy at all.
Currently, the vet has us keeping him confined in a 6X6 area, with no furniture to jump on. We hang out in there with him a lot. We are working on figuring out the right amount of trazodone to keep him calm but not zombied.
Although this was the right call- he's already walking better than he was before the surgery- I feel guilty because he doesn't understand what has happened, and just generally feel bad for him. I would like ideas for keeping his brain better occupied. We're already going a few steps out on the deck to hang out and smell the smells every day. Going anywhere in the car is out of the question for a bit, since it's really hard to get him in and out of a vehicle. What can I do with him in his pen that can keep his brain occupied for a stretch?
Currently, the vet has us keeping him confined in a 6X6 area, with no furniture to jump on. We hang out in there with him a lot. We are working on figuring out the right amount of trazodone to keep him calm but not zombied.
Although this was the right call- he's already walking better than he was before the surgery- I feel guilty because he doesn't understand what has happened, and just generally feel bad for him. I would like ideas for keeping his brain better occupied. We're already going a few steps out on the deck to hang out and smell the smells every day. Going anywhere in the car is out of the question for a bit, since it's really hard to get him in and out of a vehicle. What can I do with him in his pen that can keep his brain occupied for a stretch?
There's a Facebook group called "Canine Enrichment" - it's very active and people ask about various restrictions quite frequently.
My recs are basically the same as DarlingBri - snuffle mats, feeding out of puzzle toys (or scatter feeding), puzzle toys (my guy either figures them out or destroys them in 2 seconds, ymmv), lick mats. Maybe some casual nosework? I hide salmon treats in a small room. This could be a good time for him to learn some small tricks or work on cooperative care; training can be really mentally exhausting.
posted by quadrilaterals at 11:03 AM on June 30, 2022
My recs are basically the same as DarlingBri - snuffle mats, feeding out of puzzle toys (or scatter feeding), puzzle toys (my guy either figures them out or destroys them in 2 seconds, ymmv), lick mats. Maybe some casual nosework? I hide salmon treats in a small room. This could be a good time for him to learn some small tricks or work on cooperative care; training can be really mentally exhausting.
posted by quadrilaterals at 11:03 AM on June 30, 2022
Your dog sounds like mine. Two things that have worked for us in such times:
(1) mystery packages: a treat inside a box inside a box inside a box ∞
(2) drugs: trazodone specifically
Good luck, that's... a long time.
posted by 10ch at 12:05 PM on June 30, 2022
(1) mystery packages: a treat inside a box inside a box inside a box ∞
(2) drugs: trazodone specifically
Good luck, that's... a long time.
posted by 10ch at 12:05 PM on June 30, 2022
My last dog had tplo in August 2015 and it was stupid hot out at the time. I blocked off the stairs so he couldn't get down to the yard, then made dog popsicles (treats frozen in bowls of water) and he seemed to enjoy just chilling on the deck working away at them
posted by mannequito at 2:47 PM on June 30, 2022
posted by mannequito at 2:47 PM on June 30, 2022
Maybe you could teach him to talk using a set of programmable buttons? I just got a set to try with my dog.
posted by rpfields at 6:22 PM on June 30, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by rpfields at 6:22 PM on June 30, 2022 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Good luck, that's... a long time.
INDEED.
Ok, I ordered a snuffle mat and a puzzle feeder (the basic one, he’s 5/10 smarts on a very good day). I am hoping that if all goes well at the two week checkup we’ll at least get to give him the run of the downstairs minus the couch but who knows. So far he is convinced that with his new bionic leg he is 100% healed sooooo…the more ideas, the better (and the less trazodone, which I also feel guilty about).
posted by charmedimsure at 2:23 AM on July 1, 2022
INDEED.
Ok, I ordered a snuffle mat and a puzzle feeder (the basic one, he’s 5/10 smarts on a very good day). I am hoping that if all goes well at the two week checkup we’ll at least get to give him the run of the downstairs minus the couch but who knows. So far he is convinced that with his new bionic leg he is 100% healed sooooo…the more ideas, the better (and the less trazodone, which I also feel guilty about).
posted by charmedimsure at 2:23 AM on July 1, 2022
If you're interested in training, Donna Hill has a video going through a number of small behaviors that can be trained while your dog is on crate rest. The description below has links to other videos with specifics on how to train each one.
posted by ruddlehead at 2:06 PM on July 2, 2022
posted by ruddlehead at 2:06 PM on July 2, 2022
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PS: We have this mat. I put kibble rationed from dinner in it, or teeny tiny treats.
PPS: Can you pen him outside with you every day for an hour? Sniffing the air and all the smells!
posted by DarlingBri at 10:41 AM on June 30, 2022 [2 favorites]