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Post by ? & Cannoli on Jul 13, 2022 15:58:39 GMT -7
[Original subject line:High Energy Dog on Crate Rest ]
Gabapentin 100 mg, twice daily prednisone 5 mg, 1/2 tablet every other day pepcid10 mg, 1/2 tablet with prednisone tramadol 50 mg, 1/4 tablet as needed trazodone 50 mg, 1/4 tablet twice to 3x daily Hemp Complete Oil: 0.1 mL twice daily [MED LIST/HISTORY- Moderator's Note. Please do not edit
weight? 10.5 y.o.
prednsone EOD taper
gabapentin 100mgs 2x/day
traMADol 12.5mgs
traZODone 12.5mg 2-3 x/day] Cannoli is a 10.5 y/o high energy terrier mix who jumped off the couch and ruptured a disk at L1/2 on 6/7/22. Emergency vet gave him NSAIDS and gabapentin and 4-6 was of strict crate rest and referred for neuro consult. His primary VMD referred him to Red Bank Vet Hosp, his appt for MRI and consult was 6/17/22 and surgery was on 6/21/22, I brought him home on 6/24/22. We are 3 weeks post surgery and he is doing very well after 2 check-ups. Crate rest is becoming difficult for this high energy little guy and his surgeon prescribed trazodone to calm him. Well tonight (7/13) he began jumping in his crate, all 4 paws off the bottom, hit his head on the top of the crate. Any advice beyond medication for how to keep a highly energetic dog as calm and rested while on crate rest. I’m terrified of him causing additional damage or re-injury only 3 post-op! Thank you, in advance! 
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Post by Julie & Perry on Jul 13, 2022 17:40:08 GMT -7
Have you tried draping a blanket over the top of the crate?
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Jul 13, 2022 18:34:40 GMT -7
Welcome! Hi, my name is Paula, what's yours? We are a friendly little group just going by first names. Cannoli is a pistol! Draping a blanket over the top of the crate as Julie mentioned can help. Drape the blanket down to his eye level when his is in a sit position. This way if he jumps up, he'll be in the dark and cause this behavior to stop pretty soon. Lots of other good member tips here: dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/ What did the surgeon direct for number of weeks for strict post-op rest? How much does Cannoli weigh?
Why did Cannoli eventually need to go to a surgery. Pain could not be controlled, neuro functions were diminishing or ????
MENTAL STIMULATION
During recovery time, physical activity must be restricted. A dog can not be allowed expend energy in physical activity to become tired. For dogs mental stimulation can be just as tiring. You can help in that department.
--- Dr. Becker, DVM, explains "During your dog's mandated rest time for recovery, her movements will be restricted, but her mind will still need stimulation. Teaching her tricks and games appropriate for her temporary physical restrictions will help relieve boredom."
— Choose only the activities that can take place inside the recovery suite. Choose activities that do not exceed the demand for 100% STRICT rest for the back. Your dog will be lying on the stomach or maybe quietly sitting. Use your dog's daily food rations as the rewards. Adapt each activity so that it takes place inside of the recovery suite while you sit on the floor in front of the suite's open door. Stop if your dog is getting over excited and displaying rambunctious behavior of too much back movement.
— Adapt each activity so that it takes place inside of the recovery suite while you sit on the floor in front of the suite's open door. Stop if your dog is getting over excited and displaying rambunctious behavior of too much neck/back movement.
— Quietly lying down or sitting on the butt inside the recovery suite is the aim in avoiding too much movement for the back.
— Try some training to give his brain a mental workout..brain work can be tiring but a good thing.
—Keep training sessions short about 7-10 mins.
— Keep the game going as long as your dog is truly engaged, not bored.
— If your dog loses interest, end the session for the day. Always end on a positive note by giving a command you know your dog will perform such as eye contact, then treat and praise.
#1 Teaching self-calming exercises can also help your dog to relax more. You can make something as simple as eye contact a very rewarding behavior that also acts as a way for your dog to “ask permission” when he wants something. When dogs have a focus and an understanding about how to behave to get what they want, they are much calmer overall.
To do this, each time your dog looks at you, say, something like, “Yes!” or use a clicker to mark the second he looks at you, and then give your dog a food reward.
[NOTE: for crate resting dogs, shift your body a bit to change your angle] .... wait for your dog to look up at you again, say, “Yes,” and reward again. Do this exercise 10 or so times and then say, “All done,” and put the treats away. Come back later and do it again until you can see that your dog is really starting to make automatic eye contact in hopes you will say, “Yes,” again and give him his reward.
[NOTE: treats should be subtracted from the normal daily kibble ration so as not to gain weight during crate rest.Lo-cal treats are tiny pieces of apple or carrot. To dogs the size of the treat matters not. They work just as hard for a big piece as a tiny piece.]
#2 lip lick:
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head tip:
As long as your dog does not have a neck disc and will calmly use a kong, it can provide your dog with a job during crate rest.... to work at eating dinner via a kibble meal frozen into a Kong. Licking and eating will now more time & effort and it is stimulating. Be sure to subtract what's in the kong from his daily kibble allottment so as not to gain weight.
what/how to stuff and training tips:
Consider some of these ideas too:
-- During the day try the coffee table or the dinning room table for the crate so there will be a view out a window and a better perspective on what is going on in the house from a high.
-- Provide a lick mat in the recovery suite. Freeze with some soaked and mushed up kibble, a slight slather of canned dog food or other lo-cal smear, as a very tiny treat but one that will take a lot of time to consume. Use as long as your dog is not exceeding the requirement of little neck/back movement during the recovery rest period www.amazon.com/s?k=lick+mat+for+dogs&hvadid=78202818358910&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&tag=mh0b-20&ref=pd_sl_3b30nygjvi_e
I hope some of these ideas will help you out. So we know for future dogs, which worked best for Cannoli? |
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