Mason_Gibbs Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 My youngest boy may need surgery at some stage on his elbow, we are seeing a specialist on Monday and will know more then. My problem comes in that I have a second dog and they love playing etc which will mean that for 6-8 weeks they cannot be left alone together. I work 3 days a week and they will be alone for 6 hrs a day, for 2 weeks my hubby will be home when I am not and the 3rd week I'm thinking of taking unpaid leave. I'm just really concerned about how I will keep my 2 separate when I am not here.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben and Jerry Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 Possible to pop them in seperate parts of the house or indoor and out? Or will they still try to get to each other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 Hmmm if you think its 6-8 weeks only that might be wishful thinking MG. Crate or confine in a section of the house. Gibbs will need to be confined to a room or an xpen with no furniture or anything he can climb on as I wouldn't imagine he would be allowed to much space to run around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussielover Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 Set up a pen or crate for him inside, keep Mason outside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mason_Gibbs Posted February 18, 2012 Author Share Posted February 18, 2012 Gibbs Will try claw his way out of a crate if he is left in one for hours and will try jump a fence to get to Mason. I thought of sending Gibbs to the vet while i am at work to be looked after by the nurses but i cant do that for 2-4 months. 2-3 months is what i have been told i will need to possibly need to keep them seperate depending on what surgery is done. Looks like i may need to quit work to do the aftercare but then i wong be able to keep up financially. I guess i can try crate him and pop home at lunch time and then take him to the toilet but i dont think i can crate him for 4 months?? They are alteady very concerned about his lack of muscle in the shoulder on the side he is sore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mason_Gibbs Posted February 18, 2012 Author Share Posted February 18, 2012 Set up a pen or crate for him inside, keep Mason outside. I dont trust Gibbs inside at all, if he escapes he will destroy stuff he is quite naughty but i can leave Mason inside. If gibbs is alone he wont bother running around Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mason_Gibbs Posted February 18, 2012 Author Share Posted February 18, 2012 In my mind i just dont see how i can keep both dogs happy after the surgery with me being at work, its going to be a massive issue if its for a long period. Its something im going to have to speak to the surgeon about coz if i cant provide the aftercare no point in doing the surgery. And if i cant kerp him still the potential surgery would leave him worse off if he injures himself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diva Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 If you are able to get home at lunchtime it should be manageable. Interaction in the morning, then into a crate or just left in a quiet room inside with a chew toy or similar, lunchtime time toilet break and maybe some trick training for brain work, back in the crate/room for a couple of hours in the afternoon. When my dog had a carpal arthrodesis op I set up a spare room with a matress on the floor as her 'crate' as she was really too big to leave in a normal crate, there was nothing left in the room she might want to try to climb up on, like a couch. I had a young puppy at the same time, when the adult was out of her room the pup was crated in the lounge room to avoid playing but allow some interaction. It's hard, but if you are organised, stick to a routine and make use of enrichment toys and such it's do-able. It's a couple of months of hard slog to have a chance at a better quality of life for years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 MG as you know I have been going through this with Kenz for nearly 8 weeks - there is no easy answer . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptolomy Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 I suggest you start feeding him in a crate starting tomorrow, let him spend varying amounts of time in a crate while you are home, while you are watching TV, while you go out the back to sit with Mason. This is not a punishment this is how to manage his rehab should he need surgery. You need to start planning now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mason_Gibbs Posted February 18, 2012 Author Share Posted February 18, 2012 He was crate trained as a pup but hasnt been in one much since he was much younger. I need to invest in a wire crate that he fits into as my soft one im sure he will chew through if left unattended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diva Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 Good idea, and start getting him used to it again now while you have time to take it slowly, rather than after the op. It is a pain having to keep them quiet but needs must. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 MG try joining the ortho dogs yahoo group. Its got lots of information about rehabbing dogs post surgery. I would also suggest looking into something slightly larger then a crate. The general consensus is something like an xpen is preferable to the confines of a crate. Even a room baby gated off. A bathroom or something. They need to be encouraged to rest and not have enough room to be stupid but they do need some small amount of room to move around. Agree with Ptolomy's suggestion though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 (edited) Here is a good link to read up on - not specific to elbow surgery but its still joint surgery and its all much of a muchness as far as the "rehab" is concerned. http://www.lauriebry...o/recovery.html Here is the link to the ortho dogs group: http://pets.groups.y...yguid=253757634 And the TopDog Rehab Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TopDogHealth Edited February 18, 2012 by ness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptolomy Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 He was crate trained as a pup but hasnt been in one much since he was much younger. I need to invest in a wire crate that he fits into as my soft one im sure he will chew through if left unattended. There are some pretty cheap wire crates around on some of the sites, if you can't borrow one. I agree you will need a wire crate for this length of time and if he is being left alone. As i said you can put him in while while you are watching TV and occasionally drop a treat in the top. He will soon learn that a crate is not a bad place to be. I have 2 crates at home, one with a door attached but permanently open, the other with the door removed and there is always a dog in at least one of them - they put themselves in and are free to come and go as they like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mason_Gibbs Posted February 18, 2012 Author Share Posted February 18, 2012 I will need to crate him if we are not home i think. I have an ex pen but he pushes it over he is a big dog. We even nailed it to the wooden febce to try keep him seperate and he ripped the nails out the fence. Unfortunatly he uses his size to get where he wants. Will look at what we can build as i have some wooden panels left here by some friends who moved interstate but i think he will eat through it. Will def get the crate as well though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mason_Gibbs Posted February 18, 2012 Author Share Posted February 18, 2012 Oh and i am a member of that group already :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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