lilypily Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 (edited) My Lily is nearing 11yrs and she recently had a ACL repair surgery. Her recovery is going nicely. The problem is she is bored bored bored. She is spending her days in her bed and is only moving to go outside to toilet and to eat and drink. I'm taking her for her daily 10min walk as per the vets instructions. I need some ideas on how to mentally stimulate her without psysically over doing it. She is not food orientated, i'v bought her bones but she's not touching them. She is pretty much spending her days in bed sooking. TIA ETA: I have a kong and a treat ball and she has no interest. I think she may be a bit depressed as well as bored. The couch is off limits and so is my bed, so her life has changed. I have my front window blinds pulled down permanantly now as that contributed to her snapping her ACL. She loves to lie on the couch and watch the world go by and jump off and run into the window whenever someone or a dog goes past. So her visual stimulation is gone to. Edited July 24, 2013 by lilypily Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jigsaw Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 Some dogs are depressed for a while after surgery. Maybe you could sit with her looking out the window for a short time each day as well as your walk. Nosework - teaching her to identify some scents and find them could be a good activity for her. She can sit and do this while you hold scent in one hand and nothing in the other. As she gets more active you can hide the scent around the house and then eventually outside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 Does she like the car? All my dogs like to go for a drive :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 Yes thats what i did with my very active BC who was needing to be rested post-op for MPL surgery. We would go out in the car and on nice days I would find a nice quiet park and would stop the car and have morning or afternoon tea. She would also come in the car when I went to the shops but she was small enough to be lifted in and out and was confined so she couldn't do any damage to herself while in the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 Is there a place you could put her crate where she can see out the front window? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilypily Posted July 24, 2013 Author Share Posted July 24, 2013 Is there a place you could put her crate where she can see out the front window? She loves the car, but I was thinking she may place to much pressure on her rear leg as she won't sit, she has to stand up and look out the window. She suffers seperation anxiety and just doesn't cope in a crate. My vet said she would do more damage to her leg by freaking out inside a crate. From day 1 she was confined to one room. she now has full run of the house but doesn't want to leave her bed. However I can definitely sit with her for periods of time throughout the day at the window. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty Miss Emma Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 TV??? I know my 2 quite like the noise of the tv but Hamish relaly loves watching cartoons - I'm guessing because it is lots of bright contrasting colours that flash around the screen!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W Sibs Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 I remember charlie was like this after his operation... We packed a crate and took him out to a park for a change of scenery or took him to his favourite dog park Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisys Mum Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 My CKCS is having surgery in the next few weeks on her left Patella and I have been trying to prepare things to make sure she doesn't end up doing things she shouldn't ... the car is a great idea! I will definitely do that one . Lacey is still young at almost 3 so she is quite active so it's going to be different for her.. she is food and toy orientated so it should be ok. Was just wondering though if I should get a pen set up in the lounge for her? with her being active she is going to hate it but if I set it up like her own little den it should be ok I hope. Sorry LP for hijacking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 (edited) Kenz was pretty out of it on the tramadol for the first 11 days or so. I had her tied to the desk on a dog bed next to my computer. She was crated when I wasn't able to watch her. I asked about a pen/room confinement and the specialist was more keen that she be crated when left. Marg Kenz was only 4 at time of surgery and highly active. She enjoyed her outings in the car though and certainly made a point of whenever I went out she could come as well. Edited July 24, 2013 by ness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilypily Posted July 25, 2013 Author Share Posted July 25, 2013 My CKCS is having surgery in the next few weeks on her left Patella and I have been trying to prepare things to make sure she doesn't end up doing things she shouldn't ... the car is a great idea! I will definitely do that one . Lacey is still young at almost 3 so she is quite active so it's going to be different for her.. she is food and toy orientated so it should be ok. Was just wondering though if I should get a pen set up in the lounge for her? with her being active she is going to hate it but if I set it up like her own little den it should be ok I hope. Sorry LP for hijacking You didn't hijak marg. I hope your girl goes well with her surgery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 Is there any reason you couldn't put her bed next to the window so she can lie in bed and watch the world go by? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darien Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 You have some great suggestions there LP and I'll bet all your girl really wants is to be with you :) She is no doubt depressed and who can blame her, so some TLC for as long as it takes and all the other suggestions should see her through. Good lick :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alkhe Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 What about taking her for a walk in a pram or trolley? I know of a few very old or very sick dogs whose owners took them out in prams so they could have a smell and enjoy some sunshine etc. A woman at my park whose Scotty had some sort of front knee surgery used to come to the park in one of those double level wire type shopping trolleys, which was great :) She would sit in her bed in the top basket and the woman's other dog was able to run around and play while she get to get out of the house a bit :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilypily Posted August 1, 2013 Author Share Posted August 1, 2013 Thanks Alkhe and Kelpiecuddles, they are both great ideas. I could do the pram idea but i'd have to make sure she was confined and unable to jump out. If I put her bed next to the window she'll just do her usual - go skitz and run along the window sill. She is a terrier, lol. I'v increased her walks to twice daily and she is loving that. I just can't wait until she can use her stairs again to come to bed with me ( my bed is very high and she has her own set of steps to climb up and down) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now