Need Help, Ideas, Problem Dog

[Rascalmyshadow]

I'm not coping well with our youngest dog and need some ideas. Chloe went in for patella surgery three days ago, she came home with her leg plastered and a buster collar to stop her from chewing her wound/plaster.

Being so restricted (puppy pen in the loungeroom) has decided to bark continuously, usually she is crated overnight but with the buster collar on there is not enough room in her crate so we have put a bed on the floor in our bedroom, she is not happy with that either, it's now 3:00am and she is still on and off barking.

I have a two week old human baby not only am I recovering from a Caesar but also from other complications as well as having minimal sleep.

It's not even been three days and I'm not coping with her, don't know what to do to make things easier for three weeks. I can't take the collar off because she goes straight for the plaster.

Anyone have any ideas, I asked the vet for sedation yesterday but he felt it unnecessary, the situation is so bad if I had the money I would board her at the vet for the 3 weeks.

Edited January 25, 2016 by Rascalmyshadow

[Kirislin]

Could it be that the plaster is hurting her, that's why she's chewing at it? Could she have had a different method of repair that wouldn't rub? If she didn't need the collar she might not be so difficult.

[Salukifan]

Take the collar off. Only put it back on if she chews the leg.

Is she actually showing any signs she WANTS to chew the leg?

That level of restriction seems like overkill to me. Talk to your vet about allowing her room rest (confined to room, not pen) and outside on leash.

If she were a person, the physios would be insisting on more exercise than than in three weeks

Oh and if your vet won't give you sedation because they "don't think its necessary" then perhaps its time to shop for another vet.

Must have been one hell of a surgery. My dog came home without plaster.

Edited January 23, 2016 by Haredown Whippets

[Kirislin]

Take the collar off. Only put it back on if she chews the leg.

Is she actually showing any signs she WANTS to chew the leg?

That level of restriction seems like overkill to me. Talk to your vet about allowing her room rest (confined to room, not pen) and outside on leash.

If she were a person, the physios would be insisting on more exercise than than in three weeks

Oh and if your vet won't give you sedation because they "don't think its necessary" then perhaps its time to shop for another vet.

Must have been one hell of a surgery. My dog came home without plaster.

what good sound advice

Neko's brother Arkey just broke his leg a week ago today. He's got external fixations on it and bandaging around it all for now. No e collar and he hasn't touched the dressing at all. He's crated when his owner goes out, which is only for a couple of hours at the most and the rest of the time he's allowed in the one room that all the other dogs are loose in. Access outside is restricted to him going out with his owner alone off leash, but when the other dogs are around he's either on a leash or put into a tiny fenced grass area about the size of a toilet cubicle, which is what it's used for with him.

I hope your little one settles. I agree with trying her with more room but not anywhere she can jump or run or get up any speed.

[Leah82]

Maybe a cloud collar for when she's not being supervised. Takes up a lot less room than a plastic e collar and doesn't restrict their visibility or movement

http://www.kongcompany.com/products/for-dogs/grooming-and-recovery-collars/grooming-and-recovery-collars/cloud-collar/

Sarah's had a couple of surgeries over the last year, the cloud collar works great to stop them licking or chewing rear end injuries and we also have a comfy cone to protect the face when she had a lump on her eye lid removed.

[Leah82]

And while the vet thinks sedation is unnecessary for the dog they should understand that it's not just about the dog in this case

[oakway]

Spray the plaster with Aero guard. If you are worried that the product will compromise the plaster bandage the plaster. If you see the dog chewing spray again. Keep this up all the time.

[Scottsmum]

And while the vet thinks sedation is unnecessary for the dog they should understand that it's not just about the dog in this case

Lots of sound advice above - Plus this.

[JulesP]

Try putting one of the other dogs in their crate next to her as a doggy sitter.

[Rascalmyshadow]

We are giving her access to most of the house while we're watching and have put puppy pens around the couch so she cant jump on and off but that causes her to bark as well not being able to get up with the other dogs. The leg hasn't slowed her down because she became used to holding it up and only using three legs before the surgery.

Yes she will chew the plaster it's the reason we were back at the vet yesterday morning to fix it. We had the head collar off quite a bit last night but with the baby we get distracted easily and it only takes her a couple of minutes to damage it.

Also it's not my usual vet this vet specialises in a unique method for patella surgery that has an extreemly high success rate, patella surgery is one that doesnt always have good results. I really liked him and he comes highly recommended.

Il try spraying the plaster and hopefully that deters her and we'll pick up a cloud collar today. If her behaviour gets much worse il just have to push for sedation or call my usual vet.

[Two Best Dogs!]

Could you perhaps put a longsleeved shirt/trousers (I've missed which leg it is) on her that covers up the plaster? Or is she not the type to tolerate clothing?

[Rascalmyshadow]

Covering it is a possibility, it is her back leg and she's only about 3-3.5kg so it would have to be something quite small and something that won't make her hot

[Two Best Dogs!]

That's absolutely teeny! Baby and toddler clothing might be worth consideration? A friend had to put a shirt on his whippet to get him to leave his stiches alone. Was much calmer with the shirt than a cone. (we wondered if maybe it also worked the way a thundershirt is meant to)

[Jumabaar]

We are giving her access to most of the house while we're watching and have put puppy pens around the couch so she cant jump on and off but that causes her to bark as well not being able to get up with the other dogs. The leg hasn't slowed her down because she became used to holding it up and only using three legs before the surgery.

Yes she will chew the plaster it's the reason we were back at the vet yesterday morning to fix it. We had the head collar off quite a bit last night but with the baby we get distracted easily and it only takes her a couple of minutes to damage it.

Also it's not my usual vet this vet specialises in a unique method for patella surgery that has an extreemly high success rate, patella surgery is one that doesnt always have good results. I really liked him and he comes highly recommended.

Il try spraying the plaster and hopefully that deters her and we'll pick up a cloud collar today. If her behaviour gets much worse il just have to push for sedation or call my usual vet.

Off topic- what method did they use for the patella surgery.

Can you do some foraging games with food in blankets and bedding for her to rummage through to fill in some time? I find that it can certainly fill in some time and help them feel in control of their situations since she has had much of her normal life things taken away and the barking is something she still can do.

[Willem]

Spray the plaster with Aero guard. If you are worried that the product will compromise the plaster bandage the plaster. If you see the dog chewing spray again. Keep this up all the time.

...DEET is toxic when ingested!!!!

[Rascalmyshadow]

We are giving her access to most of the house while we're watching and have put puppy pens around the couch so she cant jump on and off but that causes her to bark as well not being able to get up with the other dogs. The leg hasn't slowed her down because she became used to holding it up and only using three legs before the surgery.

Yes she will chew the plaster it's the reason we were back at the vet yesterday morning to fix it. We had the head collar off quite a bit last night but with the baby we get distracted easily and it only takes her a couple of minutes to damage it.

Also it's not my usual vet this vet specialises in a unique method for patella surgery that has an extreemly high success rate, patella surgery is one that doesnt always have good results. I really liked him and he comes highly recommended.

Il try spraying the plaster and hopefully that deters her and we'll pick up a cloud collar today. If her behaviour gets much worse il just have to push for sedation or call my usual vet.

Off topic- what method did they use for the patella surgery.

Can you do some foraging games with food in blankets and bedding for her to rummage through to fill in some time? I find that it can certainly fill in some time and help them feel in control of their situations since she has had much of her normal life things taken away and the barking is something she still can do.

Good ideas il try that. I'm not sure what the method for the patella surgery is called but the vet has developed it himself using a combination of dog and human methods.

[OSoSwift]

Dogs get enough exercise just moving around in their crates and going to the toilet on lead, that is why they are as restricted as they are. In this case go to your vet and tell them you need sedatives as there is a lot going on, and you need her to not bark ans settle.

[Staff'n'Toller]

When my Toller had to be crated for a tendon injury, he ate all of his meals out of stuffed kongs and I also supplemented with chewy type foods, venison ears, carrots, apples etc.

I crated him for periods outside under our pergola so he could be outside and watch stuff.

Whilst day boarding might be out of your reach financially and logistically...your dog can swim after suture removal so Aquapaws or Woofpurnay might be able to offer a day boarding service for you 2-3 times a week with a staff member doing controlled swimming during the day.

I know that Woofpurnay do/did swim their boarding dogs.

You can ask for the bandaging to be removed if it's too difficult. As long as they stay very quiet it's more of an insurance policy.

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

This is a video with things you can do with a dog that has a leg injury (and some other types of injuries)

If you can engage in a bit of trick training - that helps wear the brain out some.

With barking in the crate - our (Susan Garrett's rule from Crate Games) is to cover up the crate, if there is quiet - reward by lifting up a bit of the cover so the dog can see out, if remains quiet - open up more. If barking starts again, cover.

And occasionally can reward with food - for quiet. But have to be super careful how you do this, ie no rewarding naughty then nice to get treats...

[westiemum]

Could it be that the plaster is hurting her, that's why she's chewing at it? Could she have had a different method of repair that wouldn't rub? If she didn't need the collar she might not be so difficult.

Yep they were my thoughts too K. Are you sure the plaster isn't too tight? Are you absolutely sure its needed? Would a pair of PJs with legs with the plaster on or off work? - a bit of out of sight out of mind?

I found that Mac (who had by far the most surgery of my lot) used to be really distressed by Elizabethan collars so I didn't use them regardless and told the vet he's got to work with me to find other ways post-surgery.