How to calm a poorly dog

[glenthebattleostrich]

Madmutt, the hyperactive puppy managed to break her knee cap earlier this week. She's absolutely fine, came through her surgery brilliantly and the vet is very happy with everything so far. She is a very healthy little thing.

She's home, with a shaved chicken leg and a cone of shame with strict instructions to rest! A couple of 5 minute walks a day on a short leash, no playing or jumping. Which we are having problems with! She's a puppy, she wants to play and jump. And she's a working cocker / poodle cross. So she really wants to play and jump.

Any tips on how to keep her calm? She has a small crate in the living room she sleeps in (thankfully we crate trained from her coming home) and a larger play pen in the kitchen which we are using but she still just wants to be up playing (because she's a baby!)

To keep her entertained we have lick mats, snuffle mats, Kong, various chew toys and antlers and we are working on her manners and training but obviously can't do to much with her cone of shame! So keeping her brain stimulated it's just getting her to settle better and not bey little shadow is proving quite a challenge, she is so pleased to be home she tried to climb into the shower with me this morning.

[howthehelldoIcopewiththisone]

ah bless her - she sounds so cute trying to get into the shower with you
sorry don't have any advice but just wanted to post!
they don't understand what's going on so I guess she is trying to be extra extra attentive so you will let her out :)

[PinkFlamingo888]

I’ve just posted about my 9 week old puppy with a broken paw, so I’m in exactly the same boat! Luckily he likes to sleep a lot and when we can force his Tramadol down his throat it sedates him a bit but we are still struggling to say no to jumping and playing as like you say, he’s a puppy!

When we are home we keep him in just the kitchen so he can’t be jumping up at the sofas etc and we can supervise and then when we are out he is in his crate. This isn’t even close to fool proof though so I’ll be following this thread in the hope of someone else coming along with some bright ideas!

[glenthebattleostrich]

This is her with the cone and the leg! She's a bit scruffy from the op and she was booked for a groom this weekend.

She is currently on a mat ignoring me because I won't throw treats for her to find!

[glenthebattleostrich]

And how she normally looks!

It's so hard for her as she's always close by and loves nothing more than to potter with me and have a lovely wander into the woods behind our house. Poor baby just doesn't understand.

Her pain meds are given on a night time so she can sleep. Luckily she's very good with going to bed in her crate.

[howthehelldoIcopewiththisone]

so cute bless her little cotton socks !
How long do you have to keep her off the running around?

[glenthebattleostrich]

Minimum of 4 weeks and probably closer to 8!

Unfortunately, she's not really onboard with the resting!

[howthehelldoIcopewiththisone]

I bet! that will seem like a lifetime to her. Are you allowed to take her out on the lead though?

[glenthebattleostrich]

Yes, 4 X 5 minutes a day. So basically a walk around our cul-de-sac.

She is so full of energy, and she is so sad about not being able to run that it's barely touching her.

[ButFirstTea]

Oh she is gorgeous! No matter how hyper he is our dog will immediately go and lie down and sleep as soon as we put a jumper on him, I think it's just the warmth that really knocks him out! I'm sure that's just a quirk of our little idiot but it might be worth a try?