Previous Thread Update 'Puppy Injury Question' 2

[pandyandy1]

My 7 (now 8) month old lab was presenting with an intermittent, right, foreleg limp. There were different poster suggestions as to what it may be, and I was clutching at straws thinking he had hurt his wrist, but
icedcoffees was correct - my pup was diagnosed with elbow dysplasia.
(The orthopedic vet was just more skilled in reading the x-rays than our regular vet.)

Fast forward a month and pup is now on crate rest, after having BOTH elbows CT scanned and arthroscopically treated by that orthopedic vet.

A little fragment of the coronoid process on the right elbow (about the size of a lentil) had come away and needed to be removed, and there was a little hairline fissure in the coronoid process of the left elbow.

The vet said that now the fragment is removed, the right elbow should be much better, and with the crate rest, the fissure in the left should also just heal. He said there was little to no damage of the cartilage, thank goodness and that (other than the above,) 'the elbows looked very clean.'

I felt really positive when my boy returned home that all would be well and as the vet said, 'It's about the best prognosis for this condition', but as the days go on, I'm in despair - my pup (understandably I suppose at 8 months) just will not 'rest'!!!

Ie if I don't give him toys actually in his crate like Nylabones, frozen Kongs, little puzzle toys etc (which he holds and moves around with his feet) he will paw at the bars or dig at his bedding - so essentially, either way... I can't keep his paws/legs still! Also, because he has so much pent up energy, when he CAN go on the lead to the toilet, he is like a pup possessed and I am having to hold on so tight and close to his collar, so that I can stop him zooming/jumping (and even holding his collar, he has managed to jump!)

I think today I'm looking for reassurance that compared to puppies' normal daily activity levels (off lead walks, multiple zooms about the garden, stairs etc,) my pups idea of crate rest is still rest and he will still heal, specifically that fissure?

Anyone any similar experiences? I am trying my absolute best but in despair that he won't heal and the op (and cost) will have been for nothing.

I forgot to add that he is 12 days post op and only supposed to be on 3 x 5 minutes lead (for the toilet) walks.
Come Monday (entering weeks 2 - 4,) we up to 3 x 10 minutes on the lead and it goes up each fortnight.

I have had to put my WCS on restricted rest so many times. What I found was best was to empty a room of things he could jump on and put a mattress on the floor. He had space and didn't feel too restricted and I could sit with him which made him settled.

Making everything as boring as possible made him more settled as long as I was with him.

Speak to your vet - they can advise on what level of movement is ok and also prescribe medication if required

They won’t just rest...you need to do stuff to tire them out still.

My last dog had arthroscopy for ED at 6 months, we spent an awful lot of time naming things, different toys and what have to till he could point them all out, teaching him different positions to lie in on command so for instance, down with his head also down, on his side, on his back...working on things like wait and leave, look at me, touch with his nose... basically anything static that meant his food could be drawn out over long periods of time and didn’t leave him to his own devices until he would rest after it.

Also I did cordon off a section of the room and just stayed in it with him for most of the time too.

I did ask about drugs, but they weren’t keen... it’s hard going keeping a large breed energetic puppy calm for that long.

I have been doing bits of training with him inside the crate ie lie down, roll on to back (for a belly rub), but I will also take on board the naming things training - good idea, thank you.

And whereas I was taking crate rest very literally (thinking I was doing the right thing,) I shall start letting pup in to the front room when the children are at school.
I can turn over the sofas and (hopefully) he will settle on his large dog pad (square bed) with me.
(We have a great bond and I think if he will settle next to me, he will be mentally calmer. Me too.)