Keeping a bouncy dog quiet after mast cell tumour surgery on back leg - tips please?

[BuckyBarnesArm]

I'm really worried about how we'll keep her quiet and rested for up 10 days afterwards. She's almost 4 and pretty high energy. There can be no walks, (presumably) no jumping up or using stairs. She's one of these spilled pooches who is allowed on furniture and sleeps in our bed The tumour is on a fairly awkward spot on her back leg/thigh and the vet has already said the sutures will be tight. I'm worried. In fact I may be focusing all my worry on the immediate aftermath rather than on what we'll do if it turns out to be a high grade tumour. Help!

Spilled=spoiled

I would look at getting a crate.

Problem is, she's not crate trained. She would be seriously miserable in a crate

Buy a tether and have it at such a length that she can't move or jump unless you're right there with her - you'll need to either pick her up and place her on the sofa for cuddles, or sit on the floor with her for a few weeks.

My dog isn't crate trained either and that's what we've done with him after operations or if he's been injured.

It's a pain in the arse but it's not permanent

When mine has been on enforced rest I cleared out a room of anything he could jump on. Put a mattress on the floor and essentially stayed with him 24/7 in that room and used a lead for toileting outside. The fact that I was with him meant he settled on the mattress reasonably well.

Would that be possible for you OP?

My Frenchie had the same op in the same position a few weeks ago.
She too is spoiled rotten and her favourite spot is on the back of the sofa watching the world go by.
To be honest the wound didn't bother her and I just lifted her wherever possible.
After a couple of days she didn't try to jump and stood waiting for me to lift her.
Wishing your dog a speedy recovery x

Thanks all, I think the tether option would probably work best, we don't have the space for Bitey's suggestion. And thank you @fleurbelle that's really reassuring. Can I also please ask how long your dog had to use the cone of shame for and how quick the healing process was? Hope your dog's was a low grade tumour.

Hi Bucky,
We had no cone of shame...
She's a French Bulldog so cannot reach her nether regions.
She didn't fuss at all.
Sadly it's not a good outcome for Fleur 🥲
Highly aggressive,
In fact the highest my vets have ever seen.
So it's palliative care as the chemo treatment would only offer her another 3 months.
No way am I putting her through that.
She detests the vets.
She will have a happy and much loved rest of life.
Your baby is younger
It'll be ok
Don't let my experience panic you.
She's always been a force of nature.
I'm just not ready to lose her but I've had to get my big girl pants on.
She's my life and I'll make her happy as possible x

She was healed within 10 days
I'll try attach a photo

After surgery

Sutures were tight as they like to get clear margins but she coped wonderfully x

That was for a half centimetre lump

When my girl was recuperating after her op, 6 weeks bed rest! We borrowed a doggy playpen, tbh we all sat in it. It was a very difficult time!

Hope the op goes well and your girl recovers quickly

Had to go similar when mine had ligament surgery-crate and we bought various dog puzzle toys-bones-chews etc and a licki mat would be great-use it when I’m trimming nails or when I need my dog to sit quietly for a while

Mine wasn’t crate trained either and used to sleeping on the bed-he was crated for weeks and coped.He is a herding dog but is able to switch off when in a crate-you’ll be surprised as after surgery they don’t feel like doing anything anyway so I’m sure your DDog will be ok

Either a crate or keep on a lead/tether.
DDog had a TPLO and whilst we were at the vet another lab walked in and had messed up his surgery and had to have the op redone. It’s better to have a slightly miserable dog for a few weeks than to have the entire op repeated.

We used chew toys too and kept him in just one room. We had to use an old sheet to lift his rear end over the back step.

Ours had leg surgery that required 6 weeks total rest. Crate plus tranquillisers, and lifting him out for cuddles. It’s hard but he coped (and so did we).

Glad you have had responses.
Just wanted to say that mast cell tumour removal is much easier on a dog than leg/ bone/ cruciate surgery so I'm sure he/she will be fine
Sending positive wishes x

@fleurbelle I'm so sorry to hear that about your pooch. And I would absolutely do the same in your shoes. I hope she has a wonderful last few months with you.

Thankyou
That means a lot
It's hard but it's the right thing to do
Please keep us updated on your boy x

Girl x
Apologies

Our boy broke his leg when he was 10 months old. We have 3 other dogs, including his sister (sibling). I was dreading the weeks of recovery after his op. None ours are crate trained but we had no choice. He was absolutely fine! The first few days he was feeling pretty sorry for himself anyway so was happy to lounge in the crate. Then when he perked up we would put licki mats, a small snuffle mat and lots of his favourite chew treats - chicken feet, pigs ears, yak chews, in the crate throughout the day to keep him occupied.

Ours are allowed on the sofas/bed too . So after a few days or so, when he was feeling better in himself and had his first check up, one of us would get him out of the crate, hold him TIGHT and sit with him so he could get his snuggles. We'd put the crate in the bedroom at night. He adapted really well. In fact, we still have the crate in the bedroom 18 months later - he will still sleep in it and so will one of my older girls if she wants peace!