Crate rest - luxating patella

[MissShapesMissStakes]

My 6 year old mini poodle is due an op for luxating patella soon. I know he will need crate rest for 6-8 weeks.

What have people found works or doesn't work?

Will he need to be very still, or is it more no running, jumping etc?

Will he need a crate where he can only stretch, stand, turn etc? Or can I even go bigger and get a pen that's larger so he can have more space and even a person in with him sometimes (him and my dd are inseparable).

Any tips and info on people who have done this would be really appreciated.

Crate rest is ideal, but obviously it is depressing for the dog. However, your dog will be really woozy for a few days, so try and keep him to the crate/his bed as much as possible. Please remember, he'll also be in significant pain despite the medication - so give him lots of space, don't try and pick him up, don't crowd him etc, dogs in pain/woozy can often snap out of fear/pain. If your DD is very young, I would advise you keep her away from him for a few days.

Realistically, you can't keep him in a crate for several months. So, he needs to be in a very small room (kitchen or utility room) with a non-slip surface (you can get cheap rugs off amazon to throw on the floor and get underlay to ensure it sticks to the wood/stone etc) to ensure he can smoothly move from laying down to standing and not likely to slip on the floor (given he won't be able to put weight on the leg). Whatever you do, you really cannot have him on things like laminate or wooden flooring - the risk of him slipping is just too high.

He should only go outside to relieve himself and then back in again, really - unless someone is able to sit outside with him and stop him running when he tries. And I do mean he needs someone with him at all times - please do not just leave him outside as he will run riot and do himself more harm than good! Do not be surprise if he urinates or defecates in the house in the first few days/week.

You absolutely cannot let him run or jump for at least 2-3 months - depending on how serious the operation is - to do so could risk your dogs recovery and potentially cause him life-long trauma.

But your vet should have a pamphlet to give you, or similar. Finally, remember that because your dog can't exercise, he'll need less food as well! So he'll be DOUBLY miserable!

Good luck!

Full rest is very dull for the dog.

Crates, even for convalescence, need to be big enough for the dog to stand and turn around, without upsetting their water bowl (which they will need in there as well as their bed), plus space to put feeding bowl down at mealtimes. But not so big they can get up any speed of movement.

Keep the crate somewhere where he can see people and feel part of the family. Your DD could sit by the crate?

I'd say let him out on a lead only, for toileting and perhaps just to sit in a different part of the house (and I mean sit/lie, as he might benefit from the company of his humans, not padding around or playing). The lead prevents him from jumping on to the sofa or trying to go upstairs. He has to be very calm, and only be allowed to move the minimum, gently, on good surfaces.

Al least with toy dogs it's easy to carry them round, so they can have a bit of a change of scenery from the safety of your arms.

My collie is booked in for a full hip replacement next month (hip dysplasia) and will also have up to 6 weeks crate rest. The vet says she will be given sedatives to keep her calmer/quiet and she's only to come out for toileting. He did say that he'd had one dog who went crazy in the crate and had to be in a pen instead, but I am convinced that mine would just stand up on her hind legs if she had the opportunity and destroy the new joint. My attitude is that no, she won't like it, but it's a necessary evil and costs a fortune but damaging it will mean she has to have revision surgery and probably a poorer long-term result, so she's going to have to lump it. It's 6 weeks of boredom against the rest of her life with the ability to run and jump.

Thank you both.

Sounds awful for him. He's going to be miserable and in pain.

My kids are early teens and very switched on with animals. It's one of them who noticed he hasn't been quite himself the last few weeks and nagged me to take him to the vets (the clues were so subtle - in bed a bit longer than usual, not wanting to walk up the hill on his walk). So they will really be helpful with keeping him calm and quiet.

I was thinking maybe to get one of those metal pens and then alter the size as he slowly gets better? So start with it as small as we can (with the water bowl etc) and get bigger.

Our house is all open plan downstairs but there is a door to stop him going upstairs which is always shut anyway.
I will have to use a crate or pen to limit his space.

I will definitely get some non slip mats so he can be walked out to the back garden thanks. And we will be extra careful about supervising and keep him on a lead at all times.

Poor boy.
Also hoping this will be covered on his insurance!

We have a younger poodle too so she will need us to keep her away from him. Especially if he is feeling crappy.

Unfortunately he's a tall miniature so not so easy to carry. But possible. Though I'd be worried about hurting him.

We've cancelled our holiday now too. First proper one for 18 months at least. But it was near the beach and though he'd be 6 weeks post op he obviously won't be beach-ready!

@TooExtraImmatureCheddar - I hope your dog recovers fast.

He's never taken to crates at all. But is also not a jumping type. He's pretty chilled out usually. I think I might get a crate and a pen and play it all by ear. I'm hoping to get them before they are needed so he doesn't hate them immediately.

TBH, I would get a second opinion before going ahead with the surgery. A luxating patella is a congenital condition that usually becomes apparent at about 4 months, as it did in my dog, so it’s odd your dog has developed it at 6 years of age. All it meant for my dog was that when the joint slipped out of position, he hopped on 3 legs for a second or two until it popped back into place again spontaneously. It never stopped him climbing hills or limited his activity (whippet with strong prey drive, chasing deer in the woods) or seemed to cause him pain. It certainly never made him stay in bed longer or have difficulty getting up. My vet advised against surgery because it’s never foolproof, whereas hopping from time to time was not an issue and didn’t affect his quality of life.