My 5 month old puppy has been showing signs of severe stiffness in his hind legs & to cut a long story short, the vet is saying that there are signs of hip dysplasia starting to show. To give him the best chance possible to prevent intervention she has suggested joint supplements which he has been on a few weeks now, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories & hydrotherapy - which he started today. While there, we have been told to limit his land exercise as much as possible - no stairs, no jumping, no free running, etc, etc.... My question is..... How on earth do I limit a lively, sometimes hyper Labrador puppy's activity????. If he doesn't have 2 walks a day he is bouncing off the walls, and we have laminate floors in half the house, which he slides all over (which I now realise won't have helped the situation). Does anyone have any suggestions for outlets for his energy without further damaging his rear legs? Thanks, in advance
Re: Limiting exercise in 5 month old lab - HELP Hello there, and a very warm welcome to the forum. You need to get those floors covered up, of course. With non slip rugs or another form of anti-slip matting. There is a book that might help: http://www.amazon.co.uk/walks-worries-Maintaining-wellbeing-restricted/dp/1845846052 Here are a few things I wrote for others, I hope they help a bit. [quote author=JulieT link=topic=10163.msg149074#msg149074 date=1426195676] [quote author=JulieT link=topic=9253.msg132847#msg132847 date=1419721848] My boy had surgery on his knee. First six weeks were strict crate rest but with timed walks that started at 2 minutes 5 times a day. We also had to ice his leg, and he had passive range of motion exercises to do. But that was it for the first six weeks. Then, it was lead walks only for 4 months. Then off lead but no interaction with other dogs, or fetch, or explosive exercise, for another 2 months. For me, the key was routine. I worked out a routine and I stuck to it. This was based on the principle that if I had to make 20 or 30 decisions about what I was going to do next for my dog it would just drive me mad. So I worked out what I was going to do, wrote it down, and followed it. You do have to find a way that your boy is not jumping on furniture etc For most boisterous young labs, that means: in a crate; on a lead; or in a room without furniture. I know on a lead in the house and garden sounds difficult, but both you and the dog will get used to it. Although the first six weeks for Charlie were strictly in a crate. It helps to the house set up as well as you can - non slip flooring, crate near an exit to the garden, and so on. I had a crate in a pen, with gym mats on the floor (crate because he couldn't be in the pen and risk him jumping up). I also cleared the kitchen of furniture, put down mats and pretty blankets, and spent six months on the floor with him. There is now a book that might help. It's called "No walks? No worries! - Maintaining wellbeing for dogs on restricted exercise". Here are some ideas that I wrote down for people before - hope some are helpful to you. [quote author=JulieT link=topic=7855.msg110148#msg110148 date=1410898390] In terms of keeping your dog occupied on restricted exercise, this is what I did: Write down everything you can do with and for your dog - eg 10 minute on lead sniffs round the garden, packing up meals in frozen kongs, clicker training, allowed safe chews, teaching tricks, massages, find kibble in boxes, tearing up paperback books, teeth cleaning training. Write everything down. Then stock up on what you need - kongs, save packaging etc. Then look at your schedule and work out how many activities you can fit into a day, and spread them out as much as possible - or grouped around the times when your dog is least likely to settle and go to sleep. Then stick to that routine. In between activities, if the dog won't settle put her in a crate or pen, if that's necessary - it certainly is for us - and they just have to learn that means quiet time. [/quote] [quote author=JulieT link=topic=4350.msg52625#msg52625 date=1391691150] In terms of time fillers, I can't claim credit for them - I think every one of these has been suggested on the forum and I've just collected the ones that work for us: 8in1 filled rawhide (small - only one a day) Anco roots Pizzles Frozen kongs Hard packaging with kibble inside An entire newspapers scrunched up in one big pass the parcel with a bit of kibble in each sheet Frozen rice hedgehogs filled with soaked kibble Kong goodie bones (I fill these with sea wraps - sticks of sweet potato wrap in fish skin) Kong wobblers Kibble hidden between the balls of a trixie cube The best quiet game is he has to lie very still (if he moves, we don't play) and catch a soft ball (we use the trixie cube balls) and give it back to me. He loves it, and will play it for ages. [/quote] [/quote] [/quote] [/quote]
Re: Limiting exercise in 5 month old lab - HELP Hi and welcome to the Forum. Really sorry to hear of the possible hip dysplasia in your little one. There's various forum members who are either in restricted exercise or have been through restricted exercise - I'm currently on restricted exercise with my 10 month old girl following surgery on her elbow. There is some great advice from Julie T which will help - it all takes a little time to take on board and to work out what works for you. There is lots of help and advice here on the forum, I'm not sure how I would have managed with out the support on here. Julie, thanks for the link to the book - I've just ordered a copy. By the time it arrives we should only be looking at a few weeks of restricted exercise but want to be prepared for any inflammation of Juno's elbow which involves restricted exercise.
Re: Limiting exercise in 5 month old lab - HELP Thank you. Will definitely look at that book, & take those suggestions on board. In a way I'm lucky that he doesn't jump on furniture at all (realise now it's obviously cos he's in pain). Stairs are now completely off limits & have ordered a few non-slip rugs for the floors. It's just directing his energy when he is used to his walks & being allowed to go mental in the garden. Will start having him on the lead as much as possible. Will probably be back for advice pretty regularly though
Re: Limiting exercise in 5 month old lab - HELP I know it's hard with an active 5 month old. Juno was only 5 months when we had the first episode of limping with her, so had no running in the garden, all walks on lead and only 1 walk of no more than 15 minutes per day. We've recently switched to Hill's prescription Diet j/d on the advice of my vet and orthopaedic surgeon. It may be worth discussing with your vet as it has glucosamine and chondroitin added together with Omega 3. Let us know how you're getting on
Re: Limiting exercise in 5 month old lab - HELP I feel for you, Buster was 7 months old when i took him to the vets on his limping and 8 months old when he was diadnosed with Elbow Dysplaysia, he was restriceted to 2 x 5 mins walks a day, and like you i was thinking how the hell am i going to cope with a young pup with limitless energy, after a lot of tears and feeling such a failure, and getting great advice from the lovely people on this site, you do cope once you've got your head round it. Buster is now 14 months old and we are now allowed to up his walk to 1 minute extra each day, the vet did tell me to do this last month but i think i got scared once i got to 28 mins i kept imagining he was limping when he wasn't, he was neutred 10 days ago so we had to halt on the walking but last Friday he was back at the vets and he was very happy with Buster, so i'm going to relax and enjoy walking my little man further each day. We did also have laminate flooring but decided to get carpet to help his legs. You will be fine, it is hard but to know you are doing the best for your dog is all worth it. Good lick and please let us know how your doing.
Re: Limiting exercise in 5 month old lab - HELP Hi and welcome to the forum What is your pups name? Sorry to hear about his diagnosis . Julie has given some fab advice and there are a few people on here that have been in your situation, and everyone is really supportive. Please do let us know how you are both doing ☺️
Re: Limiting exercise in 5 month old lab - HELP Thanks, his name is Rosco. Was going to add a pic, but haven't worked out if I can yet Well night one completed with no evening walk last night. After speaking to the vet last night, he was allowed to come up the stairs so he could sleep in his bed in our room as usual, but to be put back downstairs in the morning when he's fed - so essentially he's only going up & down the stairs once a day. 4 am saw his energy reach fever pitch - chasing the cat, chewing the bed, bumping my 3 month old baby's crib..... Fun times ahead. Have been told to still take him for 4/5 5 minute walks a day, so implementing that today. Just trying to merge the advice from the vet (limited exercise, often), with the advice from the hydrotherapy people (as little land movement as possible) while remaining sane!!!
Re: Limiting exercise in 5 month old lab - HELP It doesn't help if the advice you receive seems to conflict! For what it's worth, Juno rests for the day that she has her hydrotherapy session at the instruction of the hydro therapist. She says, roughly translated from French to English, it's because of the intense exercise in the pool. It might be different in our case though as Juno is recovering from surgery. May be worth checking though....
Re: Limiting exercise in 5 month old lab - HELP Ah Tams I'm sorry to read about Roscos problems...you will be feeling overwhelmed at the moment I'm sure. Establishing a routine all be it a restricted one and making the necessary adjustments around the house will help you no end.Writing to us on here will hopefully help you see that sadly you aren't alone but inspiringly you can get through it x
