Posted a few days ago about Rosco & his probable diagnosis of hip dysplasia (although still to early to tell for sure). He's had his first hydrotherapy session, which he loved & is back for his second one tomorrow. He's been having very short walks, 3 times a day as per the vets instructions (although hydrotherapist said to restrict all land movements - a contradiction I'm going to sort out with the vet when I see her next week). He's also severely restricted on stair use - allowed up to sleep at night, then barricaded downstairs after his breakfast in the morning. And yet, the stiffness just seems worse. On top of that, he is now pulling very badly on his short walks as he tries to go as far as possible before we come home. I've tried taking different routes each time, but it's not helping. He knows he's out for a short time & is almost pulling me off my feet - which can't be doing his back legs any good at all. On top of that, we reached fever pitch in terms of energy levels today, bunny hopping around while he growled & nipped. The only thing that finally calmed him down was a time out in the garden which he hares cod he knows he can't freely get back inside to us. How do I deal with his energy levels??? I've tried training drills (sit, stand, down, walking on the lead) to mentally stimulate him as well as treat toys to keep him occupied, but it seems he still gets to the running & jumping stage & takes ages to calm down
Re: Stiffness is just getting worse Much sympathy - I really know what this is like. I don't know if this helps, but I do think you've got to harden your heart a little bit. Getting your dog fit and well, so he can enjoy life, is much more important than the shorter term frustration he might feel at the restrictions. So that energy just has to be managed. There is no safe outlet for it, so it's just tough luck, sad though that is. So your dog should be on a lead in the house or in a crate in the house. So he should not be bunny hopping around, and he should not be running and jumping, because he should be prevented from doing so by being attached to you on a lead, or in a crate, and that's that. I have to say, I'm surprised that he is even going up the stairs once a day - if there is a debate about whether he should be doing any exercise at all, are you sure he should be doing stairs? (I'm also surprised he is in the garden without being on a lead - what if he spots a squirrel or a cat?). Sleeping downstairs might be tough, but such restrictions are tough, and dog and people have got to deal with it. Sadly, and with frustration all round, but it's just something you've got to get through. I don't mean to sound unsympathetic - I really have been there with a young, energetic, excitable dog on total rest for absolute ages - months and months - but you've just got to do what's necessary to get to a better place. On the lead walks, well, he shouldn't get anywhere for pulling. If you need to spend months on lead, you just cannot have a dog that pulls. Go out of the house and if he pulls, stop. And you stay stopped so long as he is pulling. Take one step and if he pulls, stop. Just do your 5 minutes in a circle of 50 metres around and around outside your house until he can do that 50 metres round and round. Then you can make that a circle of 60m (with one less circle, or whatever). Then 70m...but do not think that you can walk him over new ground (eg on new routes) until he can do the same ground without pulling.
Re: Stiffness is just getting worse I'm sure things are really tough at the moment. It's hard to manage, and you are worried about him too. I'm sorry that you're having to deal with this. For training sessions try to come up with a long list of lots of new things you can teach him. Tricks etc. there are many things to teach that involve a lot of mental concentration but not much movement (like get a tissue out of the box when you sneeze, roll over, bow...). This sort of thing really does help to wear them out. And, unfortunately, training for not pulling has to be exactly as Julie says.....lots of practice in familiar territory and not moving a millimetre while the lead is tight (also make sure you are not the one tightening the lead...keep the lead loose and if your dog tightens it then stop). It requires total commitment - but you will see inorovement. Also, give him treats to reward him when he walks nicely (probably just single steps at first). What's the longer term outlook/plan for treatment, other than rest and hydrotherapy?
Re: Stiffness is just getting worse Thanks, I really appreciate all the advice. Going to set up an exercise routine with the vets this week. There isn't a set treatment plan at the moment - just hydrotherapy, anti-inflammatories & joint supplements. And see him again in 2 weeks. Going to take him back this week though. Thanks again, I will take all your suggestions onboard
Re: Stiffness is just getting worse If I had to put my finger on the single thing that helped me the most, it was a routine. It is totally exhausting managing a young, boisterous dog, overflowing with energy, alongside the worry that he might hurt himself if you slip up and he runs round the room. So I wrote down the routine and I stuck to it. So set periods of "now it's kong time", "now it's crate time", "now it's manage the dog time". That helped me cope, and made sure I got enough breaks too - which is really important, otherwise it can drive you quite mad. I think it helped Charlie too, he settled better when he knew it was 2 hours in the crate time and that was that, so might as well go to sleep.
Re: Stiffness is just getting worse I also understand as I went through similar, though worse, as he had to be confined in a crate for four weeks, then a room for four weeks before he could even have five minutes lead walk. It nearly gave us both a nervous breakdown, but I stuck to it to the letter so that I would have no regrets. However, this was due to a fractured elbow which I knew would get better, though there was a real fear of arthritis. How bad are your dog's hips, is all this rest and hydrotherapy going to make it better? If not, have you thought of hip replacements? I had a German Pointer who damaged his hip doing agility and he had a hip replacement and then was 100% fit.
Re: Stiffness is just getting worse I do sympathise and know how difficult it can be but I think Julie T has it right in her first post. Life is hard but we have to be firm with our dogs for their own good when on restricted exercise. Five weeks after he elbow op Juno ha started to limp again so we've had to go revert back to the 3 x 5 minute walks per day and then this morning she decided to have loony time while carrying the post back to the house during her walk. Luckily it was not serious as she was on lead so I could stop her but I had to use several very firm No's to calm her and if she hadn't been on lead she would have run around the garden and put her recovery back even more. As it is she felt a bit sorry for herself as I has raised my voice, something that doesn't usually happen.
Re: Stiffness is just getting worse Hi Tams, just wanted to send you some moral support in what must be a very worrying time. And to Roscoe too. You sound like you're being incredibly strong so well done for that. I haven't been in your situation, so I can't offer anything to the already great advice you've had. However I can imagine how emotionally hard it must be. Keep being strong. Dogs have short memories (as we know from recall training!) so hopefully once you've established a new, less physical regime, Roscoe will learn to adapt to that and enjoy the mentally challenging games you and he get to do together. Let us know how you're doing. xx
Re: Stiffness is just getting worse Tams I'm just popping by to say hello.Im sure this is a really tough time and I'm sorry.When it feels too much come on here for a vent,there are so many members that have had to cope with a dog on restricted excercise.My Lab had to have 2/3 of his tail amputated when he was. 13 months and whilst I wasn't as restricted as you ( I was allowed to lead walk him as much as I wanted) I had to keep him very quiet and calm in the house.The routine is very important,like Julie says,it can exhaust you if you don't have any structure.Your treatment plan may change when you go back and it's clear the stiffness is worse,let us know what happens and come by any time you need a bit of a lift x
