Give Massages
Massages may help relax your dog and soothe his body and soul. It may be worthwhile to learn some T-Touch, a soothing way to calm animals down invented by Linda Tellington-Jones. More and more dog trainers are introducing five-minute sessions where owners caress their dogs ears for the purpose of relaxing and preparing them to focus.
Start Nose Work
Nose work is the latest trend that keeps dogs busy and entertained. Best of all, sniffing is a very tiring activity for dogs! While the real sport uses birch, anise, and clove extracts to train a dog in scent discrimination, you can start basic nose work by hiding a few treats under some small boxes.
Your dog will be in their crate or pen for nearly 24 hours per day, perhaps for weeks at a time. This space will be their world for much of this time, so do take care to set it up comfortably. For general tips on keeping your dog comfortable during the recovery period, please click here.
For bespoke supervision of your own dog’s recovery, you are welcome to contact me to arrange a video consultation appointment. To book an appointment, use the contact form here or email me at [email protected]. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. Please note that these contact details are for appointments only. I offer home visit appointments, when appropriate, for dogs and cats living near me in North Herts, UK. Video consultations are available for both local and distant patients.
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This website contains plenty of information about caring for a dog with back or neck issues. Try going to IVDD and clicking on links on that page to start exploring this free resource.
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Should You Workout Injured or Just Rest?
Get ideas for how to keep your pup occupied while theyre recovering from surgery or an injury.
If your dog recently had surgery, or if your dog has an injury that requires rest, your veterinarian may have ordered restricted activity in your dogs post-surgery instructions. What exactly does this mean? The meaning ultimately tends to vary depending on the type of surgery or the injury sustained.
For example, dogs with leg injuries must obviously move as little as necessary. This may mean keeping the dog confined in a crate or exercise pen and keeping the dog on leash when taken out for potty breaks. If the dog had an elective surgery such as a spay or neuter, the dog may need to be on restricted activity to prevent the stitches from opening and allow time for the surgical wound to heal.
If you are unsure of the level and length of restricted activity your dog must follow, it never hurts to ask your veterinarian for specifics. Restricted activity may range from a few days to several weeks. For instance, dogs that underwent a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy may need to be on restricted activity for a good six weeks!