Fractured tibia in puppy - crate rest

[carolg71]

My poor beautiful 9 week old labrador puppy had a fall in our garden at the weekend and the vet has today confirmed that she has a fractured tibia. It is a clean break with no displacement and he said he is "quietly optimistic" that it will knit itself together without the need for any surgical intervention.

I have to keep her on crate rest now for between 3-4 weeks. She can come out for cuddles and to go to the toilet but other than that her life will be spent in the crate or in her basket provided she doesnt try to get out of it. To say I am devastated is an understatement. What a start to her poor little life with our family.

At the moment she is fine as in a lot of discomfort so happy to sleep in her crate. Assumedly though there will come a point when she is going to get fed up with the crate. I would therefore welcome any suggestions at all on how to keep her entertained while in her crate.

I am also worried about her socialisation and general training suffering. I have contacted as many friends as possible to come and visit her with children and vaccinated dogs where possible so she can sniff dogs from my lap - the vet has suggested she sits on my knee and has a good sniff of as many other dogs as possible.

Any words of advice or success stories would be welcomed I am emotionally drained this evening.

Thanks!

[Mattie]

Hugs. One of mine had both her back legs broken when she was 6 months old, being part Collie the rescue found it impossible to keep her quiet, I adopted her when she was 8 months old and her legs had healed.

This is Bonnie when her legs were broken, they even had problems keeping her still to take her picture



Bonnie is now 5 years old, a well mannered dog but can still go over the top with excitement at times.

There is a thread somewhere about mind games you can play with your pup, these will help tire her out without he jumping about, hopefully

[Horace's Mum]

Can you take her out for short walks being carried? This would give her chance to socialise and see things she needs to see. Maybe drive to a park and sit on a bench with her for 10mins or so, or take her to the supermarket or a local friendly cafe with an outdoor table you can sit at. It would tire her out almost as much as actually walking would, because she is seeing lots of things, but can't hurt herself. If you can put her down to toilet then how about driving her a little way for a short time to toilet in different places, or carrying her a little way rather than just taking her into the garden. I appreciate she is probably quite heavy, but if you can make a large sling with an old towel or blanket that you can loop over your body it would make it easier.

Even things like sitting with her looking out of your window if you live on a road would give her new things to look at and learn about - but don't let her start barking at things!

There are lots of toys you can fill with various food items - different types of kong that don't require much movement, but use low fat fillings and/or her daily food ration to make sure she doesn't put on too much weight. You could also start clicker training, there's lots you can do with her being still, just using a touch target command - try teaching her the names of toys, or the start of a retrieve and "drop" command using lots of swapping.

Things like nylabones can be good, or raw bones if you can get them and don't mind the mess. Or get some cardboard boxes with no staples and make a pass the parcel with them, or use one biggish one stuffed with paper and small treats for her to shred and find. Just watch she doesn't eat the paper!

[carolg71]

Thank you both for taking the time to reply.

Ruby is feeling a lot happier now and is becoming accustomed to increased use of her crate - she also has a playpen so she can come out but with limited movement! Her tibia hasn't been splinted at all which makes me increasing nervous about increased damage but the vet assured me her fibula is splinting it perfectly and any splint would cause muscle wasting which they want to avoid.

Her puppy trainer has suggested giving her all her meals in her kong which I started last night to keep her busy and working for her food. She is also learning to use the lead as we are taking her out in the garden to go to the toilet on the lead and that is working well.

Fingers crossed she will be back to normal in 4 weeks and then she can start being a normal puppy again!