You have digested the fact that your dog is having surgery. You have figured out how to cover the invoice, have prepared your house to accommodate a post-surgical dog, and are ready to take care of your dog during recovery. When you have an active dog, this idea has occurred to you… just how are you going to maintain your pet’s silence for 8-14 weeks while he recovers? If you are like most people, your reply is “It isn’t possible” or “there is no way that I can achieve this. My dog is going to be this tired” Your next idea is probably the realization that your dog is going to be expressing boredom with boredom reaction behaviors such as barking, licking, jumping, whining, destruction or melancholy.
The fantastic thing is that mental stimulation is equally as rewarding to your puppy as exercise and you can keep your dog’s mind occupied while he recovers from surgery. Below are a couple of things you can do every day to keep your dog busy and out of trouble while he recovers:
- These products distribute kibble and soft foods such as yogurt, canned pet food, or pumpkin and turn into a three-second feeding event to some psychologically challenging activity. If your dog has never used these products before, make certain to introduce him to the goods first so that he learns how to use them.
- Offer your pet a raw bone if your veterinarian approves of their usage. These may be obtained at several dog boutique stores and will continue to keep your pet busy for hours. They are messy though and therefore are best given at the crate or X-pen.
- Teach your puppy a new game every couple of days. There are hundreds of things that you can do with a puppy recovering from an operation that needs only using their eyes, the snout, or a single paw. There are 80 such games in Woof it Up’s Play & Train Kit that has been tested and perfected with dogs sporting e-collars and people who have restricted mobility. Pick a game and begin! Your dog will appreciate having something to do and you’ll love all the things he’s learning.
- If your dog is limited to his cage, set book things from the environment he can look at. Staring at the very same walls through the cage will get boring quickly. If you can, move the crate every few days to reach the same purpose.
- It can be quite enriching for some puppies to be vulnerable to scents. Place a drop of the lemon infusion on the floor in precisely the same area since the crate (not at the crate ) Change the odor every a couple of times using a drop of lavender, or vanilla. A dog’s sense of smell is significantly superior to ours so just one drop of scent placed at ten feet away from the crate will do the trick. You could also consider using a dog appeasing pheromone called DAP. This chemically recreates the odor of mom’s milk and many dogs find this particular relaxing.
- Utilize touch exercises and canine massage. Both enhance flow and will relax your pet’s body and mind. If your dog is miserable after surgery, purposeful touch can help considerably.
- Think about buying five new toys of various shapes and textures. Introduce them to a dog one at a time. Eliminate the first brand new toy on day two when you present the next one and keep rotating them to keep interested. There is nothing like a book toy to raise a puppy’s spirits.
Regrettably, we cannot inform our pets which recovery is a process that won’t last forever but we could tell them daily through our actions that we understand what they’re going through and we can help them get through the boredom. Here is to a quick recovery!
Veterinary Surgery
At this vet clinic, we’re proud to offer a wide array of surgical procedures for cats and dogs in the Richmond area utilizing innovative surgical methods and stringent safety protocols.
During each operation, a dedicated nurse may administer sedation and continuously track your pet using electronic patient tracking equipment. Learn more from our vet surgeon or visit their vet lab for more information.
Tracking after the surgery in addition to pain control is our priority after surgery. Your vet will also provide detailed instructions for maintenance as soon as they come home.
