ACL issues -mental work for dog “on restriction”

Katherine

Katherine

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I’m looking for suggestions for working with Snap, who went lame yesterday. This happened approx 2 months ago with the same leg (left rear) and while I don’t have a definitive diagnosis yet this time, my vet is now suspecting a problem with his ACL. We’re awaiting referral to an orthopedic specialist, where I am going to insist upon having an MRI done, so I can get a definitive diagnosis and options re treatment. He’s putting some weight on the leg today, however he favors it when he is walking forward or moving his hind quarters around.

We’re restricted to necessary leash walking for potty breaks, but no running, jumping, quick turns for up to 2 months or at least until we have a definitive diagnosis that calls for another course of action.

Work with tricks and a clicker come to mind, as do games in general.

If you’ve got experience with ACL issues and / or working with dogs on restriction (!), I’d welcome hearing about it. Many thanks.
 
When Deska was on restricted exercise he had to work for all his food. When I took Tully out to chase a ball he would stay on lead and I would scatter food around the field for him to look for ("find it"), that's also when we started doing the 'puppy treasure hunt' and treat bottles for breakfast.

You could also teach him to do some 'tracking', that's what I was advised for Tully when she injured her ACL (all I did was hid a sock with a smelly treat and let her look for it in the backyard). It was hard keeping her still tho. I also taught her tug and tried to teach her some tricks (altho she never did well at the later)
 
Thanks for the thoughts. I need to exercise my creativity as well and focus on what we can do and keep us both upbeat !

I think that I can safely have him do the find it game inside, particularly if I can keep the hiding at ground level. And the which hand game sounds fun... and could extend to my sitting on the floor and hiding a treat under a leg or behind my back, etc.

And it's funny, I started working on some impulse control last week for flyball training. I actually need to build his impulse to "get" or pick up a stationary ball, then to give it to me. So I'm working on that as well: holding him by the collar, telling him "rreeaadddddy", then "get your ball" and releasing him to it; followed by an "in my hand" command, which is clicked and treated if done successfully.
 
Snap update - iliopsoas injury

My first post on Oct 12 seems like an eternity ago. Since then we've seen an orthopedic surgeon, a local vet who is getting certified in PT, and a vet out of town who specializes in canine rehab (http://www.k9rehabcenter.com) and treats loads of performance dogs. The problem is not the ACL, but the groin muscle. We've got 6- 8 weeks of rehab, followed by 6 - 8 weeks of conditioning. I was sent home with a Tens unit and Snap has daily electrical stimulation / heat pack treatments in my "spa of a kitchen".

It is gut wrenching to see my young dog injured, but I'm learning a lot from this experience: 1) a high drive dog will never throw in the towel on its own; 2) I'm grateful that I worked with a breeder that did the right things regarding OFA (hip, etc) certifications, 3) I will learn how to warm up, stretch, condition, and cool down my dog, and 4) I'll come away with some guidelines later as to how much activity is appropriate.

By the way, all four vets that I've seen in the past week concur that his weight at 22.5 lbs is ideal.
 
Get well soon Snap, that poor guy. Sounds like you have a great team of Dr's working on getting him healed. I need to go back and see how he injured himself.
 
I'm glad, too, that time and care will resolve the issue. Yes, I guess Shelties will run 'til they drop.
 
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