One of my past jobs was as a surgical veterinarian assistant at Skylos Sports Medicine in Woodbine, MD. It was an orthopedic vet office, where they did surgery nearly everyday. For the animals that had been operated on, the surgery was the easy part. It was the recovery that was the hardest.

Many of the issues clients have with their pet post surgery is keeping them calm so that they can rest and heal. However, this can be very difficult. The weeks that it takes to heal can seem like an eternity, but they are crucial to the healing process. I have seen many dogs who were not restricted as they were instructed and ended up re-breaking bones or breaking metal plates and pins. This only added more time to the recovery process, more pain for their dog, and more money for the client. Some options are to keep them in a small confined area or using medication to sedate them. Both can be necessary at times, but for some people that is not enough. If you have days or weeks leading up to your surgery, there are some things that you can work on to prepare your dog to stay calmer and rest post surgery.

**1. Loose Leash**
The first thing I would work on is walking on a loose leash. The day you get home with your dog after surgery, they will be extremely restricted on physical activity, and need to be taken on short LEASHED potty breaks to prevent them from injuring themselves. Many people find this to be very difficult because their dogs are pullers. I would suggest starting to teach them not to pull, and walk on a loose leash. Begin teaching this inside on a leash using treats.Once he gets better at walking at your side on leash in your house, practice it in your backyard, frontyard, then eventually down the street.

2. Which Cup

To play this you will need two or three cups upside down, place a treat under it. Let your dog figure out which cup the treat is under. If your dog gets better at it, you can move the cups around and see if he can find out where it is.

3. Find It

Have your dog in a sit stay, while he watches you “hide” treats around the room. Then tell him to “find it”. Make it easy at first, so your dog can understand the game. You can make it more difficult, as your dog progresses, by making them in harder to reach places, or in different rooms of your house.

**4. Muffin Tin Treats**
To play this game you will need a muffin tin and enough tennis balls to cover each hole. Simply put some treats in random holes, then put tennis balls over each hole. Next let your dog learn to take the balls out and receive the treats.

5. Interactive Dog Toys

There are also pre-made interactive puzzles you can purchase for your dog to work through and find treats.In addition, there are some non food related games as well. One is a plush toy stuffed with other toys, and your dog is supposed to burrow in and get the smaller toys out.

**Need help training fast? Schedule a call, and we can work with your schedule and your needs. Click**
HERE
**now!**

**6.Frozen Kongs**
Kongs are another great occupier. If you don’t know what that is, it is a rubber toy that you put food in, such as peanut butter, and let your dog chew and lick it till their heart's content. To make them last longer and have more variety of what you put in them, you can freeze them. The standard option is peanut butter, but that has a lot of sugar. So, you could use a little bit of peanut butter in the small hole to block it, and then fill it with some kind of broth, throw a couple of pieces of kibble in there. Have fun with it.

**7. Touch**
Touch is another game you can teach your dog. Hold your hand out, and once they touch it with their nose or cheek, you make it with a “yes” and reward them with a treat. Once they get the hang of it, you can start saying the word “touch” before your dog touches your hand so they begin to associate the word with the action.

8. Name Game

Teach your dog the names of some toys. Start by having one toy, let's say it is a banana. When your dog touches or picks up the toy, mark it with a “yes”, and reward with a treat or love. Then do it over and over with the same toy. Once he is getting the hang of it, say “banana” before he picks it up so he begins to associate the word with the object. You can do this with all sorts of toys, and even work towards getting them to clean up their toys.

9. Paws Up

*Ask your veterinarian if this exercise is safe for your dog to do this pre-surgery.* Teach your dog to put his front paws on an elevated slip proof surface, such as a low stool or a few stacked books. Dogs carry a majority of their weight on their front legs, this exercise causes your dog to put weight on their hind legs, building the muscle back up. Get your dog used to the stool, praising and rewarding when he touches it. You can eventually lure your dog into getting his paws onto the stool.

**10. Doggy Massage**
Depending on the surgery, you may need to ice, stretch or massage your dog’s surgical limb. To get your dog used to this, have them lie on their side in a room with low distractions, no other kids or fur babies running around. Start slowly rubbing your fingers on the spot they like best, ears, chest, belly, ect. Then slowly work toward their limbs. This helps with blood flow, and also feels very nice. Keep an eye on your dog’s whole body to make sure they are feeling calm. Mark their good behavior with a calming “yes” or “good dog”, teaching them that what they are doing is good and relaxing. If it is too difficult for your dog to lay still, you could do this while they are chewing on a bully stick or kong.

So instead of letting your dog burn off some energy with physical exercise, try exercising their minds through mental stimulation. You can achieve this by engaging them in enrichment games designed to challenge their intellect and by actively teaching them new tricks that are suitable for their restricted movement.

Please note:

This is not medical advice, but suggestions on how to help you and your pet get through the recovery time.
Play these games on a non-slip floor to prevent your dog from slipping.
Use a leash to keep your dog from running during these games.
Many of these new habits take time to learn, so it is best to practice before surgery. Take 5-10 minutes 2-3 times a day to work on these skills with your dog.