Ok, here is something I'm fighting with. Our guy has a torn ACL. Our breeder told us to do crate rest so we can hopefully not do surgery. I don't know if we are doing so well. We have not gotten out the crate yet. Partially because his daddy is not excited about it. He feels terrible about putting him in a crate when he only is with us for 3 hours at night. I, myself would be open to it, but he is not. But do we really need it?
He rules us, and we are still giving in to him. He is still jumping on the couch. I bought him stairs, but he is so scared of them, he won't go near them. We have to lift him on the bed, but he jumps down. We try to lift him off, but he is too squirmy and fast.
At night he sleeps on the floor, and during the day while we are at work, he sleeps on the couch. I don't see the need to crate him during the day because he sleeps all day anyway. I could put items on the couch though so he doesn't jump up there. What do you think guys? Other than that, he won't allow him to run, or go for walks, or in the car.
I am going to try some Ester C. He is not on any anti inflamatories yet. Should he be?
Please some of you try not to be critical on us on the fact that he is still jumping. We need to try harder which is why I'm asking for all of yours opinions! We care so much about him. He has us wrapped around his little paw!
Thank you in advance!
http://www.kinggunther.com
We had no problems w/it....
It's connected to the kennel side only. I suppose if we had room, we could make a big circle & connect both sides, but we didn't.
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Jen, Howie, Doc & Vivian
http://www.bluelinebulldogs.com
Sadie tore her CCl we kept her crated for a...
month. When she was out of the crate she was on a short leash to not allow sudden ooutbursts, climbing and jumping. After the month we still ended up having surgery. She was 7 when she had surgery and is now 91/2.
It's not easy but you have to do it
even if you opt not to crate him during the day it's most important that he not be jumping up or down from the couch/bed etc., Jumping is the worst.
![[linked image]](http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/onslowsmom/hugss.jpg)
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Onslow was allowed on the bed before he got hurt and I put a stop to it because he was just like yours. Would not use steps to get down only to get up. He didn't like it but, too bad. If it's for his own good I have no problem being a big meanie. lol
Just know that you are doing it for his own good and his life will be better for it.
Hug your bulldog every day.
Please keep in mind
You will either have to crate him now or after an expensive surgery. I vote for now.
I had to crate my boy after patella surgery and believe me - I hated it but I knew it was best for him.
http://www.youtube.com/user/TThresh
From what I understand...
Once torn, the ligament doesn't repair itself. What you want to avoid is further tearing - especially when the ligament is inflamed and stretched. That's what the crate rest will do. If the tear is minor, once the inflammation goes down, you may be able to avoid surgery. If the ligament is just stretched, crate rest may avoid having it tear.
![[linked image]](http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s130/rottigirl2/prop.gif)
Even though he sleeps during the day, what happens if there's a delivery? Or something else that may excite him? Plus, if he's sleeping, what difference does it make where he sleeps? Why not in a crate?
Keep in mind, if the tear does end up warranting surgery, you're going to have to crate rest him post-op, too.
Good luck - I HATE activity restriction!
Olivia/Kano/Q-Ball
Re: Crate Rest
I have never had a bully with an acl tear, but I can't imagine that letting him jump is helping the issue, I would do the crate rest, if he sleeps all day the difference is that he cannot jump down and risk further injury, if you onloy have a few hours with him in the evening spend it giving him some belly rubs,and lovins, I am no expert on this, but from what this board has said about it, definatley crate him, good luck
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addition: Bad leg is back left leg. nm
http://www.kinggunther.com
My vet advised
using the ex-pen instead of crating as you do want them to have some exercise. Absolutely NO running, jumping or stairs. On leash only for 6 - 8 weeks. Your results of the surgery greatly depends on the after care. I would practice with him in the ex-pen before the surgery to make sure he will stay in it. All of my dogs are expen trained so I knew it wouldn't be a problem. You can get a taller ex-pen if you are going to have to buy one. I just put an ex-pen up with a bed in it.
Is the Xpen safe?
What if he tries to jump up when Im not home? Will it topple over on him?
http://www.kinggunther.com
my puppy was limping had to crate him for a week
i know it's hard when he looks you with the eyes, but you have to be firm. I crated him and takes him out to go potty eat and a few minutes to walk around. I also massaged his leg, put him on cosequin and ester c. during the day when i'm at work, he stays in his xpen enough room to go potty in his tray and lie down. It really helps, he is fine now. And remember to not let him run around, climb the stairs and no more jumping.
I FEEL FOR YOU.. THIS IS WHAT I DID
Lola was put on "rest" for her hip about 12 weeks ago. I blocked off the couch and put a xpen up in the living room around my chair. I could sit in my chair and she laid on her bed next to me. She still slept in the bed with me but every night before bed I put the Xpen around my bed.. I also dropped it down to the floor (no boxsprings) just in case. When we went to bed she could not jump in off and when we woke up I only opened up room for me to stand there and she was forced to let me pick her up to take her down.. During the day she was in the xpen.. its 5x5 and well gives her a less confined feeling but still keeps her quite.
You have to eliminate the jumping right away... Put something up on your couch and realize that we all sacrafice our decor for our bullies.. I even turned my loveseat around cause I live by myself so no need for it to be there tempting her.. I really invested my time into keeping her as quite as I could without feeling so guilty.. Granted Lola was resting her hip as a precaution and I take things to the extreme to protect her so if it were a tore acl I would say get a pillow and lay in the xpen with her.. Bulldogs love playing and toys but more importanly they love attention so what little time you have just grap some toys she can chew on and snuggle up next to her.. During the day you cannot be there to prevent her from moving.. We all know they sleep but just one jump up on the couch can be the one that makes the tear larger..
These dogs have very high pain tolerance and they will work hard not to show pain but please know that everytime she jumps it is causing her pain.. I am sure you will find out how to deal but realize we all have been there and at the end of the day you have to do what works for you and your family
Here's what we did...AFTER we had to do surgery for the ACL
I know what you're going through regarding that "daddy" doesn't want to crate him. I have one of those daddys too. We have totally different versions of what "crate rest" means.
THEN 7 months after the initial tear, we had to do surgery...more crate rest, but guess what? This time daddy was ok with it simply because money (& lots of it) had to be forked over. So we both agreed to do all the rehab as much by the book as possible.
So...in order to appease my husband's "don't keep him locked up all day" thinking & my "crate rest means crate rest" thinking, I came up w/this idea:
In the living room (where we spend the majority of our time at home), I put a small kennel & attched a x-pen. This gave Howie the ability to stay near us, but still be restricted in his activity. I actually put the coffee table in the space too because he uses it as a "den" & also put down some blankets & water for him. Doc & Vivi would "visit" while he was recovering too.
It really worked out well for us. Good luck!
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Jen, Howie, Doc & Vivian
http://www.bluelinebulldogs.com