Active 6 Month Old With Broken Leg
 

Hello!

Help! Our six month old, 3lb. baby "Cosmo" has a broken leg. He had surgery this past Thursday..a plate and four pins and does have a cast on, but still thinks he can do anything. Any ideas on how to keep him calm during the healing process? All suggestions are welcome! Thanks!!!

Sorry to hear about your little one. Poor little guy. The only thing I can think to do is crate him in a good size crate or maybe put him in a small playyard. With a bed and lots of toys in it.

Sorry to hear about Cosmo's leg. I think the only way is to crate him or confine him to a small area. I found when one of mine had surgery on her leg that she slept while I was gone( husband was home) so I would go out for awhile everyday. I also carried her around a lot. Good luck.

My boy broke his leg when he was about the same age... He didn't want to slow down either, but the cast kept it protected...good luck! Maybe he will settle down!

Poor Cosmo. I agree that a crate or small expen might help. I hope he recovers quickly!

mine had the same surgery 10 weeks ago. I was told "no walking" at all for 8 weeks. She was in the crate morning noon and night if she wasnt on our laps. She could get up turn around walk a few steps to her food/water and to a pee pad and that was it... I had three different crates. I padded the bottom of them because she liked to try and put her legs up on them so when her legs went backdown she landed on padding. She did not get a pen, the surgeon didnt even want her walking that much. .When she was stir crazy we gave her tranquilizers to calm her. When she jumped around in her medium crate we put her in the small one so she couldnt. It was really hard but the end result was both her radius and ulna are starting to heal. (he never expected the ulna to) now at 11 weeks she can be out of the crate in the family room, and some slow walking on a leash. She does zoom around a bit but geez its been 10 plus weeks. My surgeon doesnt want her playing or open running for 3 months after the 8 week recovery..They say it takes 6 month to actually heal. Then I was told she can never jump on and off furniture as they are susceptible to breaks at the top of the plate. Thats my surgeon though. I know someone else on here with the same surgery who is able to get out and walk around at 3 weeks..It seems every surgeon has different thoughts regarding plate surgery. After a period of time it does help to have them put some weight on it...wish you the best!

Thank you!
 

Thanks for all the great advice and support! This is our fourth Yorkie (and the smallest) and never used this forum...love it!!!

Cosmo is in a crate most of the time and looking very sad after while:). We are staying strong and only let him walk a few minutes a day when we are not carrying him or have him on our lap. Xrays next week to see how the healing is progressing...will keep you posted!!

I hope it all goes great. It is hard to see them in a crate all day..I would give her treats (too many, not a good idea lol) because Id feel bad. I puth her in a stroller and strapped her in good and walked the neighborhood. I bought a dog purse and carried her around. I moved her aroudn to different crates so she could have a change of view. I looked like quite the crazy dog lady but in the end she is now standing and moving around great. You think it will take forever but it passes fast...

Thanks!!!! It is soooo hard watching him in the crate, but know it is best for him! he loves kibbles as treats, so doing that. He is now happily sitting on his Dad's lap. My turn next:)

If it gets really hard ask your vet for some tranquilzers. It takes the edge off when they get really crazy from being crated. It helped us alot in the beginning. Eventually their livers just pass it through and it doesnt work as well so I kept it for only the times she really needed to relax..wrapped it in cheese..

Try giving him some things to keep him distracted like a bully stick, Himalayan chews or a kong filled with something. Or the everlasting treat ball, I heard that lasts awhile. Or even one of those IQ toys.
At 6 months old he can really focus some energy on chewing that way he isn't so bored but yet he isn't trying to run around with his leg still healing.

I was so afraid of her trying to hold the kong or bullies with her mending leg I used to just sit there and hold them for her....
I used to say to her "anything else my queen?":2omg: