Exercising dog with fracture

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Count Oggy

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Hi all. My first post here in dogs so hello everyone. My poor dog was reversed into last night. She's fractured her ulna which luckily isn't the worst break but is still very sore. She's an 11 year old labrador who is a little overweight and I'm worried about weight gain as the break heals. Would anyone try to exercise once she is feeling a bit better, perhaps in a week or so or just leave her until the bandage is off. She is bandaged to above the elbow so pretty immobile but I'm sure she'll get used to her stiff leg. Thanks
 
No, don't exercise her unless specifically told to by your vet. Cut her food down a little bit to compensate. Exercising risks getting the bandage wet or causing it to slip and having such a high dressing would be uncomfortable around her upper leg and chest. Apart from the fact that even with pain relief the fracture will be pretty sore ;-)
 
Thanks Fatpony. As I thought really, I was just wondering if anyone had managed a short walk. Just a hobble up the road and back. The bandage getting wet is a big problem, I'm off in the morning to get vet wrap and gaffa tape to make a shoe for when she needs the loo. :$
 
Slightly different, but my spaniel has fractured both elbows (separately) and has had surgery on them both. On both occasions, we had to restrict him to 5 minute lead walks for 6 weeks( up to 6 a day) then slowly increase the time. When he was up to 30 mins, we started to introduce short periods off lead. He also had to be restricted to a small area in the house. As a result he had a drastic reduction in what he could eat, so much so he was fed 1/3 of the recommendedamount of his food, as being overweight was a real potential issue. Best be guided by your vet and dont take any chances. Good luck and I hope your dog recovers quickly. Tx
 
Is she in a cast or a bandage?
Bandages do not immobilise fractures as well as casts so...
Cage rest for a bandage and only out to the toliet on a lead with the bandage waterproofed-needs to be changed asap if it gets wet.
short lead walks(5mins) with a cast on but also needs water proofing...we often used old drip bags to cover casts and bandages.

Reduce food as she will have reduced energy demand for next 5/6 weeks

Chat to your vet they should go tru aftercare with you
 
Good idea about the drip bag, I made a shoe today out of vet wrap and gaffa, as if poulticing a hoof, but it needs cutting off every night so she doesn't get too hot. The vet didn't mention cage rest, he said the radius should act like a splint but she's not really moving around at all out of choice. She only leaves the sitting room to go to the loo or to whine at the foot of the stairs if she thinks I'm going to bed ( I am, of course, sleeping on the sofa to keep her company)
Her diet is already reduced by nearly two thirds but she supplements her diet usually by scavenging. The dogs aren't fenced in here and she eats at my neighbour's house too! Mainly theft but I think he might give her the occasional treat too.
 
Countymun do a good selection of waterproof boots, mine has last for 2 dogs, 2 foot surgeries including toe amputation and 1 cut pad.
 
One year ago, my dogges has the same problem with your dog. I tred to exercise her but evething get worse. This was my fault. Fortunately, my hubby decided to take her to Vet soon. After Vet's treatment, she recoved quickly.
 
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