Working full time with an unwell dog...

Tiarella

Tiarella

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Hi, I work full time 45-70 hour weeks but my dog really does need an operation that'll make him bed bound/on rest for 6 weeks.

I'm not sure what to do about work. They have reluctantly very kindly sort of agreed to let me keep him in a crate under my desk but I know they're not happy about it.

Ideally I would keep him at home and pop back at break/lunch time but my brother is in the house and let's him free and most certainly does not look after him so I can see him jumping up on beds and doing the stairs etc.

I'm really struggling for ideas?
 
Is a specialist doggy day care of any help?
One std day care locally to me will take existing clients if needing to be crated all day and only out for pee/poo breaks. Worth checking if you have the finances for at least the first couple of weeks?

Previously, I have crated at the yard in a stable & got a friend or so to pop by to do the comfort breaks. Thats ok when temps are good enough to leave them there tho.
 
Doggie day care? Have you a friend or neighbour who would look after him in the daytime. There are people who do home boarding.
 
Is he having his cruciate done by any chance. Only asking as my dogs have had both of theirs done (so 4 in total)! I didn't crate either of mine but restricted exercise and stairs etc and both dogs, both times healed perfectly.
 
Thanks everyone :) he has luxating patella in both legs. He was a rescue before anyone questions it!

There is a local lady that looks after someone's chihuahuas during the day so mine would fit in nicely but would have to be crate bound. I could also leave him in the car, and I'm sure he would be fine, but worried if he'll be cold/hot etc.

I worry far too much!
 
I would worry less about being cold in the car (unless he's very old) than being too hot - so schedule it earlier than later if you know what I mean. You can cover the crate in the car so that it stays cosy but pretty hard to keep a dog in a hot car without killing him.

The lady with the Chihuahuas sounds like the best option if she can manage ok. Good luck, box resting a dog isn't easy when you have to work.
 
Perhaps you could just take your brother to work with you and put him in a crate so your dog could recuperate at home? :p Sorry to be frivolous, others have come up with some very good ideas - it can be so stressful working full time when you have dogs, I am sure you will get something sorted xx
 
PucciNPoni said:
I would worry less about being cold in the car (unless he's very old) than being too hot - so schedule it earlier than later if you know what I mean. You can cover the crate in the car so that it stays cosy but pretty hard to keep a dog in a hot car without killing him.

The lady with the Chihuahuas sounds like the best option if she can manage ok. Good luck, box resting a dog isn't easy when you have to work.
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He is only 4, but being a short haired chi feels the cold easily - obviously he'd wear coats/jumpers!

So keeping him in my car in a crate is an okay thing to do?
 
Lévrier;13199883 said:
Perhaps you could just take your brother to work with you and put him in a crate so your dog could recuperate at home? :p Sorry to be frivolous, others have come up with some very good ideas - it can be so stressful working full time when you have dogs, I am sure you will get something sorted xx
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Now wouldn't that be perfect! He desperately needs his left knee done very soon, but his right knee can wait until Sep/oct when thankfully my brother is at uni so he can rest in his crate :)

Thank you everyone! It's all a bit rushed and so panicked by it all! Xx
 
depending on what time of year then a snuggle safe heat pad stays warm for 6 hours. There are also flectabeds/back on track dog blankets. My two stay in a van (but used to have a car for one) and use I reflective screens, vent locks etc and park under trees.
 
Also a hot water bottle would keep him snug if you went for the car option. My dogs have joined me for the day loads and been happily crated with walks and breaks :) hope the op goes well and your boy recovers quickly
 
At this time of year I'd be happy to leave my dog in my car. It's probably quite a good place being small and quiet (if your dog is happy in the car of course)
As mentioned above snuggle safe pads are fab and not too costly.
Hope it all go's ok x
 
The car is fine if the dog is settled in there, I reckong the lady ith the other chi sounds like the best bet though asyou can go to work and not worry about him being hot/cold
 
zigzag said:
I'm sorry but if your brother is old enough to go to uni, can't he do what is asked?
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My brother isn't anything to do with me or my dog - I moved out and had to move back with my dog in tow! He doesn't like dogs or any animal so to ask him to care for him and watch him 24/7 is, I think, very unfair.
 
When my jrt had her cruciate done I left her in a crate in my van. I left the windows down a bit and made sure she had plenty of blankets the climb under. I let her out on my breaks and that was plenty on exercise for her. She coped absolutely fine as other staff members spoilt her as well!! Hope all goes well.
 
Thank you for your kind words everyone :)

Taking him to the willows tomorrow and then hopefully have operation next Thursday - must ring petplan whilst I think about it!
 
Tiarella said:
My brother isn't anything to do with me or my dog - I moved out and had to move back with my dog in tow! He doesn't like dogs or any animal so to ask him to care for him and watch him 24/7 is, I think, very unfair.
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You are not asking him to care for him, just not let him out of the crate, you already said you would pop back during your lunch and break to see to him. You said he would let him out, ask him not too...
 
zigzag said:
You are not asking him to care for him, just not let him out of the crate, you already said you would pop back during your lunch and break to see to him. You said he would let him out, ask him not too...
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If the dog knows there is someone in the house he will bark and bark none stop. Absolutely fine if no one is in the house! Very annoying, but always has done it. My brother works late night shifts so it's all just very difficult.

Thankful by the time my brother is at uni he will be able to stay at home when he has his other leg done as will be alone :)
 
amymay said:
Sorry, a voice of decent. I would never leave a dog in a car for any length of time.
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How do you ever manage to take a dog on a long trip? Surely there will be times that you have to stop at motorway services and use a loo?

Just back from Crufts, stopped in to Tebay services for lunch. Dogs went for a walk and then settled in to their crates. It's chilly out, and two poodles in huge wool coats were perfectly content in the van with windows cracked. Temperature outside was 8 degrees. Hardly a danger.
 
PucciNPoni said:
How do you ever manage to take a dog on a long trip? Surely there will be times that you have to stop at motorway services and use a loo?

Just back from Crufts, stopped in to Tebay services for lunch. Dogs went for a walk and then settled in to their crates. It's chilly out, and two poodles in huge wool coats were perfectly content in the van with windows cracked. Temperature outside was 8 degrees. Hardly a danger.
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How are these situations remotely compatible?
 
amymay said:
Sorry, a voice of decent. I would never leave a dog in a car for any length of time.
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I think this is a bit of a blanket remark. We fostered an old GSD with terrible separation anxiety, he used to go with OH to work and stay in the car boot between walks because he would be anxious and stressed at home and chilled/asleep in the car. We don't leave the Newfie in the car because he overheats so easily, but little terrier loves a car ride and is quite happy to spend time in the car at our destination waiting for us as long as the weather and parking etc are suitable if she gets to come along for the trip rather than being left behind.

If your dog has positive associations with the car and you use your common sense regarding the weather and where you park I don't see what the problem is.
 
amymay said:
How are these situations remotely compatible?
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because any length of time, to me means five minutes or five hours - it's pedantic I know but really I think that if a dog is needing a bit of TLC and the weather is conducive and the car is the only safe location for it without pissing off your work mates, I'm not sure why the car isn't an option.
 
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