[loosey]

One of our dogs was run over by our neighbours trike last week, they were out running in our bottom field when he came up a bridleway and knocked him down (in hand! )

He dislocated his elbow joint which apparantly is very hard to do in dogs and humans alike and the vet was amazing that there was no fracture. He has got some ligament damage and is due another check up tomorrow. Instructions are obviously strict rest and only toilet trips on the lead for now.

However ... the day after the accident I went up to poo pick the fields. All 3 dogs were tucked up in the porch when toby somehow opened the inwards opening front door, scaled a 5 foot dry stone wall, crawled under a 7 bar gate and met me in the field with about 12 feet of bandage trailing behind him  .

Straight back to the vets who couldn't believe he wasn't lame at all and showed us the x rays (gross!). They bandaged him up again but by the next day the whole thing had slipped down where he had been chasing his tail and they opted to leave it off.

He comes out in the mornings with us on the lead (which is better than nothing but he is very fit and seems not to be aware that he could have broken his leg!) and we do 3 or 4 10 min walks during the day on the vets advice but he is still driving himself (and us) mad with hyperactivity! Even in the house he is still chasing his tail, pouncing in the other two, stretching, jumping up to see out the window etc.

He's used top having at least 2 hours of exercise a day so it's unsuprising but I wish he could understand that he's not helping himself!!

[doganjo]

A cage is the only way.

[loosey]

I tried caging him on day three but he threw himself about so much he knocked his elbow out again and had to go back under anaesthetic to have it popped back in.

[Brucklay]

Would like to say we've had success but alas we haven't. We have a 15 year old and 17 year old border collie both who are getting weak in their rear ends but one day Blue couldn't get up at all - off to the vet and they put him on Metacam but I wasn't convinced it would do much as I was having to carry Blue and he hates being picked up. A little breakfast with the drug when we go back and before you know it he's zooming up the paddock again. They either have an on or an off switch - no dimmer switch was programmed into their brain. Good luck with yours Loosey you got a battle on your hands.

[Rosemary]

Our Meg is like that - we had both spayed at the same time. Tess was a dream. Meg a nightmare after the drugs wore off.

[doganjo]

I tried caging him on day three but he threw himself about so much he knocked his elbow out again and had to go back under anaesthetic to have it popped back in.

Not used to it.  I always advise people to use a cage as soon as they get a puppy, even if the dog doesn't use it all the time it is somewhere safe for them if required.

[OverWyreGrower]

If he really, really won't stay in one place, could you ask your vet for a mild sedation?

Don't tell anyone, but I use people-antihistamines for knocking the dogs out... only done it once, after my eldest boy ripped out 2 nails and had about 7 dressing changes in 4 days....

[doganjo]

If he really, really won't stay in one place, could you ask your vet for a mild sedation?

Don't tell anyone, but I use people-antihistamines for knocking the dogs out... only done it once, after my eldest boy ripped out 2 nails and had about 7 dressing changes in 4 days....

There are some human medicines that can be given to dogs including antihistamines - but only some are safe, and must only be given in child size dosages

[ellisr]

I have a collie and know exactly what you mean he sleeps in a cage in the evening to stop him getting into trouble but when he is around during the day he will run until he literally can't run anymore.
I have found some herbal calming tablets at the local pet store that do help they won't keep them perfectly still but do stop them being 'collies' and bring them down to normal dog energy status

[OverWyreGrower]

There are some human medicines that can be given to dogs including antihistamines - but only some are safe, and must only be given in child size dosages

Our vet said that, given the dogs weight (30kg +), 1 tablet (which is a child's dose) would be fine.

It doesn't send them completely off, but they are quite dozy and dopey for at least 24hrs

[little blue]

and try and keep his brain active - challanging games and stuff, its amazing how dogs can need a rest after a good puzzle at a game with you!

good luck   

[Samantha]

my last dog was a collie and yup it's pretty much impossible to keep them still :/ if it is really causing him a problem then your vet may suggest a seditive for him .. mine was hit by a car (not seriously) and we had to keep him on a mild seditive for a couple of days just to get him over the intial hump in healing.

Sam