Our 7 month border collie has just been diagnosed with OCD in both shoulders.

We're lucky that we have caught it very early and it is in its early stages.

However, we're both extremely upset and devastated about this news, particularly as we've always been so careful with him, knowing that this condition is a possibility.

However, onwards and upwards.

He's booked in to have the surgery (keyhole) in two weeks with McQueens and then he'll be rehabilitated (physio & hydro) with a centre in Farnham.

But, when he first come's home from hospital we've been advised to restrict his movement and unless we're sat down with him, to keep him caged for 2 weeks, potentially up to 4wks, allowing obviously visits on a lead to the toilet, feed time and to be sat down with us in a room.

I can understand this theory, having horses you would keep them box rested etc etc.

But the whole thought of this is quite dramatic and worrying for a young dog.

Anyone else gone through this? If so, do you have tips on how to manage it all, boredom breakers etc?

Feeling quite low about the whole thing, although I understand the prognosis is fairly good.

We're lucky that he's actually quite chilled for a border collie and hoping this will serve in his favour.

Thanks for any replies

Really sorry to hear about your pup.  I had the same problem with my youngest golden retriever - he was diagnosed at about the same age.  I was absolutely devastated and very concerned about the cage rest problem - I even at my lowest point thought he might be better off being put to sleep as I just felt it was so cruel to cage rest him long term.

BUT  it wasn't nearly as bad as I had thought it would be - dogs are amazingly resilient and just accept whatever is thrown at them.  I had his cage in my living room so he was at the centre of things - I've got 3 other dogs so he could see them (not sure if that was good or bad!) and he just accepted it.  Filled kongs are really useful - you can freeze chicken broth in them and then give it to him - that keeps them quiet for a while.  Maybe put his dinner in a kong too to give him something to do.  When he got a bit better I did start to let him out but had him on a lead attached to my jeans; that way he could come with me to wash up or whatever I was doing but couldn't run around with the others.

I wish you loads of luck - but don't be despondent; you and your pup will get through this, and if he's anything like mine it will make you even closer.

sorry to hear about this sprat, hope the surgery goes well.

not OCD but my boy had to he similarly confined post cruciate surgery, its a nightmare. no particularly brilliant insights just thought i'd wish you luck

Ian McQueen is a lovely man and I'm sure if you follow his post op advice, you'll have the best possible future available

My bitch had major surgery by Ian last spring on her stifle, she was 9 months for her 1st op in Jan and 11 months nearly for the major op in March, being a bouncy Lab pup, I'm sure you can imagine how hard it would of been to keep her quiet without the aid of a crate!

The poor girl was crated for a total of 5 months! and we followed our exercise regime as set out by I McQueen to the letter.............................I can only strongly recommend that you do too :-) .......................you'll be amazed at how they adapt to life behind bars, the 1st week is not easy, but in all honesty, it was harder on me than my girl, it became a way of life for her, only coming out to go to toilet on the lead and the daily exercise plan that we were to follow, I spent alot of time sat on a cushion by the crate door, so she could at least have me near.................a good supply of books for you to read and plenty of chews etc for the dog! I also fed her meals in a Kong as it took longer to eat that way so gave her something to do.........

Best of luck for a successful op & recovery..............

Cheers all.

I will be following his instructions to the letter, there's no worry about that!

We won't know exactly how log he's to be in the crate until he's been in, but definitely two weeks, maybe 4 or more.

The feeding in the kongs a good idea, although messy!!

My Labrador had an OCD op and she looked so ill when she got home, but don't get too upset (altho I know you will) they recover and pull back REALLY quickly, and he will go on to have a great and full life with you. These things are sent to try us. I didnt have a crate, but it was no problem, she just stayed in the lounge with us and her young Golden friend. She was as happy as she could be without walks, but then just a few minutes at a time and built up slowly. She was fine so no more stuff and nonsense about PTS, he will be fine!! :-)

My lab bitch also was diagnosed with OCD at 5 months and had an operation at 8 months.  Her OCD was in her elbow.  I never caged her at all, for the first week she was bandaged all the way up her leg so we kept her in the house but after that came off and the stiches out we walked her.  Not too far or too much for a start and we also took her swimming.  At times she has been sore but we were told that she would be 2 - 2half before the joint settled down.  This has been true, and now she is nearly three and I have been walking her today from 9.30 to 1.30 with no problems at all.  She may be alittle stiff when she wakes up but this is the arthritis that is inevitable with this proplem. I hope the op goes well and wish your dog a speedy recovery

Thank you for all your kind words and advice.

This is the week, he's going in on Wednesday and I have to say i'm trying not to think about it as it makes me feel very sad and emotional.

He's having it done via arthroscopy and goes in and come's out the same day!

I re-introduced the cage last night and I have to say he was less than impressed, howled most of the night, so not sure how we're going to get on with it full time!

Anyway, I will update you later this week!

Hope the op goes well on wednesday.  The first day your dog will be sleepy on return from the vet, but you'll probably be shocked at how well he's walking on all four legs!  Hopefully the sedatives will be enough for him to get used to his confinement.  If you're concerned then double check with your vet.  Most vets will recommend 2 weeks crate rest followed by restricted lead excercise, something like 4 ten minute walks a day around the garden or similar for 4 weeks.  I don't know if you've other dogs but your dog mustn't play with them at this stage.

Are you having both shoulders done one after the other?  This, I believe is normal practice but I may be wrong.  2nd time around the first leg is weaker so recovery can appear slower to start with. 

Hope all goes well.  I know there are some excellent surgeons that specialise in this treatment.  Let us know how you get on.

Hi Sprat,
My pup is just home after breaking his leg in three places and then having the vet break his ulna to get to the joint properly. We have been told we don't have to cage rest him as long as we supervise him at all times.Lead walking for 4 weeks little and often with hydro when his stitches come out. He only came home today and it has been so hard to keep him from twisting, turning quickly, trying to shoot off suddenly, all his previous puppy behaviour, that we have put him in his pen. This has given him the grumps :) Obviously at the vets over the weekend he was crated - well, we bought one and he won't even lie down in it :( Our intention is to take the crate up for him to sleep in ( in theory ) and for him to be in the pen when we are both out of the room. At the mo he keeps asking to come onto the sofa :) which is the only place he has fallen asleep so far-he will at least lay in the pen though.
We are going to play it by ear keeping him occupied and as calm as poss and of course, once he's off the pain killers that may hold him back somewhat.

Thinking of you and your pup
Colleen

>We have been told we don't have to cage rest him ................it has been so hard to keep him from twisting, turning quickly, trying to shoot off suddenly, all his previous puppy behaviour,

This is why I chose to enforce rest by using a crate too, it's for the best IMO :-)

Hi Colleen, I read about your pup and totally felt for you, I bet you're glad to have him home.

Jolene, totally agree with you about the crate, it isn't going to be pleasant for him, but it's one month (max I hope!) out of his life!

I've actually made myself a crate and don't plan to use it at night, as he sleeps in the hall in his bed and is quiet at night.

But will use it during the day when i'm not literally sat down with him.

He's quite chilled and LOVES his kong so hopefully we'll get on ok and i'll know more about how long I have to keep him caged tomorrow.

Wish us luck!