As you may have seen in the general topics our 8 month old GR was hit by a car yesterday one of her injuries is a broken pelvis, this is not too badly broken but she will need to be very restricted in what she is allowed to do.  She is a very lively puppy full of energy and loves nothing better than hareing around.  So I'm after tips on how to stop her from running all over the place for the next 4 to 6 weeks.  We have a crate but she has never really used it so I don't know how she will take to it.

Also she will be on pain killers and anti-inflamatories (sp?) for a while so are we likely to see any side affects from these? Are there any herbal remedies that may help her to quieten down?

You could use skullcap and valerian tablets available from Dorwest Herbs.

One of the problems using painkillers and anti inflammatories is that of course because the dog does not feel pain it is more likely to want to run around!

Pain is there for a reason, to help remind an animal that it needs to rest.

If your dog is on Rimadyl beware that some dogs do have quite severe side effects on this.

I never allow my vets to administer it and will only use Arnica etc.

Please check with your vet first if you are wishing to use herbal remedies they are not free of side effects either and sometimes counteract other medications.  Antiinflamatories are not always just for pain relief but may form part of the treatment itself, ensuring inflammation is not restricting blood vessels for instance, so again please check with the vet before discontinuing anything prescribed. 

I wasn't really thinking about stopping anything, I don't know any where near enough about it to do anything like stopping the drugs.  I was really after any info on something that may calm her down, I would discuss it with the vet before trying anything.  She is home now and confined to a smallish room and although she is crying a little she seems ok in there.

Steve

I think she will probably not want to run about anyway.  It's bound to be uncomfortable even with painkillers.  Are you in the room with her as I expect she will object to be alone more that being restricted in movement.

Maybe giving her something really tasty to chew, a well stuffed Kong to keep her mind off things will help.

You could try some T Touch massage around her head & front end. It should help her relax & with homoeopathic remedies like Skullcap & Valarian to calm her as well. Plus crate rest could help

everyone around the dog should act calm,
dont get her exicted the kong idea is
realy good also the massage

Donna

Thanks for the advice I'm afraid the kong idea won't work her other injuries were to her face so although she didn't actually break anything there she has about 100 stiches in her mouth and around her nose, so something she can chew normally would be great but ... :(.  She does like her tummy rubbed and when anyone goes in she rolls over for a rub :), so perhaps we'll have to stickwith that.

Steve

The massage can be used anywhere on the body & it isn't rubbing or stroking but fingertip massage done at various pressures click on the link & have a read

Thanks for that we'll give it a go

Steve