comments:
The crate only needs to be "just" big enough for him to turn around and lay down. Has Misha ever been crated before? Like in general? Milo hated the cone and would often rip it off or backpedal when it was on. Cones mess with their peripherals. That's why for me, I doubled up with the donut. Here's the type of donut that I've always used https://a.co/d/07lnqIFb gotta keep either a donut or cone on Misha's neck no matter how much he hates it. Especially if you can't watch him like a hawk to ensure he doesn't even think about licking that incision. Making sure it heals without infections should be the main priority at this stage. Milo also would stand on the recovering leg. I know its kinda out of your control but if possible try to position him im a way where his first thought is to use the good leg instead. But you'll also notice that due to all the swelling/inflammation its hard for Misha to bend the recovering leg. What I would do with the sling was the moment I knew he was preparing to pee I would move the sling and just let him pee. The moment he was finished his business I put the sling right back under him to support his hip/pelvis area. You can also slide the sling further up towards his belly while he searches for a good spot to pee. Plan your routes and keep it short. Truthfully Milo did a fair amount of squatting and occasional stand on the recovering leg early on. This is why keeeping potty breaks as short as possible is important. You want to keep Misha of his legs as much as possible early on. Get creative as far a puzzle games/toys, lick mats to help stimulate his brain. Milo and I were super bored for weeks at home because of how much I had to restrict movement. However it paid dividends in the long run. The hopping around the house was just a matter of him trying to get around. I used the sling everytime he wanted to get up and helped ease him down. The purpose of the sling is help limit the weight bearing on the recovering hind leg and also supporting the good leg while its under additional load. Truthfully, the only time I allowed Milo to move was if he needed a potty break. Other than that his leash remained on. If he wanted to be near me while I cooked or prepared his food he had to lay down beside me and I stood on the leash. His meds kept him pretty tired the majority of the time. He was still fussy which broke my heart but whatever you can do to keep Misha calm/comfortable is ideal. I also had a soft dog bed for the floor if you know what I mean which Milo really liked. I have something similiar to this https://a.co/d/01z4qhdS You got this 100%. It just feels super overwhelming at first. You and Misha will both get into a routine. What sort of meds did they send you home with? How's Misha doing now? How are you doing?