chloelogoa

How to Keep Your Dog From Getting Depressed

 after Surgery

 talalogoa


Kong
Nylabones
Brain Toys
Buster Cube
Dog Tricks

Many dogs that have undergone extensive surgery procedures need to be contained so that the wounds can be given time to heal.  When your vet has advised "leash walks only" and "no active play," it can be a difficult  for an active, intelligent dog. This means that they are often depressed and bored as no rowdy physical exercise is allowed.  Here are some things to do with your dog that don't require a lot of physical activity but that do exercise their brains.

To Stimulate the mind use three margarine containers, or other small plastic containers. Turn them all upside down.  Place a piece of food under one of the containers (hot dogs are easy, hard foods like kibble are more difficult). Move the containers around as the dog watches and tell him to find it.

Teach the dog to catch food.  Start with having the food very close to the dog's face and drop it into his or her mouth.  Gradually increase the distance you drop the food.

Instead of giving your dog kibble in a dish, scatter it on the ground and let him forage for it.  Scatter according to his mobility.  This will keep him entertained long after the kibble has gone.  You could also place hard treats around the edges of the room, including on top of sofa cushions, behind chair legs, etc.  This is an excellant quiet game for a dog that is under restricted activity.

Kong

blackkong
kongred



These are heavy duty chew toys, and are often used as therapy and prevention of understimulation, boredom, separation anxiety and other behaviour problems.  Because Kongs are hollow inside, the best use is as a distraction for a bored dog. It can be stuffed full of  wet food for extra enjoyment.  They can also be frozen for the more energentic chewer.
Kong Recipes
http://www.canineconcepts.co.uk

The Kong toy is designed to be filled with your dogs favourite treats and food.

kong-filling

 
It is important for dogs to succeed at their "work". To start with, make it easy to remove the kong stuffing. As they become more experienced, you can start to make it more challenging by:

Pack stuffing tighter.
Wedge biscuits inside the cavity using the inside rim of the opening to secure them.

FREEZE IT! Very Popular! Try various combinations of canned food, gravy, noodles, rice and mashed potatoes mixed with food nuggets and freeze. You're your dog cool with KONGSICLES. Put a dab of peanut butter in the small end of the Kong to plug it. Turn it upside down in a cup. Fill it full of water, chicken broth or fruit juice and freeze.

CHEESE IT! Mix cheese pieces or cheese spread with food nuggets and microwave until cheese melts. Let it cool to a safe temperature. NOTE - Use a cup to  hold the kong upright when freezing or microwaving.

Hide stuffed Kongs indoors and/or out. The hunt is great fun and rewarding.

IMPORTANT POINTS WHEN USING KONGS:
Provide stuffed Kongs randomly so they won't always be associated with you leaving.

If your dog is unstuffing several Kongs per day, you should appropriately reduce the amount of bowl feeding.

CLEAN KONGS THOROUGHLY AFTER USE! Dishwasher is recommended. Your dog's job will last until the Kongs are unstuffed. You can keep your dog "working" all day if you provide enough stuffed Kongs!

KONG STUFFING RECIPES

(courtesy of the Kong Company)

As you create recipes, be sensitive to your dog's tummy as you experiment. Following are recipes created by veterinarians, dog trainers and dog lovers worldwide.

BANANA RAMA: 1 fresh banana · 2 tbs wheat germ · 1 tbs plain yogurt (can use your pet's favorite flavor as well) · Kong Toy that best fits your pet's chewing temperament In a bowl, mash up banana. Then, add wheat germ and yogurt. Mash all ingredients together and use spoon to add to Kong. Freeze for 4 hours. Makes 1 serving for Medium Kong. Double for every Kong Size that is bigger.

CHEESY DENTAL KONG DELIGHT:
3 slices of your pet's favorite cheese · Dental Kong Toy A very simple and creative way to make any pet drool in delight. Just place the 3 slices of cheese directly onto the grooves of your pet's Dental Kong (if model has rope - make sure cheese does not get onto it). Melt in microwave for 20 to 30 seconds. Give to pet after it cools.

PHILLY STEAK: steak scraps · 1 ounce cream cheese · appropriate Kong Toy Place small scraps of the steak inside Kong toy. Spread cream cheese in large hole to hold scraps.

FRUIT SALAD:
apple and carrot chunks · 1/4th of a banana · appropriate Kong Toy Place apples and carrots in Kong Toy. Mush the banana in large hole to hold fruit in place. You can include other fruits and veggies: orange slices · peach and/or nectarine chunks · celery sticks · broccoli and/or cauliflower · tomato and black olive mixture.

VEGGIE KONG OMELET:
1 egg · your choice of shredded cheese · any vegetables that your pet may like · appropriate Kong Toy Scramble egg and fold in vegetables. Put into Kong toy. Sprinkle some cheese over the top and microwave for about 20 seconds. Cool thoroughly before giving to dog.

MAC 'N CHEESE:
Leftover macaroni and cheese · small cube of Velveeta · appropriate Kong Toy Melt Velveeta in microwave until gooey. Add mac 'n cheese to Kong Toy. Pour heated Velveeta into Kong. Make sure it has cooled before giving to your pet.

AUNT JEANNIE'S ARCHEOLOGY KONG (for advanced dogs)
LAYER ONE (deepest): roasted, unsalted cashews · freeze dried liver bits

LAYER TWO: dog kibble, cookies or liver biscotti · Cheerios · sugar-free, salt-free peanut butter · dried banana chips, apples and apricots

LAYER THREE:
carrot sticks · turkey or leftover ravioli or tortellini · Kong Toy (the larger the better!) Pack as tightly as possible. The last item inserted should be an apricot or piece of ravioli, presenting a smooth "finish" under the main opening.

 LIGHT VERSION:
 substitute crumbled rice cakes for cashews, Caesar croutons for freeze-dried liver, fat free cream cheese for peanut butter. - by Jean Donaldson

KONG ON A ROPE:
 Dry dog kibble · appropriate Kong Toy · Rope Take the rope, pull it through the Kong Toy and knot it. Hang this upside down from a tree, deck or post. The small hole should be facing the ground. Take the kibble and fill the Kong Toy. Make the toy hang just low enough that it is out of your dog's reach. The dog will spend hours trying to retrieve the kibble from the Kong Toy. At the end of the day, take the remaining kibble and give to your pet as a reward. This is advanced work for your dog. - by Dr. Ian Dunbar

FROZEN JERKY POPS:
 Peanut butter · bouillon · Jerky Strips · Water · appropriate Kong Toy · muffin tin Smear a small amount of peanut butter over small hole in your Kong Toy. Fill the cool water and add a pinch of bouillon. Place a Jerky Stick inside Kong Toy and freeze. This can also be put (once frozen) in a children's size swimming pool for a fun day of fishing for your pet. - by Terry Ryan

SIMPLE, TRIED AND TRUE:
Peanut butter · appropriate Kong Toy Smear peanut butter inside the cavity of your Kong Toy. It's that easy! -

TRIXIE'S FAVORITE:
Trixie, a 50 pound Aussie/Springer mix, loves turkey, chicken or marrow bites mixed with slightly moistened food nuggets frozen inside her Kong. She is very clean about unstuffing - some dogs are not! - by Joe Markham

Every dog has a favorite recipe - finding your dog's will be fun! Remember, not all foods are healthy for dogs, check with your vet if you are not sure. If you have found a unique Kong Recipe, drop us an email and we will include it here.
www.kongcompany.com
http://www.canineconcepts.co.uk


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 Nylabones


What Are Nylabones?
 Nylabones are made from pure virgin nylon, which makes them stronger and more durable than Gumabone. In fact, the Nylabone® Galileo Bone® is the World's Strongest Dog Bone!

Nylabones are unique therapeutic devices designed to satisfy the chewing instinct of aggressive chewing dogs; safer than other dog chews; will not splinter or break off in chunks; endorsed by leading dog authorities; and their natural flavor enhancement makes these products irresistible to dogs!
Nylabones are safe for puppies too!

All Nylabone® Products are safe, non-toxic and will provide your dog with hours of chewing enjoyment!

Nylabone® Edibles® are "All-natural gourmet health chews" and contain NO PLASTIC, no added salt, sugar, preservatives, or artificial colors. Nylabone® Edibles® come in an assortment of natural flavors made with REAL bacon, rawhide, spearmint, and fruits. All are made from 100% natural ingredients!

Regular chewing of Nylabone® products greatly reduces tartar and plaque build-up in your dog's mouth in a safe and healthy way. Nylabone® makes a wide range of dog chews, so it is easy to find a number of items that are just right for your dog. Choosing the correct dog chew for your dog is very important. Pet chews should be purchased with the same foresight as used for children's toys. Dogs come in a variety of sizes and have different temperaments and chewing habits.


nylabone


These Nylabones are for the serious chewers.  With bacon flavoured ends and minty fresh centre, these chew toys are extremely durable. Specifically designed to be both soft for carrying, yet durable for chewing. During normal chewing, small bristle-like projections will be raised which help clean teeth and massage and sooth gums. Even with the most aggressive chewing, these chew toys will last for weeks.
www.canineconcepts.co.uk






Purchase Nylabones Here
 Nylabone Warning

 
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Brain Toys

 
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Buster Cube treat toy

Large and Small sizes

bustercube-Large&Smallsizes-1

Give your dog a Buster Cube and it will have hours of fun trying to get the treats out, also sniffing the ground afterwards to see if it has missed any!

Colour - Blue or Red

Movement - Moderate    

Difficulty - Medium to Hard

The normal size Buster Cube is suitable for medium to large dogs. Dimentions (approx) - 12mm sides and 20mm hole for treats

Mini Buster Cube should only be given to small dogs. Dimentions (approx) - 8mm sides and 13mm hole for treats

How does it work?
The unique construction of the Buster Cube means the dog has to work hard to get the dried food or treats out. Beacuse of its shape - it is not a ball but a cube with flat sides - it does not roll easily. The sharp corners have been removed so there is nowhere for the dog to get a grip to chew the cube and indeed if the dog should try to pick up the cube it should be discouraged, the whole idea of the game is to roll the cube with the feet and nose.

The inside of the cube is like a maze - a series of chambers - and these hold the dry food, kibble or treats. When the cube is rolled the chambers release the food into the central core (which has two holes in it) which in turn dispenses the food for the dog to eat. The food will not come out all at once but slowly, one treat at at time.
cubediagram

To make it more difficult you can turn the centre core from "maximum" to "minimum" - this will place a bar across the top hole in the central core so the food only has one hole to come out of.

This is a strong and well-made dog toy, however dogs with a past history of chewing and destroying plastic toys due to high levels of stress should not be left alone with this product.

We recommend that a variety of different flavours of treats are placed in this treat toy in a session, so that it becomes a "lottery" for the dog as to what treat will fall out next. This will give the dog the added incentive to keep pushing the Buster Cube around as it can smell all the very tasty treats inside.
reprinted with kind permission from Sally
www.dog-games.co.uk
Purchase Here


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Teach Your Dog Some Tricks
Now is the ideal time to put in some training.  Just for fun how about teaching your dog some tricks.  Start of with the easy non active ones like teaching your dog to wave, yawn or shake hands, progressing to the harder ones when the rehabilitation process is nearing completion.

Tricks
 Video of Tricks

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Recovery Games


chloebutton   talabutton

The above information is simply informational. It's intent is not to replace the advice of a veterinarian nor to assist you in making a diagnosis of your pet. Please consult with your own veterinarian for confirmation of any diagnosis. Your pets life may depend on it.