Restricting Exercise

Question 1

Potential pros and cons of restricted physical activity

Discuss potential issues that can occur when an animal’s physical activity is restricted.in dogs

Answer 1

Pros

• Better healing
• Reducing risk of OA
• Reduced complications
• Reduced incidence of trauma and other injuries
• Cannot ‘over do’ it and risk failure of surgery
• Allows tissues to start to heal
• Allows start of strengthening
• Easier monitoring of progress

Cons

• Boredom
• Could potentially self-traumatise
• Sassy owners – no compliance
• Weight gain
• Muscle wastage in some areas
• Stress
• Could cause further injury if stressful

Question 2

For a dog

Assess the individual animal

Before recommending a care plan for an animal with restricted physical activity, you need to tailor this to the individual animal. Generate a list of points/questions that you need to consider to help inform the guidance you offer to an owner.

Answer 2

• Does the owner understand what needs to be done and why?
• The animals temperament e.g. springers are mental! Cage rest for these would be a lot trickier than for a greyhound ;) (Anna)
• Have they got a suitable cage or area? Can it keep them contained?
• Cost
• Work schedules – are the owners around enough or do they need the help of someone else?
• Have they got something to keep the dog entertained e.g. toys to reduce boredom and stress
• Are they okay being left alone?
• Do they have other pets that may interfere or help them?
• Are all other family members aware of what needs to be done and not done?
• Diet restriction – are they already over weight and overfed? Do they need a different food for now or reduced intake etc.?

Question 3

For a dog:

Owner guidance

Generate a list of ideas that could be used in a care plan to support a dog during a period of restricted physical activity.

Answer 3

• Enrichment feeders – slows meal time and keeps occupied
• Cage – suitable size
• Toys – such as kong with treat in to keep occupied, things to chew such as balls if they like chewing
• Try and keep someone around if they don’t want to be alone. If they have a companion, make sure they don’t leave the room unless necessary so they don’t get stressed when they cannot follow etc.
• Blankets – for comfort, use ones he is used to. Maybe use one over half the cage so they have a quiet place they can go and lie to sleep etc.
• If your dog is used to travelling in the car in a crate or wearing a harness, and is guaranteed to remain calm then he may enjoy short car journeys
• Ensure peace and quiet wherever possible to stop them getting excited and jumping about
• Use some of your dog’s daily food rations to use as rewards for teaching low-energy tricks to keep his brain active.
• If one laminate or wood flooring – place blanket or mat under the crate, to ensure that when they step out of the crate, they don’t slip.
• Don’t let dog out even if they whine
• Pet remedy type diffuser
• Massages and calming voices
• Restrict visitors and guests

Question 4

For a dog

Restricted/reduced physical activity in other situations

List scenarios when restricted/reduced physical activity may occur. Would the guidance you offer be the same for all situations?

Answer 4

• Heart problems – guidance would be similar, but they wouldn’t necessarily need a small space, but need to be kept and calm and contained and not allowed to be overexuberant or excited – so definitely visitors and louds noises etc. need to be kept to a minimum. Controlled walks would still apply. May still need to adapt food also.
• Pregnancy – don’t want to stress the animal out. Must be quiet, want to make sure that the mother doesn’t get stressed. Important they have their own space with the puppies and should not be disturbed there unless absolutely necessary.
• Post anaesthetic – not necessarily needs cage rest, but needs to adjust walking requirements as necessary
• Giving blood – for the rest of the day, they must put their paws up and rest for the rest of the day, allow to sleep and chillax. The following day can be treated as normal. And lots of treats :D
• Heart problems – guidance would be similar, but they wouldn’t necessarily need a small space, but need to be kept and calm and contained and not allowed to be overexuberant or excited – so definitely visitors and louds noises etc. need to be kept to a minimum. Controlled walks would still apply. May still need to adapt food also.
• Pregnancy – don’t want to stress the animal out. Must be quiet, want to make sure that the mother doesn’t get stressed. Important they have their own space with the puppies and should not be disturbed there unless absolutely necessary.
• Post anaesthetic – not necessarily needs cage rest, but needs to adjust walking requirements as necessary
• Giving blood – for the rest of the day, they must put their paws up and rest for the rest of the day, allow to sleep and chillax. The following day can be treated as normal. And lots of treats :D

Question 5

For a horse:

Potential pros and cons of restricted physical activity

Discuss potential issues that can occur when an animal’s physical activity restricted.

Answer 5

Pros

• Better healing
• Reduced complications
• Reduced incidence of trauma and other injuries
• Cannot ‘over do’ it and risk failure of surgery
• Allows tissues to start to heal
• Allows start of strengthening
• Easier monitoring of progress

Cons

• Boredom
• Could potentially self-traumatise
• Sassy owners – no compliance
• Weight gain
• Muscle wastage in some areas
• Stress
• Could cause further injury if stressful
• Legs can fill if stood for too long

Question 6

For a horse

Assess the individual animal

Before recommending a care plan for an animal with restricted physical activity, you need to tailor this to the individual animal. Generate a list of points/questions that you need to consider to help inform the guidance you offer to an owner.

Answer 6

• Is he okay in the stable on his own? The animals temperament
• Is he better if he can see a friend?
• Is there a place where he is best to stay where there is always horses in?
• Does the owner understand what needs to be done and why?
• Cost – will require a lot of mucking out and hard feeds such as hay and any other supplementary feeds. Also will require a lot of bedding for a long time.
• Work schedules – are the owners around enough or do they need the help of someone else? Will need mucking out and regular feeding throughout the day
• Have they got something to keep the horse entertained e.g. toys to reduce boredom and stress
• Are other people on the yard aware? They need to understand that Neptune may not want to be left alone, so need to liaise with the owner to work for what is best. Need a way to ensure medication is given and just once, if other people help
• Diet change – wont be mainly grass anymore! Need to ensure have hay and feed and supplement etc.

Question 7

For a horse

Owner guidance

Generate a list of ideas that could be used in a care plan to support a horse during a period of restricted physical activity.

Answer 7

• Keep a stable friend in if this keeps them calm
• Stable bandage or boots to keeps leg from swelling and stop them from self traumatising
• Double bag the hay net and tie in the middle of the stable to slow down food intake, to keep them occupied
• Treat balls
• Tie vegetables to a piece of bailing twine and tie hanging
• Monitor weight and dustiness – consider soaking hay if needed, then need to supplement with vitamins and minerals etc.
• Regular interaction – grooming and stretching exercises using treats. Helps keep them mobile
• Speak to farrier about shoeing – remove them likely as unnecessary. But do at farriers guidance
• Reiterate importance and risk of failure if doesn’t comply. Also cost implications and welfare of the horse
• When it comes to walking the horse, do in enclosed space, with a calm stable friend, with a strong bit (chifney) and bridle on. Potentially have 2 people holding, one either side. If becomes too strong, stop. Little and often, praise when behaving calmly. Possibility of using a horse walker if being well behaved later on?

Question 8

For a horse

Restricted/reduced physical activity in other situations

List scenarios when restricted/reduced physical activity may occur. Would the guidance you offer be the same for all situations?

Answer 8

Colic

•Want them to walk more and keep moving to help GI stasis, but don’t want them eating – horse walker may be very useful here. Monitor faeces production, this is why you want them in a stable.

Pregnancy

•Limit physical activity but okay to be outside and active. Just change exercise regime depending on how horse is coping and how far along they are. Doesn’t need to be stabled all of the time

Laminitis

Deep bedding, constant stabling until remission, remedial shoeing with farrier, soak hay, reduce calorie intake, supplement minerals. Must be kept as still as possible, so stable mate may be necessary in calm, quiet environment as don’t want them walking around