Our 3 month pup had a fracture of his humerus at the growth plate about 3 weeks ago. He had surgery and is doing exceptionally well. The problem is we're supposed to keep him from jumping, running,etc. We keep in in a pen indoors if we're not with him.But he's bored and wants to play full-tilt boogie. Any suggestions/

Teach him something. Teach him sit, down and stay. Keep his mind occupied. Get him a toy that makes him use his mind. They have toys out where you can hide toys and treats in and the dog has to figure out how to get it out.

I had a rescue pup that had a broken femur. He had to be a good boy for a very long time and that is how we kept him from bouncing off the walls. This pup was an even more active breed then a heeler.

Which growth plate, upper or lower?

How was it immobilized?

Thanks for the feedback. It was the upper plate and he had 2 pins/screw placed. We averaged about 2 new toys a week, including the ones where you hide the food. He has learned to sit, stay and we're walking on the leash. I wish my mind was as quick as his. I'm looking forward to his release to full activity.

How long does he have to be immobile?

I've been here. Our poodle had back problems (many poodles do), and we were told to keep him immobile for 3 months, or risk permanent paralysis. It was hell. I was in school, my parents worked, and crating wasn't something that was widely done back then. We bought the crate and he ended up tearing his nose apart trying to escape.

So we hired someone to be with him, keep him tied down, immobile. That person quit because our 2 year old poodle didn't want to sit still.

It was a hellish 3 months.

Toys are great, so is training. Keeping him leashed to you while you're home is a good idea. That way you can control what he does without isolating him.

Hopefully this will be over soon and he'll be allowed to be a puppy again.

Good luck. :)

Thanks for the update. Epiphyseal fractures are especially important to keep immobile. They always happen to puppies in various stages of growth. (Otherwise they would not be epiepyseal).

The growth plate can cease to grow prematurely if the fracture is unstable, or caused to move, even slightly, too many times because of activity of the patient. Every movement breaks down the healing process that has started, which consists of many tiny blood vessels growing across the fracture site, carrying nutrients to the developing bone cells. At 3+ months of age, he has too much growing to do yet, and whatever extra effort it takes to curtail his activity will be worth it.

A pen would be fine, except I suspect he can still jump and paw with his front feet. Possibly a smaller kennel may help curtail him more. Not all the time, but maybe nights and when you're away in the day? This seems extreme, but is only a suggestion, especially if he is still quite active in the pen. Toys seem to be doing their job, and are really fairly inexpensive puppy-sitters, considering.

Repairing a fracture like this is almost the easiest part of the healing process. Keeping the patient from re-injuring itself is the toughest part, I always thought, and his vet will really appreciate your efforts to protect his efforts, even if the pup doesn't appear to. He may come around.

You are not quite half way through confinement phase, and hopefully will continue to take it fairly easy afterwards... that plate has about 6-7 months to go before it can call it quits and retire from the growth business.

Best of luck

If you are allowed to hand walk him and do things in a controlled environment, then sign up for puppy classes. Talk to the trainer and let them know what you are looking for. That break in his week will tire him. Also start dragging him everywhere you go. The constant change of environment will cause him to be tired as well.

You're just going to have to stick it through and really moniter his activity. Crates are a wonderful tool, but you also don't want him to become sore to it. Make everything as fun and positive as possible. That's really all you can do.

Excellent idea Lucky. I was trying to think of some way to wear him out...

To all the helpful responders, thanks for the info.According to my son's vet visit/physical therapist, if we can keep him from running,jumping for 2 more weeks, we'll be good. He is crated at night and has a small inside metal kennel he stays in while we're gone. Puppy classes sound like a wonderful idea.