Recovering from heartworm treatment

[FierFlye]

Hi everyone, new member here.

I recently adopted a dog from the local humane society. Zapp was heartworm positive; I had him treated last week. Now he is in training for the world's greatest couch potato, at least for the next 6 weeks. Keeping him quiet isn't a huge problem, he likes napping, but he does get excited and wants to play in the mornings and when I get home from work.

I feel bad that we can’t run around and play. I worry that he’ll begin to think of me as ‘no fun’. Does anyone have any ideas as to games we can play that don’t require exercise and won’t get him worked up? We have been working on commands like ‘down’ and ‘shake’. (He’s already excellent at ‘sit’.)

I also wonder if anyone has suggestions for how to ease back into exercise after the rest period is over. I don’t want him to blow a knee or pull something by exercising too much too soon.

Thanks!

 

[Ivy]

Sorry to hear about Zapp.
Give him many fun things to chew on; antlers, bones, kongs filled with goodies. You can also teach him the 'settle down' command since he has to be calm for a while already. Might make it easier to teach that now than later.

As for exercising after the rest period is done, leash walks for short periods and slowly make the walks longer and longer. Once he's getting better and stronger, off-leash on soft ground (grassy areas)

Hope this helps.
Keep us posted on his recuperation.

 

[FierFlye]

Hope this helps.
Keep us posted on his recuperation.

Thanks, Ivy. We have been working on voice and hand commands. The other day he impressed me by executing 'sit', 'stay', 'come', and 'lie down' all with hand signals only! We will work on 'settle down'.

 

[Moth]

It isn't play, but my guys love getting rubs and massages. It is a good way to bond

I wonder if hiding treats around a room and letting him look for them would be too much excitement? If not that might be fun...