How long is the recovery period after an orthopaedic procedure?
Most orthopaedic surgeries need at least 6 weeks of strict exercise restriction and confinement for bone healing to take place followed by a further 6 weeks of a gradual increase in exercise. This will be guided by your veterinary team and will be explained to you at your discharge appointment.

Why do I need to confine my pet after surgery?
Confinement reduces the risk of complications to the healing tissues and implants, such as failure of the implants, infection and delayed healing. More info on this can be found in your surgery handout.

How do I confine my pet?
Using a crate for confinement is an excellent idea as it reduces the risks of any accidental running or jumping. But you can also cordon off an area for large dogs, ensuring there are no obstacles they can jump onto! (Eg. A bed or couch).
Remember that your pet needs to be able to stand up and turn around with their cone on in the crate. Feeding is recommended to take place in the confined area to avoid running or slipping on floors.
Remember that you can move the crate or attach your dog by a leash to bring them near you when you are eating dinner/watching TV. This can help them feel included and still part of the family.

What can I do?
Each case is different, and your veterinary team will guide you throughout the recovery process. In general, no walking is allowed during the first 10–14 days. However, short 5–10 minute controlled slow walks on a short leash are usually permitted for toilet breaks and gentle mental stimulation.

Know your pet, know their limits:
As pet owners, you know your animal best — so be mindful that enrichment activities don’t lead to frustration or overstimulation. While something is often better than nothing, true enrichment must be something your pet genuinely finds rewarding and engaging. Below are a few ideas you might like.

What is enrichment?
Enrichment can be defined as the act of improving the quality of something, making it more rewarding. In terms of our pets – it can be used to enhance their recovery and prevent boredom.
15 minutes of mental training and stimulation is equivalent to an hour walk! Enrichment can help reduce boredom and stress during the recovery period, which in turn will hopefully provide stress relief to the human family members too.

Food enrichment –
Using food is a great way to provide enrichment, but it's important to avoid overfeeding—especially when using treats.
To reduce frustration early on, try giving half of your pet’s daily diet in a bowl and the other half through food-based enrichment. You can soak their regular kibble to stuff into Kongs or spread onto Lickimats. If they eat too quickly, freezing it can increase the challenge and engagement.

Ideas for food enrichment include Kongs, puzzle feeders, toilet rolls, and Lickimats. Outward Hound offers a range of puzzle feeders with varying difficulty levels to suit your pet’s needs.
We also stock a variety of puzzle feeders, Lickimats, and Kongs at the clinic. If your pet is having surgery, you're welcome to purchase one on the day. Feel free to chat with reception or a nurse if you have any questions about these products.

Olfactory (smell) enrichment –
Scatter different spices around the garden to give your pet new scents to explore. With permission, you might also take them to a neighbour's backyard or a quiet park for slow, controlled sniff-and-toilet walks on a short leash, allowing them to discover unfamiliar smells. Be mindful that these new experiences don’t lead to overstimulation.

Sound enrichment –
Classical music has been shown to help reduce agitation in dogs and can be a useful calming tool after surgery. Try playing different genres to see how your pet responds.
Both cats and dogs may also enjoy watching videos on a TV or tablet.
Another option is to place their crate near a window, where they can hear soothing outdoor sounds—like birds, people passing by, or other animals. This gentle stimulation can help keep them mentally engaged while they rest. 

Reducing stress and anxiety during recovery –
The main goal of enrichment is to improve their wellbeing by using their brain while they can’t use their legs!
We recommend rotating toys weekly to keep things interesting for your pet.

We're always here to support you and your pet throughout the recovery process, and we can't wait to see you both back to enjoying life on all four legs.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions along the way.