How to survive pet crate rest without losing your mind
Strict crate rest forces owners into round-the-clock physical care, like hand-feeding and managing non-stop crying, while dealing with unresponsive veterinary support. This relentless confinement leaves both the pet and owner mentally exhausted, struggling to find ways to keep an active animal entertained.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Using licky treats to hide and administer pills
- 2Switching from a rigid cone to a donut-style collar
- 3Using snuffle mats, slow feeders, and ruffle boxes for mental enrichment
- 4Covering or uncovering the crate depending on the pet's reaction
- 5Temporarily removing the cone during strictly supervised food and water breaks
- 6Giving filled and frozen Kong toys
- 7Providing long-lasting chews
- 8Using ribbon toys with tabs for shredding
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I’m on day 3 and it’s a tough time I can’t lie.”source ↗
“He’s needing round the clock care at the moment because of his cone and I’m not wanting him to use his paw as of yet, I have to hold his food bowl up and hand feed him.”source ↗
“I’m mentally struggling and I know he is too.. and.. as I’ve said, it’s only day 3 😞”source ↗
“even with his medication, he’s crying and trying to escape.”source ↗
“I’ve rang my vet everyday for the past 3 days and the receptionist keeps saying nobody is available to talk I’m losing my mind a bit..”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 3How to handle a puppy while working and going to school alone
- 4Puppy refuses to go back in crate after night potty break
- 5When can I stop crating my puppy when I'm not home?
- 3How to protect frogs and reptiles during pest control treatments
- 3Roommates keep letting my indoor pet outside
- 7Why does my dog police my bedtime?