Can't tell if she's hurting or tired.

[CJR]

As some of you know, Tia had a broken pelvis and it has healed up very nicely. After months of strict confinement, she is now allowed a low (5 inch) ledge in her cage as well as a mounted (3 inch off the ground) tube. She also gets playtime three times a week or so, sometimes more and sometimes less depending on my schedule. It is usually for about 15 minutes, give or take.

Tonight it was 30 minutes. I put her back in her cage, along with a pinch of flower salad and a pear twig (her FAVORITE) and she completely ignored both of those goodies to lay on the granite slab for a bit on her side. She lay there for about a minute, then climbed onto her ledge and is laying there on her belly. She's been laying like that for about 5 minutes.

So I need opinions... do you think she's just tired, or do you think she's hurting? My other, non-broken chin, Bessie, gets tired after 30 minutes of playtime too, but she only takes a few minutes to recover.

Thanks!

 

[mishellyshel]

Only one of my chins puts on the theatrics and lays on his side dramatically after playtime. Give her a little bit more time and see if she bounces back. And maybe backdown the playtime to 20 minutes.

 

[Claire D]

I would hope she just wore herself out a bit more than usual, Ash.
I'd monitor her closely (as you are doing already) & drop her back to 15 mins. If she's fine on that then I would increase by 5 minute increments over a week or so - one week 20 mins, then if she is fine with that the next week go to 25 .......if she shows any signs of being really tired then drop her back down again.
As you've done with Tia since she arrived with you, take it very slowly - she may just need to get fit for a 30 minute run. :thumbs:

 

[addictedtochins]

I'm not an expert but this is my own understanding. I for example have bad knees, usually the muscles hold the knee in somewhat alignment (torn tendons and ligaments old injuries BTW) Well when I overdo what I know my limits are there will be pain and wobbly knee joints. So yes, I think she probably was both tired and in some pain. IMO 15 mins plus or minus is just fine

 

[starleomach]

I agree It was just too much time for her

 

[CJR]

She's doing fine this morning, acting fairly normal as far as I can tell.

15 minutes it is. Thanks, everyone.

 

[Laurie]

After not having full on excercise for awhile she's probably just really worn out Pash, as most of us thought. I would definitely just keep her at 15 minutes for awhile and then as recommended increase it gradually. It probably just did her in to go from 15 to 30 minutes. Kind of like us from going to not ever walking to walking 10 miles one day.