8-Week Orthopedic Rehab & Crate-Rest Masterclass

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THE MASTERCLASS

8-Week Orthopedic Rehab & Crate-Rest Masterclass

Surgery to cleared, week by week: what's normal, what's not, and how to get through crate rest without losing your mind.

8 WEEKLY MODULES + CRATE-REST BONUS · FROM THE KILDE TEAM
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You don't have to figure out recovery alone.

The days after a knee surgery are a blur of meds, a cone, a pen in the living room and a dozen questions nobody answered at discharge. This Masterclass walks you through it one week at a time, so you always know what's normal, what to watch, and what's coming next.

How to use the Masterclass

  1. Your surgeon's instructions always come first. Every dog and every surgery is different. If anything here differs from what your vet told you, follow your vet.
  2. Jump to the week your dog is in now. Each module is a 3-minute read.
  3. Tick the milestones as you go. They're the signs recovery is on track.
  4. Didn't have surgery, or already cleared? Skip to After week 8 and the Crate-Rest Bonus. Both still apply.
Module 0Set up the recovery zone Week 1Rest & protect Week 2The incision heals Weeks 3–4Short, slow walks Weeks 5–6Building strength Weeks 7–8The recheck After week 8Coming back safely BonusCrate rest, made easy
MODULE0

Set up the recovery zone

Do this once, ideally before your dog comes home.

  • One small, safe space in the room where you spend the most time: a crate or exercise pen big enough to stand, turn and lie flat.
  • Grip under every paw. Rugs, runners or yoga mats inside the pen and along the path to the door.
  • Block stairs and furniture with gates. No jumping on or off anything.
  • A sling or towel for supporting the back end on potty trips, plus a short leash.
  • Meds on a schedule. Write every medication and time on a sheet by the pen, or set phone alarms.
  • The cone (or a soft recovery collar or suit, if your vet is okay with it) to keep their mouth off the incision.
WEEK1

Rest & protect

Days 1–7. The goal is comfort, rest and a clean incision.

What's normal
  • Sleeping a lot, being quiet or a bit "off" from anesthesia and pain meds.
  • Toe-touching or barely using the leg at first.
  • Some swelling and bruising around the knee, sometimes down toward the ankle.
  • A slower appetite for a day or two.
Your job this week
  • Give every medication exactly on schedule, even if they seem fine.
  • Potty breaks only: on a short leash, with the sling under their belly, then straight back to the pen.
  • Look at the incision once a day: some redness at the edges is common, but note any change.
  • If your vet recommends cold packs, use them as instructed (usually a few short sessions a day for the first days, with a towel between the pack and the skin).
Milestone: by the end of week 1 most dogs start setting the paw down, even lightly, when they stand.
WEEK2

The incision heals

Days 8–14. Stitches or staples usually come out around now.

What's normal
  • Bruising fading, swelling going down.
  • Itching at the incision, which is why the cone stays on until your vet says it can come off.
  • More weight on the leg when standing and walking.
  • Boredom. This is often when the "I'm fine, let me out" energy starts. See the Crate-Rest Bonus.
Your job this week
  • Keep the suture or staple removal appointment.
  • If your surgeon allows short leash walks, keep them short and slow, on flat ground.
  • Still no running, jumping, stairs or rough play, even when they act like they're ready.
Milestone: incision closed and dry, stitches out, and using the leg more each day.
WEEKS3–4

Short, slow walks

Controlled movement starts to rebuild the leg.

  • Most surgeons now allow short, slow leash walks a few times a day, lengthening gradually as your dog handles them well. Follow the exact minutes your vet gives you.
  • Slow is the exercise. A slow walk makes your dog use the leg. A fast trot lets them skip on three legs.
  • Your vet or a rehab therapist may add simple exercises like slow sit-to-stands. Only do the ones you've been shown.
  • Keep the floors covered at home. Slips during this stage are a common cause of setbacks.
Milestone: walking on the leg most of the time, with less limping after rest.
WEEKS5–6

Building strength

The thigh muscle that shrank after the injury starts coming back.

  • Walks typically keep getting a little longer as your vet allows. Gentle inclines may be added if your vet okays them.
  • Watch the 15 minutes after each walk. A short limp that settles is common. A limp that gets worse means scale back and check in with your vet.
  • Run your hands down both back thighs each week. You want the operated side slowly catching up.
  • Remember the other knee is doing double duty. Keep up the rugs, ramps and lean weight (see your Vault).
Milestone: steady, even walking on leash, and getting up from lying down more smoothly.
WEEKS7–8

The recheck

Usually around week 8, your surgeon takes X-rays to see how the bone is healing.

Questions to bring to the recheck
How is the bone healing on the X-ray?
What can my dog do now, and what's still off limits?
How should we build up walks over the next month?
How does the other knee look and feel?
Would formal rehab (underwater treadmill, exercises) help from here?
Milestone: the surgeon is happy with the X-rays and gives you the plan for the next phase.
AFTER8+

Coming back safely

The bone may be healed, but muscle and confidence take longer.

  • Return to normal life gradually over the following weeks, exactly as your surgeon plans it.
  • Off-leash running, ball chasing, dog parks and jumping usually come last, and only once you're cleared.
  • Steady daily walks beat quiet weekdays and big weekends.
  • Keep watching the other knee. The 9 early signs are in your Bilateral Tear Prevention Vault.
BONUS★

Crate rest, made easy

How to keep a bored, restless dog calm and sleeping through the night.

Tire the brain, not the leg
  • Lick mats and stuffed toys with part of their normal meal, frozen so they last longer.
  • Snuffle mats and scatter feeding inside the pen: sniffing is calming and tiring.
  • A long-lasting chew your vet is happy with.
  • Quiet "find it" games: hide a few treats under a towel in the pen.
Calmer days
  • Keep the pen where the family is. Most dogs settle better when they can see you.
  • Rotate toys so something feels new each day.
  • Count food-based enrichment as part of their daily food so the weight doesn't creep up.
Better nights
  • A last potty trip right before bed, then lights low and a calm, predictable routine.
  • White noise or a fan to cover sounds that set them off.
  • If whining keeps you both up, a cover over part of the crate often helps them settle.
  • If your dog truly can't rest, ask your vet about calming support. It's common during crate rest and keeps them safer.
When to call your vet

Know the difference between normal and not.

NormalSlow, steady improvement week to week. A bit stiff after rest. Mild limp after a longer walk that settles.
Call this weekProgress stalls or goes backward, the limp is worse after walks, or the incision stays red or puffy.
Call todaySuddenly holding the leg up, crying out, discharge or opening at the incision, a hot or very swollen knee, not eating, or fever.

Where your Kilde One™ wraps fit

Both back knees, 10 minutes, while they rest in the pen or on the couch. Nightly for the first 8 weeks, then 1–2 sessions a week. Just had surgery? Start on the good knee right away and add the repaired knee once your vet clears the incision area.

This Masterclass is general care information, not veterinary advice. It does not diagnose or treat any condition, and it doesn't replace your surgeon's discharge instructions. Always follow your vet's plan, and contact your vet with any concerns about your dog's health.