Grizzer – Weekend Athlete Syndrome

Luna has stimulated some new social interactions with Grizzer in the last few weeks.  We needed to make sure Grizzer was a willing participant, not just on the receiving end of Luna’s scruff bites.  As this picture shows, Grizzer is very stimulated and as much a part of these interactions as Luna.  The challenge is that Grizzer is nearing 13 years of age and has been fairly sedentary in retirement.  This new found exercise is like a weekend athlete that has a great time joining the action, but ends up paying for it all week long.  This is the issue we are facing today with Grizzer.  After some continual activity in some icy conditions, Grizzer seems to have aggravated his ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) causing him stiffness and pain in his rear right leg.  He’s on an anti-inflammatory medication for a week and we decided to give him a rest through the weekend.  Both he and Luna were fed 1/2 a deer torso on Friday night, given soft cover hay and are staying in separate enclosures.  Depending upon ice conditions and Grizzer’s improvement, we plan to reunite them no Monday the 20th.