Strained knee

Question
Hi:

I have a 1 year old Golden Retriever and she has tonnes of energy. Recently she strained her knee and the vet told my wife and I to try to keep the dog rested and limit her walks to 20 min (they were 1 hour +)and keep her away from other people and dogs for the next 10 days or so. Is there anything I can do while the dog is not walking? She is driving us crazy not being able to play with other people and dogs

Answer
That is a tough one.  Perhaps try the Kong stuffed with peanut butter trick or some of the kibble balls.  Watch combining extra calories and reduced activity.  You may want to cut back a little on her regular meals.  Overweight is a big problem with Goldens, and will make any joint problems worse.  

Your dog definitely should be narrower at the waist than the hips and chest.
You should be able to easily feel the ribs, but not see them.  Each dog is
different.  Standard recommendations are a good place to start, but each dog
must have its food adjusted to its individual needs. Here is a link to a good illustrated guide,
http://www.longliveyourdog.com/twoplus/RateYourDog.aspx