Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Looking for advice to pass along. Noticed puppy seperated from litter yesterday. I hopped the fence and scooped her up and dropped her back with siblings.
Then saw today, she was seperated again. Mother is feeding her still but taking turns. Owners just had grandchild born so they out all day. It started to rain and I went over and brought the puppy inside my place. This is when I noticed the deformity. Looks like half a paw. "Thumb" and pad with other digits missing.
Took her back when owner arrived home. Owner thought was an infection of some sort...I assured her it seemed to be a deformity. Its like a club foot.
Any advice I can pass along? I am worried about the puppy being exposed to the elements. Puppy is about 4 to 5 weeks old.
Hi George, welcome. You are a fantastic neighbor, wish there were more like you!
That's a reallllly young puppy to be separated like that. I'm not an expert or a vet and maybe someone has better insight, but I wouldn't take the dog to my place unless I was super, super sure that the mother was kicking the pup out of the litter. Doing so could cause behavioral issues later on (prime socialization time needed for puppies healthy development is now believed to be a very small window of opportunity, between 2 and 13 weeks of age).
When you say it was separated, how far away from the momma was she? I would suggest to my neighbors that the dog could get into a lot of physical and mental distress if they don't keep an eye on this little gal and make sure she stays with the pack.
Sounds like a deformity which in the big scheme of things isn't that big of a dal. In that case, most vets will want to wait until the dog is at least a few months old to analyze how they can help it have a good life. Check out other posts in this Forum to see how dogs with deformed limbs have done (which is why I moved your post here, hope you don't mind).
Do you think you want to adopt her?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I only had the puppy in my possession for 20 minutes or so. Both parents adore me since I probably show more affection towards them than the owner does.
The litter is in a workroom under the house, pretty well protected from elements. The separated puppy was all the way across the yard against a shed.
I doubt neighbors will take to a vet. I could offer to help handfeeding. I doubt could adopt, my dog is old and doesn't have patience with pups.
Both parents? So they have two unneutered dogs living in the same household? Ugh.
Well you are a great neighbor, I'm so sad that you can't adopt the pup but I understand. Is there a local rescue you can call? Someone who can take on the litter needs to step in, I'm betting the humans would be OK with that.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yeah they have (f) German shepherd and (m) Rottweiler both not neuter. It's almost a puppy factory but slowed down past couple years to 3 to 4 pups a litter once a year.
Plenty of shelters in area, my own dog was a rescued I've had for 13 years now.
I keep an eye on those dogs all the time and have called animal rescue before. Will do again if needed. Neighbors are nice folks just neglectful of pets.
(I secretly had their cat spayed after she recovered from birthing under my porch. Neighbors never noticed. Took kittens to shelter also) 😉
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