Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
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Hi,
My name is Tiffany and my family and I just adopted Tinker- We found Tinker on PetFinder.com She is a spunky terrier mix. She was found in a dumpster in Houston in bad shape. The kind man who fished her out brought her to Forever Friends Rescue. When I saw her photo my heart latched hold. I was told she was missing some of her toes on one foot. UPon meeting her I think it's more like her whole foot at the ankle. We are all in love with her. Her first vet visit is next week.
For now we are trying to keep her from jumping on or off of the furniture. No rough playing, and I'm kind of scared to take her on much of a walk. We aren't sure of her age, she has all her puppy teeth but is quiet small. I'm guessing she's about 10-12 weeks old. I am excited for our vet to meet her and tell me more on how to care for her. So pleased to have found this site, thanks!
I'm reading thru all the required reading lists. I am just very curious aout any tips, links, or info any of you experienced tripawd moms and dads can off will be greatly appreciated! We all just want to make her comfortable and happy.
Thank you so much---Tiff
Awwww, thank you for giving this sweet gal a chance at the life she so deserves. I know she will repay you a thousand times over. We're so glad you found us and shared her story in this topic, welcome! Your future posts won't require approval.
Is she putting any weight on that bum leg? If she is I would definitely use caution in taking her for walks until the vet checks her out. You are wise to take it easy at first, especially because she's a puppy. Eventually you'll be able to judge how much is too much activity, but for now take things slow. How big do you think she'll get? Any idea?
If you haven't already, check our blogs out for ideas about Nutrition, Gear (exercise), and other reading materials that can help you. But really I think you're off to a great start! Welcome!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome Tiffany and Tinker. What a cutie she is! She should do well since she is just a young pup. Also being small will help. It's best for Tripawds to stay slim, so don't let her pack on any extra weight when she gets older.
So glad you found each other. I'm sure you'll find that it's a wonderful thing to be a tripawd pawrent!
Keep us posted on how she's doing,
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Welcome to Tripawds!
How big is Tinker? I had a pretty small Tri-pug named Maggie, but she was about 17 pounds, and 12 inches at the shoulder.
Since you said ankle I assume the missing parts are on a back leg? Does she try to walk on it?
I think it is good to be cautious until you know how much she can do. Once Maggie healed up from her surgery she could get around just fine, and walked quite a ways on her own daily. Going up stairs was really hard for her because she was so small and had only one back leg. She could go up a couple of stairs, but not a whole flight. She could and would go down just about anything, although I did try to keep her from jumping from heights (not always successfully though).
Karen and the pugapalooza
Tinker is three pounds of furry fury right now. Yes it is her rear leg on the left. She doesn't walk on it inside or on hard surfaces but out in the grass she uses it some. She goes up and down our stairs just as fast as our other pooch, if not quicker. I think she's three maybe four months old. I'm guessing she'll be tiny, under ten pounds. She looks like a Chorkie? Yorkie coloring, wirey chiuahuah(sp?) hair. Really tiny bone size. She has no clue that she's missing the foot, tries jumping on and off of everything. It looks like she has a little bit of a pad on the bottom of her nub. She slides a good bit in our house, it's all hard wood. I trimmed the hair between her toes to try to help keep her from sliding as much.
I'm really enjoying seeing all y'alls babies and reading your stories, I think Tinker is really lucky.
Going to bring her to her first beach day today. We'll make it a short trip so we don't wear her out. Our other dog-Bella the yorkie poo LOVES the beach.
can your dogs swim? I'm curious about the missing paddle
Tinker is three pounds of furry fury right now
Hahaha! Now that is an adorable thought!
Can Tripawds swim? OH YEAH! Well, those who liked to swim before losing a leg almost always enjoy swimming afterward. Check out our videos, we even have a series of Tripawds swimming! You'll have to take some videos so we can add her to the mix.
Have a great beach day!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
The beach day was a sucess! She isn't too sure about the water but loved digging in the sand and barking at the birds.
So waiting til Tinker's vet appointment on friday is killing me. Do any of you know: Are pups born with a partial leg often recomended for amputation? Will lugging around the leg that can't be used hurt her hips or back? I've been all around the forum and seen lots about injury anda few front leg deformity topics. Also enjoying watching how stinking fast some of these three legged babies run has me and the kids cracking up.
Oh Tinker what a lucky pup you are, that looks like a great beach day!
When it comes to birth defects on limbs, usually it's recommended that the leg is removed, but it really depends on how much limb is left. It looks like in Tinker's case she has a lot of limb left. From what rehab vets have told us, when a dog has an unusuable limb, they will still try to use it but since they cant, it throws them off balance and changes their gait. Tripawd pawrents of dogs with deformed limbs that remained often say their dog was better off without the limb.
I'm sure your vet will have some good ideas for you once Tinker goes in for a visit.
Hope that you are having a fabulous beach day!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Uh oh, I told my Gerry you and you're kids were enjoying seeing how fast tripawds can go and now he's insisting I make sure you see some of his videos and how fast he goes!
http://gerry.tr...../dog-park/
http://gerry.tr.....gan-pawty/
(Might have to scroll down a bit past all the blogging to the actual video, fyi. And the second video is a bit shaky at times...)
Oh, here's one more with lots of running, though Ger probably doesn't care for this one - a tiny four legged dog is running circles around him. But it's a fun one! http://gerry.tr.....m/2011/11/
Gerry has been a tripawd since 12/16/2009.
He was a shelter dog with a mysterious past and an irrepairable knee injury.
Videos and pics of Gerry's pawesomeness can be found at: http://gerry.tripawds.com
Jerry that's kind of what I figured. I broke my leg a few years ago and lugging it around not being able to use it for 8 weeks did a number on my hip and back- i figured the same for baby girl.
Gerry- you are fast and so graceful! Tinker wobbles and limps mostly. She's fast as all get out in the back yard with the soft deep grass, she uses her nub while in the grass. Gery's gait is so smooth it's hard to tell he's a Tripawd.
Well we have an awesome vet and I'm sure she'll suggest what is best for Tinker's long term happiness. besides she's a baby and I hope she's around for the next 15 or 20 years, I want to make them happy and comfortable years with lots of running and playing.
I'll be going and loking through the surgery topics to try and get informed. I wonder what age is best? If she could just get it all done in one fell swoop when she goes in to get spayed. One really bad recovery, but all is good after. Lots to think about! I'm writing a list to bring with us so I don't forget anything.
Thank you for this wonderful site! Jery I read your story and cried my fool head off, not sad tears but happy and inspired. What a tremendous spirit!
Love the beach pic. She's so cute!
Keep us posted on what you and your vet decide. That would be cool if they could do the spay at the same time.
Jackie
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Hi y'all!
Sorry it's taken so long for a reply, my kids started school and we were busy. Well Tinker is helathy and we think about 4.5 months old. The vet thinks she lost the foot in an injury or accident, not born that way. Our vet siad she could remove the leg if I wanted her to when Tink gets spayed next month. But she also said we could just wait and see if it causes any problems. Since she's so small i think we'll leave her be for now and then if her hips or back give her any problems go from there. What do y'all think? any input from anybody with exper. with this is much appreciated!!!!!!
Oh gosh life happens, no need to apologize!
I'm not a vet, but I do think your vet's advice sounds reasonable when you consider her size and weight. Watch her closely to see if the leg gets in the way, if she tries to use it and falls on it, etc. You may also want to have her evaluated by a certified canine rehab vet (a vet with "CCRP" or "CCRT" after their name) in a few months to do a gait analysis. Since she seems comfortable and you aren't dealing with something time-sensitive like cancer or a recent wound, I think your vet's advice sounds good, but see what others think too.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
What a cutie Tinker is!!! Love the beach pic! 
I generally would recommend amputating a leg like Tinker's only if it was causing problems for her. Sometimes if they have a longer stump and they are trying to use the leg, the end of the stump can have repetitive trauma which, in the worst case scenario, may lead to an infection in the bone.
If Tinker is not having sores or bleeding at the end of her stump and she seems to be getting around well, I would probably leave it too. Because she is a small breed dog, that definitely works in her advantage.
You could always consider limb amputation down the road if things change, but I agree with your vet and would leave it if it's not causing her problems. (I am also a vet, by the way)
Right hind limb amputated 7/3/12 for OSA, started on alternating cycles of Carboplatin and Doxorubicin and oral Palladia. Single lung met 9/1. Met in the neck muscle removed 9/30. Large mass in sublumbar lymph node 10/2. Rescue chemo with ifosfamide 10/6. Mets to the rib and axillary lymph node 10/21. Started Leukeran and Pred 10/25. Wookie left this Earth for a far better place on 12/4/12. I miss you, Boo, you were my heart.
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