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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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New tripawd mommy of Great Dane with front leg deformity
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Member Since:
30 March 2013
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1 April 2013 - 11:31 am
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Hi, I am the proud new mom of Trinity a 7 week old Great Dane born with a front leg deformity. So I am looking for advice in a few issues. She uses the leg alot and there isn't a pad there, so it is getting very red and raw. I have tried to put a sock on it, but she takes it off. Anyone have any ideas? I was also wondering at what age any other pups had their amputations? We are still waiting to see our vet, but I am very anxious to get it done. She uses it too much, I am afraid she is going to damage her other shoulder or become too dependent on it, making it harder to adjust when it is gone. Thanks for any advice! She is the sweetest puppy ever!

On The Road


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24 September 2009
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1 April 2013 - 12:20 pm
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Hi Trinity's Mom, thanks for joining us here and a BIG thanks for adopting your sweet girl!

From what we've seen, dogs to have that much of their front limbs left do tend to bang it around quite a bit. Pawrents of dogs with limb deformities usually do proceed with amputation and those who choose not to often say they wish they had done it while the dog was still young. There are advantages to both scenarios:

While young dogs generally recover more quickly than an older dog when it comes to the actual surgery, rehab vets tell us that young dogs who lose a leg can take longer to gain strength and balance than an older dog will. This is because an older dog who's been around a while generally has all that stuff worked out, and has had time to learn how to live as a Tripawd.

It sounds like amputation in her near future will be a good thing so that paw stops getting banged up. Just be prepared to work with her to gain strength and stamina, she'll need the help as she grows. If working with a certified canine rehab vet is a possibility, we highly recommend doing so. If not, take heart, there are lots of things you can do to help her get strong.Our Tripawds Gear Blog has tons of great ideas to help you get there as do these videos and interviews from California Animal Rehab.

In the meantime, covering that paw is a good idea. Search for "Boots" in the gear blog and you'll find lots of ideas there.

Thanks again for joining, your future posts won't require moderation.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Member Since:
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1 April 2013 - 12:48 pm
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Thanks, I will look into the boots, but what she has is so oddly shaped, I am not sure anything will work. She has a long finger with a pad and nail that I am very concerned is going to get caught on something. I think that she has been carried around a lot, I am trying to balance making her walk as much as possible and keeping her skin integrity intact on that nub! I just am so anxious to get her to the vet!

Virginia







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22 February 2013
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1 April 2013 - 3:20 pm
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Bless your heart and that sweet pup can look forward to a bright future because of you! Not knowledgeable to give any advice on your situatuion---just wanted to extend my support and encouragement as you proceed on this loving journey. Watching her probably is more painful to you than her! I'm sure you've tried wraps/protection of some sort to cushion.

Look forward to hearing solutions vet suggests so please keep us posted. Congratulations again----talk about a win-win........

Sally and Happy Hannah

Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!

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1 April 2013 - 5:16 pm
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Thanks benny55! I am so in love with her! I found her by accident, I was hinking of adopting a Great Dane from a rescue and was doing some research on the breed. While on a forum about them I happened to see a breeders post about one of her pups that had been born with a deformed leg. She said she didn't know what to do with her and didn't want to try to sell her for fear people will think there was something wrong with the other puppies. I contacted her and said I would take her. I think it was fate that I found her.

Atlanta, GA
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1 April 2013 - 6:07 pm
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She is very cute and I am so happy that she found a loving family to take care of her.  I have one older dog that is a tripawd due to cancer and then due to the rescue forums here, I adopted a husky that underwent an amputation for a deformed leg attributable to a bad break when she was young.  I didn't go through the amp with my husky, but I know that she had her amputation at about 5 months.  She gets around great now.  Good luck to you and your new baby.  

As for keeping a sock on her, I did have to work on keeping a sock on my 3rd dog when she was young.  I wrapped the area in white sports tape (the stuff that isn't really that sticky) and then I covered that with a sock, taped up at top.  And then I sprayed ICK (or any other bitter spray) on it so that she wouldn't like licking or trying to remove it.  It didn't always work, but enough to keep her covered so her foot could heal.

Adelaide is a young tripawd Husky, from an injury.  Her amp was on 10/1/12.  She has 4 sisters, Aissa (a senior border collie/chow), Maggie May (a puppy Great Pyrenees), Mathilde and Morrigan and 1 baby brother, Bagheera.  We are all watched over by our angel Brendol, who was dx with OSA 1/30/13, amp on 2/6/13, and left us on 8/20/13.

PitaPata - Personal picturePitaPata Dog tickers

 You can read their stories at http://adelaide.tripawds.com and http://brendol.tripawds.com
New Haven, CT
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1 April 2013 - 6:26 pm
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Thank you for bringing a little cutie like this into your life!  She's adorable!  I have no idea how to deal with such a little puppy on the road to amputation, but there are many puppies who have had the surgery and do great.  It sounds like amputation may be in your future.  You could try to give her more months with the limb in order for her to grow and build muscle and then do the surgery later.  In the meantime, it sounds like you'll be experimenting with lots of booties, wraps, etc.  Have you seen PAWZ?  That may serve as a "top coat" to what's under?  And if 1 bootie doesn't work, don't stop trying those.  There are loads of options out there!

Keep us posted!  Don't disappear with such a cute little girl!  Welcome!

~ Katy

ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12.  Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ!  No side effects.  We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments.  He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors!  Our love. Our funny little guy!

NC
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1 April 2013 - 7:45 pm
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That reminds me... If you use the sock and tape around the top of it (don't stretch it, just stick it on) with ELASTIKON tape, then coat the sock with a little YUK gel, she'll learn to leave it alone. Kermit used to wear socks like this a lot when we were protecting his furuncled feet from too much licking.

ELASTIKON & YUK are both available from Amazon & various veterinary supply companies.

On The Road


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1 April 2013 - 8:20 pm
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trinitysmom said
Thanks, I will look into the boots, but what she has is so oddly shaped, I am not sure anything will work.

This company, Tammy & Teddys, can make you a custom one. They're good peeps.

 

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

New Haven, CT
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1 April 2013 - 8:30 pm
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Wow, that company is AWESOME-PAWSOME!  I hope you find luck with them.  VERY cool indeed!  If you do get some custom duds for your puppy, post some pics.  I'd love to see her funky toe and foot nicely protected!

~ Katy

ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12.  Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ!  No side effects.  We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments.  He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors!  Our love. Our funny little guy!

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1 April 2013 - 8:51 pm
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Thanks everyone! Good advice. I am actually thinking she may get stronger without the leg. She uses it so much that she is all hunched over an her shoulder blade in the good side sticks up, it just looks so awkward. I can't imagine it is good for her back and neck. We will see how she does over rhe next few days. I have only had her 4 days, so we will keep taking it day by day!

New Haven, CT
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8 April 2013 - 5:30 pm
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How's it going?  Can you post a picture of your little lady?

~ Katy

ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12.  Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ!  No side effects.  We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments.  He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors!  Our love. Our funny little guy!

Member Since:
22 January 2013
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8 April 2013 - 9:02 pm
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Hi,

You are wonderful to adopt this pup and it sounds like you are already in love. Cora had a deformed front leg and her amputation was at about 2 months. I got her as a foster, just 10 days after the surgery and then I adopted her. From what I know those early days after the amputation were rough but she's a champ now. And Cora is a special girl, she is also blind and has some neurological problems that after her other front leg and coordination.

I think it can be hard on pups, because they can be so clumsy anyway. And they are so active and not good judge of their limits. Cora fell a lot after the amputation and that was hard to see because it definitely hurt at times. Wow, amazing how far we've come. Cora is just 6 months and we walked around the block today. A couple times I had to trot to keep up with her. So I'm sure your Trinity will do great.

Airdrie, Alberta
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21 February 2012
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10 April 2013 - 9:26 am
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trinitysmom said
I am actually thinking she may get stronger without the leg. She uses it so much that she is all hunched over an her shoulder blade in the good side sticks up, it just looks so awkward. I can't imagine it is good for her back and neck.

First off, welcome to the group...you will find lots of great info and support on here smiley

I think that Animal Chiropractic Care would be a great option for your new little pup.  I work for an Animal Chiropractor and we see these kinds of structural issues in dogs with four legs on a regular basis usually because of some sort of injury…so you can imagine what your sweet Trinity's body is going through.

Because of the deformity, her body will compensate in many ways.  Humped backs usually mean that the vertebrae in that area are locked up which can cause discomfort or pain.  If you run the palm of your hand over their spine you will probably feel heat in that area, which can indicate inflammation.  And Trinity's shoulder sticking out will mean that she is probably out of alignment and again if you feel the area there is probably heat.

Dogs are amazing creatures because they will contort their bodies in strange ways just so they can get around and usually without any complaints, however, over time these changes in their body structure can cause adverse effects to the rest of their health...so getting her adjusted on a regular basis will help keep her spine moving freely...even after an amputation if you decide to go that route.

Anyway, just my thoughts.  Best of luck and we look forward to hearing of Trinity's many adventures smiley

 

 

Roxy…Border Collie cross born on approximately October 27th, 2011;

Rescued in January 2012 by Oops a Dazy Rescue & Sanctuary;

Right hind leg amputated on January 20th, 2012 due to a severe spiral fracture;

Adopted on February 21st, 2012 by Teena, a devoted human & Charlee, a purebred BC.

Hugs, tail wags & sloppy kisses

hhackett
15
10 April 2013 - 9:51 am
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Hello! Congrats on your new baby! I put links on here about my Bert's story. He also had a partial leg that was amputated due to him irritating it. I made the decision because I did not want him to deal with being on antibiotics every few months for his adult life. He had his actual amputation done at 4 months old. Please take a look at his full story, I think you will find it interesting and helpful! smileyLet me know if you have any questions about anything! There is so much great information on here! One thing that a few other people have touched on is puppies being so clumsy! I found a great trainer at my local kennel club who does regular training and agility. She is really wonderful with Bert and we did a lot of work on the agility equipment for him to learn where his feet were. It helped him a ton! Good luck!

 

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