Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi Everyone!
My baby is a 70 lb, 12 year old rottie/chow. He isn't a tripawd. I hope you all don't mind me coming to your forum for help!
About a year ago he started limping due to elbow dysplasia in his front left leg. He has been on Rimadyl (I know, scary) and he has been doing pretty well on it. About 3 weeks ago his limp became VERY bad. He now hardly puts any weight on his leg when standing. He is now taking Tramadol as well.
We aren't consider any sort of surgery for him due to his age. He has lots of spunk left in him and I am looking into buying him a front support wheelchair . My concern is his mobility when he is NOT the in the wheelchair . Should I continue to let him hobble around on his bad leg? Or should I try to not let him use his bad leg? I've scoured the internet and can't find much information on this.
I did see recommendations for using a harness to assist him but is there any thing else I should consider?
Thanks for all your help Pawrents!
Hello and welcome, your future posts won't require moderation. Of course you're welcome here 
I'm sorry your pup isn't doing well right now. Has he been seeing by a veterinary rehab therapist? A rehab therapist can do a lot to help his condition, through pain management and rehab therapy exercises, and tell you whether or not a wheelchair is advised. Check out these posts. Although we are specifically talking about Tripawds, the advice is good for quadpawds too:
"When and How a Dog Wheelchair Can Help a Tripawd
Canine Acupuncture and Rehabilitation Therapy Tips for Tripawds
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks for your response. We have not seen a vet rehab therapist but I will look into it now. Thank you! 
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Just want to offer my support and send hugs to you and your sweet boy!
Perhaps also you could talk to someone in your area about cold laser therapy and about acupuncture. Don't jnow if it would help in your sweet boy's case, but worth a try.
Also, he sounds like he's doing his own version of being a tripawd without going through surgery...by not using his leg more and more, he'll continue to adjust his muscles and mobility to compensate. And tripawd Rotties do very well!
Keep us posted on how things are going, okay? And yeah, I would thin k a harness might help in the meantime. A couple of people on here with big dogs have used wagons! Yeah, they load em up with cushy padding and haul them for their "walks". They use real l y good wagons ...wagons used to haul stuff...good wheels, some have railings.
Sending hugs and look.forward to hearing more about your big boy.
Sally and Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle
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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