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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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Best device for helping "unique" tripawd large dog in and out of Ford Expedition
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Member Since:
17 April 2014
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17 April 2014 - 9:58 am
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Booker is my tripawd rescue. He is unique in that he is unable to put much pressure on his remaining back leg.  He was dropped on some folks in the community as a 5 month old puppy in February of 2013.  He had something wrapped around his back leg long enough to "kill" the leg.  The community pulled together to pay for his amputation surgery.  I agreed to "foster" him until he was well enough to be adopted.  Little did I know that between his 3 remaining legs, he might have 1 good leg if you could put them all together.  He was malnourished, which caused carpel collapse to the front feet.  With at home therapy and chiropractic care, he has become much more mobile.   But, he has also grown from an underweight 29lb puppy to a healthy 73lb LARGE and long bodied mixed breed.  My problem is trying to lift him in and out of my SUV.  His remaining back leg is out of joint and he has created a "false" joint. (I have consulted with an orthopedic surgeon and he is of the opinion that surgery is not an option for Booker.)  Because of this false joint, he is not able to put full weight on that leg.  I recently purchased a ramp for the vehicle.  However, it is too steep and not wide enough for him to feel comfortable using it.  He struggles going up and down the two steps into my home.  He can do it, but it is a struggle.  I have looked at the Pet Loader steps online, as there was a reference to them on the tripawd site.  Has anyone used these?  If so, what is your opinion?  Does anyone have any other advice for me?  I would very much appreciate it, as he loves to "go," but I struggle getting him in and out of the vehicle.  I load him in the side door.  I have a "hammock" type car seat cover that keeps him from falling into the floorboard.  This is the safest way for him to travel.    Thank you in advance!

 

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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17 April 2014 - 11:32 am
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Hi Booker's Mom, welcome! Your future posts won't require approval.

Booker sure looks like a handsome dude. What a lucky guy to have you as a "foster failure"!

Have you seen our Gear blog ? Here are some items that can help you help him:

Best Harnesses for Three Legged Dogs

(for hoisting a dog into an SUV we like and use the Webmaster)

OttoStep Makes Tripawd Car Trips Easier

Can't wait to see more pix of your handsome boy. By the way have you seen our ebook, Loving Life on 3 Legs? It's all about keeping your Tripawd fit for life. This article also has a lot of good tips too: Best of Tripawds Gear and Fitness Tips for Three Legged Dogs

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

Tolland, CT
Member Since:
7 March 2013
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17 April 2014 - 8:54 pm
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Welcome, Booker, you lucky dog, and your wonderful "foster" (elbow-jab) Mama.  My Angel Princess Roxie was a "mature" lady when we got her; a very solid 65-pound Samoyed/GSD mix whose loss of her rear leg didn't have much impact on the weight scale (she was packing mostly princess attitude).  She also LOVED to ride.  We have a Chevy Tahoe and she tried mightily to jump in along with our juvenile GSD, Smokey, but couldn't do it after her amp. We had a folding ramp that she hated.  We got the Otto Step that worked very well with supervision as well as a lift harness...she really didn't like props, but we taught both dogs to wait in front of the step (slides into the hitch receiver) and be helped in....lots of treats helped with the training.  She used it pretty reliably until her last few days in September and then we just assisted her - always easier with extra hands!  I know most vets say jumping out of high vehicles is the worst for any dog's spine and we should use it for GSD Smokey but I confess we're not always with the program...and he has been known to jump up or down and over it.  But it's solid and stable and easy to store in the back of the SUV.  A step, along with the harness Rene recommends, might be the safest bet for Booker's legs and your back.

Good luck and keep us posted on your sweet boy's progress.  And thank you for the great gift you've given this wonderful dog - a safe and loving home, and relief from the pain of his former life.

-Liz and Angel Roxie Lou

  

 

 

 

Raleigh, NC
Member Since:
29 April 2013
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17 April 2014 - 10:43 pm
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Out of curiosity, what ramp did you purchase?  There are lots of different ramps out there with different widths and lengths.  I have collected a number of them over the years.

Some of the best ramps are from dogramp.com.  I don't own one from them but I have seen them in person and like them quite a bit.  I have several metal ramps and two plastic ones.  Been using them for years, even before the amputation.

http://dogramp......comparison

Although I can use my ramp without assistance, I've fallen off it too many times when excited and now want help.  We should probably make a video of this.  I wear a ruff wear webmaster harness .  My humans face the ramp.   One hand goes under me to support my  hind end, the other hand holds the harness and supports my front end.  We then go slowly up the ramp together.  Going down, I just need a little extra help to maintain my balance and just a good grip on the handle of my harness is all I need.  I'm a big guy too.  I'm 65 now without my leg but have weighed as much as 80 and I'm rather tall.  My humans are both short.

Several years before my amputation, I had a horrible fall and suffered paralysis in my rear limbs.  I even lost the ability to pee.  Even though I did regain 95% of the function back over the next 6 months, my right hind leg is kind of iffy at times and having some extra support really helps, especially if I'm tired.  I always list to the left and its gotten a bit worse since the amputation.  I've been using a ruffwear harness ever since that fall and swear by them.

http://tripawds.....available/


Member Since:
17 April 2014
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19 April 2014 - 11:35 am
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Thank you all for the warm welcome and advice!  I am a "foster failure." big-grin  The ramp I purchased was the Solvit Deluxe Telescoping Pet Ramp. My first choice is to be able for Booker to enter and exit from the side door, as this is where he will be riding.  Most of the ramps are too wide for that application, and the more narrow ones will not accommodate his wider stance.  I did set the ramp up at the back of the SUV and it is entirely too steep for him to maneuver. Because of the "false hip joint" he has created on his remaining back leg, he is unable to jump even a little bit.  The joint is not strong enough to support that type of weight.  With the Ottostep, it appears that he will have to lift up on his back leg to access it.  Unfortunately, this is not an option for him. When I put him in or out of the vehicle, I must put his weight on his front legs first.  I have been "trolling" this site since I discovered it in March of last year.  It is a wealth of information, advice, and inspiration!  I have read and watched videos on the ruffwear harness and think that it would definitely help me steady him as he enters and exits the vehicle.  I have to take care in placing him in and out of the vehicle (no pressure on the back leg). I am struggling with how to make it easier for him to "go" places with me.   I am attaching a video of him maneuvering the two steps into my home. I am hoping it will better show what I am trying to describe. 

 

 

 

 

Raleigh, NC
Member Since:
29 April 2013
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19 April 2014 - 6:47 pm
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Have you seen the petloader steps?  They work on side doors and the liftgate.

http://www.petl.....-and-suvs/

I have the same ramp as you.  I've fallen off it three times.  Cookie has too and she's got all 4 legs.  They now have an 84" ramp that is about 3 inches wider.  Not sure if they have a strap to help use it on the side door. 

I have a 96" ramp that might be a better slope for you but I can't recall where we bought it now.  It folds in half so you have 4 feet of ramp to lug around.  It isn't that heavy and has large lips on the sides to help keep you from falling off it.  I still fell on it.  🙁  My humans bought pool noodles and made bumpers for me which helped a lot.  It was installed on the front porch though since I was having trouble with the angle of a 6 foot step my first 3 months on 3 legs.

 

 

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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19 April 2014 - 11:57 pm
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Oh he's a cutie.

I'm glad this community could be of help.

The problem with a lot of ramps is something called "the visual cliff." In a layman's nutshell, it's an instinct where animals panic when they recognize differences in height. Some can deal with it, some cannot. The ones who can do fine on ramps, the ones who don't struggle. I'm guessing however that Booker's problem is the ramp is just too steep for your vehicle. We too looked for side-loading ramps for our 4x4 truck when Jerry lost his leg but couldn't find any, so we went with the Ruffwear Webmaster harness and it works great.

20080318w_elmorro01.jpgImage Enlarger

We still use it now our our Wyatt Ray , he wears it wherever we go.

You can see how we load him using it, in this video. You really don't need a lot of strength to hoist the dog up and into the vehicle, the handle placement gives great leverage and makes it easy even for someone without a lot of upper body strength.

https://www.you.....gHuDC5ylLI

 

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

Orange County, CA
Member Since:
28 November 2008
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22 April 2014 - 9:08 pm
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Hi there Booker and family!  I'm a little late to this discussion, but wanted to add my 2 cents.  I have a ramp from http://www.dogramp.com (see link below).  It is technically made for front door entry, but I use it on my suv's rear passenger door (Hyundai Santa Fe).  It's very affordable, doesn't weigh a lot, and doesn't telescope.  I've been using it for about a year now and really like.  My dogs are 55 - 60 pounds, the ramp will hold max 100 pounds.  Nothing has degraded on the ramp, it still pretty much looks like new (except for the dog hair!).  Booker weighs a bit more than my guys, so if you choose this particular model, you might get the best use out of it on the front door.  Good luck in choosing a ramp that works best for Booker!

http://dogramp......egory_id=6

 

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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23 April 2014 - 8:41 am
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Thanks for that info & endorsement maximutt, we hadn't seen that one and have contacted the company to see if we can start carrying it.

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


Member Since:
17 April 2014
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23 April 2014 - 12:50 pm
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Thank you all again for your helpful information.  ohmynixon, I have looked at the Pet Loader Steps online.  I was hoping to get some feedback from anyone who may have used them as he currently can only climb the two steps into my home.   They do look like they might be a viable option for him, I think I will call the company and speak with them.

 

jerry, you are correct in that the ramp is just too steep for Booker.  The Ruffwear Webmaster Harness might be of help in loading him, however I do need something that elevates him to or near the height of the seat, as he is unable to put any "jumping" pressure on his back leg due to the "false" joint he has created. 

 

maximutt, I have not looked at the ramp you are suggesting, but will do so immediately.  Thank you!

 

Again, I really appreciate all the feedback and advice.  smiley  This is a great site!

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