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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I am new to this group so hope this is not a topic already asked but we need some help. We rescued an abused walker treeing coonhound/mix with a horrible broken leg last year. Doc did everything to save the leg but it finally had to come off (left rear). So we have had a tripod for almost a year now. Just found out today that she needs a surgery to fix her knee on the other leg. We are in need of a harness that we can get her around with no weight on that leg for 3 weeks. We were told that helpemup was good but I read the review on here and do not want to get into a bad harness. London is a medium hound, only 40 pounds. So any help would be great.
Welcome and best wishes for London! Your future forum posts will not require approval.
Others will surely chime in soon. In the meantime, search the Tripawds Gear blog for all our best harness recommendations. For full-body support the Get A Grip harness or a Custom Pet Support Suit may be best...
Best Harnesses for Three-Legged Dogs
Which harness is right for my dog?
AST Harness Helps Three Legged Dogs Get a Grip
AST Get-A-Grip Harness Demo Video
Custom Mobility Harness Helps Tripawds Get Up and Around
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
We found the Ruffwear Webmaster to be invaluable when Murphy had his total hip replacement after being a Tripawd for less than three months. I don't know what we would have done without it. He has a YouTube channel called Murphy the Three Legged dog where I have posted several videos of him using the Webmaster during his looooong recovery.
Kathi and the Turbotail April Angel...and the Labradork
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
Hello there, and sorry to hear about your pup. I'm facing a similar dilemma with my lil hopper! It seems to me that a cart/wheelchair might make more sense given the repair is on the only remaining hind leg? I know, those are expensive. Izzy has the Ruffwear Webmaster as well (like Murphsmom mentioned) and that has been helpful. I also have a sling for her now that she's got a torn CCL ... she's a front amp but is old so even though she's got both hind legs, it's been tough. I can tell you that the sling is working well to help her potty and feel more stable because it's supporting weight under her waist. But your baby is a bit smaller and much lighter, so the harness will likely serve you well.
Good luck and keep us posted!!
Momma to the world's most beautiful American Bulldog, Izzy!! Lost her front leg to OSA 9/18/15. Diagnosed w MCT in June 2016. Celebrated her 1 year ampuversary with knee surgery on 9/18/16! MCT recurrence in Dec 2016. Happy & hungry til nearly 14, earning her wings on 7/31/17.
Also big fan of the Ruffwear Webmaster Plus harness. My Otis is a 100 pounds, so I would not be able to help him when needed without it.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Murphy was a rear Tripawd who weighed about 70 pounds post-amp. He did very well with the harness after his total hip replacement. He didn't like the sling (being a boy dog), as it definitely kept him from "lifting his leg". At the time we bought our harness in 2013, the brush guard wasn't yet available. It sounds like a great improvement.
Kathi
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
I've used the ruffwear webmaster for both of my small rear leg Tripawds as well as for my quad pugs when needed.
My quad boy Obie has had two knee surgeries (at different times) and I was able to use the ruffwear harness to help him get around until he could bear weight on his repaired legs.
My quad pug Tani was ataxic and had a couple of strokes which would make both her back legs not work. I used a ruffwear webmaster for her front end with a leash and a GingerLead for her back end. It was a bit like being a marionette with her, but I was able to support her entire rear end and she could do her business. The problem with the GingerLead was that it couldn't be left on at all times, but I didn't need it long term.
You might consider investing in the Webmaster plus as it will be handy to use long term, and maybe get something like the GingerLead for the surgery recovery period.
You can also look at the harnesses on a site called Handicap Pets, you might find another option there.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
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