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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
My 5 year old pittie tripawd boy is having a hard time getting around because his remainjng frint legs front nails are so long as he doesnr get them cut often enough. The quick has grown quite long so i cant trim them much. Has anybody has their dog put under anesthesia yo have their nails quicked. I know its not ideal, ans he may need pain meds for a few days afterwars, however he HATES having his nails trimmed but they are deff bothering him.. im worried and idk what to do.
Hi and welcome! What's your doggie's name? Why did he lose his leg? Just curious!
We used to have a hard time with Wyatt Ray 's nails. Here's what we do:
Calming Cap and Muzzle Help Feet Phobias
Here are some other ideas from the Forums that may help. Our great community will chime in too with their ideas so stay tuned!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I always took Otis to the vet to do it. They did not have to sedate him - just took him in back for 5 or 10 minutes.
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.
What we learned at the vet's is that they use a muzzle to do it, and for many dogs, muzzles are like kryptonite. Have you tried one yet?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Would love to hear more about your tripod sweet Pittie. How did yiur sweet boy becomw a tripawd?
If I read your post right, part of the problem is that the quick has grown, as well as the nail. My senior rescue has that issue also. The vet is not able to cut the nails very much because there is so much quick. He called it more of a "defect" or some nutritional defecinces she may have had before I adopted her. She is a 4 legged dog so the issue isn't nearly as concerning with her as it is with your tripod.
Some of the suggestions that you have above may be really helpful and I hope they work for you. I know if cutting her quick is involved it would have to be awfully painful.
Update us when you can.
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
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!
I've been told that if you just keep nibbling the end off on a regular basis (easier said than done, I know, with a resistant pooch) this will cause the quick to retract – though obviously not if there is an actual 'defect', as in Sally's case.
There is also some sort of matting you can buy http://www.beck.....yboard.com I haven't tried this, as they don't ship to the UK.
Sally?????? How many dogs have you got???????? 
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
The best way to shorten the quick is to use a dremmel once a week till length is satisfactory and then once per month to keep them short. Of course, you need to use positive method to get him use to it. The dremmel let you very close to the quick, less pressure by the nail clipper, you can manage them so much easier!
I'm with Christine - Isa got her nails clipped at the vet's. I'm way too much of a coward to even attempt it.
But Clare, you're quite right. Sally's quad that I know of is Merry Myrtle and she is not a senior. To whom is she referring? Sally, what is your current count?
Nothing like a Monday mystery...
Hugs!
Right rear leg amp 7/12/16 due to OSA. Metastatic lesion on her right front leg, January 2017. Joined the Winter Warriors January 19, 2017. Run free my sweet girl.
HA! HA!! I am also owned by Bob and Nellie, as well as Merry Myrtle and Frankie!
Bob and Nellie were two senior shelter dogs that I adopted the same day. I wanted to give them a good home for however long they had left in their earth clothes. I was thinking it would provably be less than a year. That was THREE YEARS AGO!!!
I adopted them a couple of months before Happy Hannah's diagnosis. So when I joined here it was pretty much "all Happy Hannah", tripawds, etc.
Additionally, these two sweethearts never, ever adapted to living inside!! TV scared them, lamps scared them, sofas scared them, they hate carrides, etc. Anyway, a whole lot more story with these two, but I imlose enough by bringing wuadpawd Myrtle I to the mix, but Happy Hannah sent her, so that's my "excuse". And Frankie is an adopted tripawd, so that's my "excuse".
Make nooooo mistake about it, just because I rarely post about them, they are very, very loved and spoiled!!!!
Every Tuesday I bring them each a bone from Petco. I've brought them Puppy Lattes, but they prefer pizza crust as their treat.
Since you've given me a GREAT EXCUSE to post oictures of Bob and Nellie....here we go!!!
BOB THE HOUND. AND NELLIE THE ??? (I think some lab and chow maybe a bit of pittie)
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!
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!
Both my dogs have very long quicks, and Meg, the tripawd of the two, can get a bit angry when they get cut. Luckily our vet clinic does nail trims for free, and we get them done every 2-3 weeks so it doesn't get out of hand, but clipping once a week is probably ideal until the quicks shorten. Meg is a lot calmer having the vet nurses handle her than me, so luckily doesn't need a muzzle, but muzzling is a good option for dogs that are super crazy about it.
PS-- Sally, your doggos made me grin far too much for a monday at the office! 
I have absolutely nothing to add to the nail issue, but!
Sally! Who knew?! I didn't!! Those pooches are gorgeous!! The pictures and their stories are great!! Want more!!!! and where is Myrtle??
I want my fix of happy pictures Sally!!
Tina
Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.
Oh my goodness! Bob and Nellie are gorgeous! such smiles! Boy, oh boy, Sally are you the sly one!
I can't even conceive of a dog that's "afraid" of inside. that's where all the good beds are! I did read an article just yesterday about a group called "Gray Muzzles" (I think) that adopt out senior and/or ill dogs and even help with medical expenses so these guys can spend the rest of their time in their earth clothes being loved and spoiled. I love the idea, but personally I just don't know if my heart could take it. so my hat is off to you Miss Sally.
So now that your illicit secret is out, we will all be expecting updates and pictures of ALL of your pack!
Hugs!
Teri and Angel Isa
Right rear leg amp 7/12/16 due to OSA. Metastatic lesion on her right front leg, January 2017. Joined the Winter Warriors January 19, 2017. Run free my sweet girl.
Oh wow Sally!!! I had no clue! And I've "known" you going on three years now ... LOL!
Bless your heart though ... I wish I could take in all the senior dogs but I don't know how I could do it. But I love that those two are living out their best years with the wonderful soul that is you!
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Sally, you are totally blowing my mind. That is amazing - four dogs!
As for nails, we struggle with this a lot. Our strategy is to have two people - I lay Jack upside down in between my legs and use a combination of the dremel and a clipper. She prefers the dremel. My fiance sits next to me and feeds her the highest value treats we can find - it's a combination of pure distraction and rewarding her for holding still. It's not easy, but it's a whole lot better than on my own! We try to do it weekly so I don't have to get much off, just enough to maintain.
1 Guest(s)
