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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Non-slip indoor boot for a big tripawd?
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Ontario, Canada
Member Since:
16 September 2009
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1
30 November 2009 - 9:02 am
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Hi there,

My Briard, Eva, has been a tripawd now for about three months. She's almost 10 years old, acts like a puppy, and can still run around in the park. She'd had a series of major issues with the leg that ended up developing the tumour, starting with a complete break and severing of bones/sinews/nerves when she ran into a park bench at age 1. Ever since then she's had various infections and complications, pretty much regularly every year or two, which would make her periodically lame. She was up and walking right after waking up from the amputation, and has never had any trouble with stairs, jumping into the car etc. I think having been a relative tripawd for so long really helped her adapt!

However, most of our floors are wood or tile, and she has a hard time bracing herself against the slippery floor. She's missing her front left leg - I want to get her a boot with a non-slip bottom for her to wear on the other front paw so she can push herself up. Any recommendations/reviews of good websites or specific products? I'd try and make one but I can't sew, and I'm not very inventive!

She's a big girl - 100 pounds pre amp, 85 pounds after!

krun15
2
30 November 2009 - 10:51 am
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Hello,
I'm no help on a bootie recommendation but..

I have one of the smallest tripawds, Maggie, who is now under 17 lbs. She has a left rear amp. Recently she has had some slipping trouble that she didn't seem to have before, on the tile floors and the Trex deck in the back yard. I though about a bootie but she WILL NOT wear anything- she barely tolerates her harness.

A friend suggested I trim the fur around her toes and between her pads- what a huge difference! I have also started using Musher's Secret on her feet. It is usually used to keep ice balls from forming between the toes, but I find it makes her pads more supple, less dry, so I think she has better traction on our tile floors.

I feel a little silly recommending Musher's Secret since I live in California and today it is supposed to be about 65… but whatever workssf-laugh

Karen and the pug girls

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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30 November 2009 - 12:53 pm
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Hi Eva & Mom, thanks so much for joining us here and showing the world that giant breed pups can make excellent Tripawds!

Our biggest recommendation is to get carpeted runners and place them in your dog's most well-worn paths around the house. But we also understand that this might not be do-able for a lot of people, and that's where paw wax and booties come in handy. The only drawback with booties is that you'd have to leave them on all the time, if Eva would allow it.

You can see what other people have said about different Tripawd paw products and slippery floors, by clicking on the topic tags we hae embedded within your discussion. Just look for the little boxes listed above and below comments, and click on "booties" "paw wax" "slippery floors". Hope this helps!

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

Ontario, Canada
Member Since:
16 September 2009
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30 November 2009 - 3:53 pm
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Does the skyliner boot have a flexible rubber or non-slip sole? I don't want something really tough or clunky - if she clops when she walks she'll probably not want to walk! I'm not worried about her pulling it off - she's had a million casts and slings and bandages and incisions and never fusses with any of them. I don't need it for outside - just in the house. There's no way I can put carpets down everywhere, and she insists on following me from room to room. Luckily my stairs are carpeted. For some reason her difficulty in getting up seems to be getting worse. The front leg is her main bracer for pushing herself up, so I'd like to experiment with just using a boot on that one and see if it helps.

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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30 November 2009 - 4:52 pm
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The Skyliner's soles are definitely more flexible than the Grip Trex.

Giant breed mastiff Tazzie wears Ruffwear boots

Spirit Tazzie is shown here wearing the black Skyliners.

Ruffwear Grip Trex booties for tripod dog

Our Wyatt Ray Dawg, is wearing the red Grip Trex here.

In a few weeks we'll feature both in our Tripawds Gear blog, but meanwhile if you'd like pricing on a single bootie or all four, let us know, we love Ruffwear!

Good luck with Eva. Can't wait to see more photos of this pretty girl.

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

Ontario, Canada
Member Since:
16 September 2009
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30 November 2009 - 7:16 pm
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Yes, I'd definitely like some pricing info on the single Skyliner! What's shipping like? I live in Ontario.

We've got two Briards, Eva and Lily, each almost 10. They actually both have cancer – Eva of course has OS, with amputation and three courses of chemo, and Lily has had three extremely major surgeries to remove cancerous mast cell tumours in the past year. Luckily they got clear margins on all of them so we didn't have to do radiation or chemo for her, although I just found another lump yesterday – never trust that a lump is just a lipoma! We're very lucky in that we live about 20 minutes from Guelph and the OVC. A couple months ago they both became ambassadors for the OVC's Canine Cancer research program. Not only are they funding ambassadors, they're also models of "life after a cancer diagnosis" – to make it easier for people to realize that you can fight cancer in dogs, and that its not "cruel" to do so. They made a little video, and did a photoshoot with a professional, which was lovely as Eva doesn't usually photograph that well – too much hair! Unfortunately they put in too much of my mum being interviewed, and too little of the dogs, but we're working on a more dog-centric version :D


Oh, for the Skyline boot, how much allowance should I give for her hair? They're not tight fitting, are they? Briards have pretty wide-spread paws.

oh, just to note, she's about one or two weeks post-op in that! Look at her bounce :D


Member Since:
22 August 2008
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30 November 2009 - 7:26 pm
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I used the Skyliner boots for Tazzie whenever she needed them indoors (going to the vet, etc) and they are pretty lightweight.  I needed the thicker boot for her remaining front foot for outdoor use.  Tazzie also was very good and never chewed them off but I took them off at night to let her feet breathe.

Tazzie was 185# and she needed an XXL boot for her front foot and XL for her rear feet (her front toes spread out more from bearing all that weight).  I would go to the website and follow the directions for measuring the foot.  I still have 2 brand new Skyliner boots and 2 gently worn boots all sized XL.  If these would fit your dog then send me a PM and I will ship them your way.  I was going to send them to Susan's Tazzie but I think he only needed a Medium or Large but a Briard does have a pretty big foot!

Pam

Winnipeg
Member Since:
13 July 2009
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30 November 2009 - 7:44 pm
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Hi Eva and family

I'm over here in Winnipeg and had boots shipped to Canada. The company "Chimpfeet" will mail Ruffwear products up here (I tried a few places and struck out, even though there was no clue that they would not ship to Canada). I actually purchased both types of booties, so can check them out and give you more info if you'd like.

I can give you an email for 'Chimpfeet' (I think it is info@chimpfeet.com but would have to check to be sure). I think it is listed on the tripawds website (someone named Nicky took my order when I phoned and has been the one to correspond since then). It took about 10-14 days to get here by mail, but at least there were no duties (as happens with UPS). We haven't even tried them on yet.

Having said all this about shipping, you might be able to find a local store that carries RuffWear products.

Wow – your pup lost 15 lbs with one leg?!? That is some kind of leg! I bet tazziedog's big booties will fit!

Susan & Tazzie 2

On The Road


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24 September 2009
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30 November 2009 - 9:53 pm
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Oh I love love love this community! Thank you Pam, for such great info and so generously offering Tazzie's booties. And Susan, thank YOU for clarifying where to buy because silly Ruff Wear doesn't ship to Canada (drats!). You are pawesome!

Eva, you and your sissy are real celebrities! Thank you for sharing the wonderful movie with us, it's so great getting to know you.

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

Oaktown
Member Since:
16 July 2009
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30 November 2009 - 10:19 pm
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Codie Rae did not do well with the Ruffwear boots.  For her the Thera-Paw boots have worked the best.  They fit a little tighter and are less prone to twisting.  Each dog is a little different and you might have to experiment a bit to find the best solution.

Ralph

My heart lives at Rainbow Bridge
Member Since:
28 November 2008
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11
1 December 2009 - 3:34 am
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I've had problems with the Ruff Wear boot slipping also. I don't use them much because of it.  I bought socks to wear with them, but that only help marginally.

Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul.  Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.

Ontario, Canada
Member Since:
16 September 2009
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12
1 December 2009 - 6:46 am
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Wow, thank you so much for all the responses! That's very generous of you, Pam and Tazzie! I will check out the measurements and get an idea of how big a boot she'll need - she has giant snowshoe paws. Thanks for clarifying the shipping issue Susan - I might even get lucky and find a store that carries the boots. I managed to buy her the ruffwear harness at a place in Guelph that carries the line, although I ended up donating it to the Guelph Small Animal Clinic for use on other amputees as they really only have slings. That way other pawrents can check out the Ruff Wear in action too, and decide if their puppy dog needs it. I only needed it for Eva once - when she snuck up my aunt's uncarpeted, incredibly vertiginous stairs in pursuit of her favourite hobby, cat stalking! We basically had to carry her back down - no joke, as those stairs are just as treacherous for people sf-laugh

Ralph, I'll definitely take a look at the ones you recommended. I think Eva might not have quite as much of a problem with slipping as other dogs, as she has SO much long wooly hair - things tend to stick in place better than with slippery short dog hair.

krun15
13
1 December 2009 - 8:56 am
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Hi Eva's mom,
Nice video- the dogs are beautiful, I LOVE their feet. I used to have Nuwfie- he had pretty big feet, and webbed paws, but not snowshoessf-smile

Both of my pug girls have mast cell cancer. My quad pug Tani has had 3 tumors removed, all at once, and has had no problems since. Mag lost her leg to a MCT. She had one tumor removed before I found the one in her leg, and last spring I had two removed from her chest and back. Mag went through chemo after her amp because there were indications that the cancer had spread through her lymph system. You can read her story in her blog if you want.

Good luck with the new lump-

Karen and the pug girls

Member Since:
20 May 2009
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1 December 2009 - 5:49 pm
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 Good luck finding the right booties.  I just wanted to say I like the video.

Debra & Angel Emily

Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.

Member Since:
3 November 2009
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15
2 December 2009 - 8:36 pm
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Hi,

I have the same problem with some spots in our house and with the uncovered deck off the porch if it rains, then freezes. We put a runner down on the laminate floor in the hall but it doesn't quite reach from end to end and I don't have $$ yet for a new one.

I got some paw wax, the kind that they use for huskies, which is great for outdoor, but could maybe a bit messy for indoor, and then some tacky spray called "Show Tack" that is made for showdogs that have to go on slippery floors. It works great. My dog is 75 lbs.

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