Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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We are 1 week post op and I am trying to think ahead. Oscar has a rear leg amp. and I am wondering about stairs. My house is 2 floors with the bedroom on the 2nd floor. Right now I am sleeping downstairs. My living room is like a little recovery room. Will he always need help getting up the stairs. He also loves furniture. Should I get low rise stairs to help get up on couch and bed? Also worried if I get him on the bed he might try and jump off in the middle of the night. Trying to get prepared for when stitches come out.thanks
Poppy is a Pomeranian she is just now 4 weeks post surgery with a rear amputation she still has her cone on too stop licking as she caused a infection two days before her stitches where due out they’ve now been removed. She’s started jumping up the sofa and down but sometimes stands and moans for us to pick her up and put her on the sofa which we do as she as she been on cage rest for 12 weeks prior to the amputation with metal plates in her leg etc so her energy level and fitness needs to be built back up slowly. She’s only 18 months old so it shouldn’t take too long she went on her first 10minute walk Monday she was breathless when we got back poor thing but she loved it the walkies word can now be used again in our house. Poppy used to sleep on the bed with us but I’m a little scared to let her do that because of jumping off and landing funny she now sleeps in her cage in our room. We have two wide steps in our garden before you get to the grass she can do them fine but we still assist her as we also have decking which is terrible for her when wet so she on her lead and carried out to the grass if it’s wet. As for our main stairs I’m a bit clueless what to do myself She tried two steps and fell down someone was behind her though she just tends to sit at the bottom of the stairs now and barks to get our attention not sure if that will last forever.
Oh I love the way you think, good job!
First, are your stairs carpeted? If so that will make things much easier. If not, I would consider putting some kind of traction down. See:
Make Slippery Floors, Stairs Safer with Puppy Treads Traction Decals
We have always dealt with stairs for our dogs, Jerry and now Wyatt Ray , also a rear-leg amp. It's important to remember that rear-leggers have a harder time going up stairs than down, because all of their propulsion power is in the back.
The way you overcome the stairs problem is by always helping him up and down stairs with a harness. We prefer the Ruffwear Webmaster , because of the handle. It's placed strategically close to the middle so when you are aiding a dog, the lift is evenly dispersed along the torso. He will really need one during the first few weeks.
I would definitely consider a baby gate at the top and bottom. Our Tripawds Gear blog has ideas. Although many Tripawds have no problem doing stairs, eventually the movement will catch up to them and cause weakness and muscle strain. You really want to lessen the risk he will try to tackle stairs on his own. We never let Wyatt do stairs alone. Sure, he's been sneaky and done them once or twice behind our back, but those occasions are rare.
And yes, pet stairs are super helpful for any dog, even four leggers. Because eventually if we're lucky, all dogs get old and creaky, it's our job to help them feel at home. You may need to train him on using one but these blog posts can help:
Three Tripawd Tips for Pet Steps and Ramp Training Success
Remember, Safety First with DIY Ramps for Cats and Dogs
Also, take a look at this new guide to arthritis proof your home, it has many helpful tips applicable to Tripawds:
#ItsMyHomeToo Asks How to Arthritis Proof Your Home?
Let us know what works for your pack!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
My first rear amp Tripawd was a little Pug- she was never able to go up more than 3 or 4 stairs on her own after her amp. I had stairs up to my bed and furniture she was allowed on but she couldn't or wouldn't do those. She could go down stairs and got off the bed by herself using the stairs. It was fine at the time I lived in a single story house.
Now I live in a split level house and my current Tripawd Elly is a Pug mix rear amp who is a bit smaller than Maggie was. Elly flies up and down the stairs- she has since I adopted her at 10 months old, she is now 3.5 years old. I again have steps up to the bed and furniture and she uses them almost all the time- always going up, every once in awhile she still gets excited and jumps down. I suppose in a perfect world I would help her every time on the stairs but given her small size and by creaky old knees and back its just not practicable for me. And between the inside and outside we have 5 sets of steps, the longest flight is 8 steps.
I do realize that as she ages the stairs may become a problem. I keep her weight down and keep her fit and strong. I have taught her the 'wait' command when I am going up or down stairs and am coming right back to try save a little wear and tear.
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
We restricted Fallon from the stairs with a baby gate until her stitches came out. The first thing she did, right after we walked through the door coming back from that appointment was bound up those stairs!
We were surprised, as we didn't know what to expect. We have a harness that we use to spot her, slow her down, and make sure she has control. She's very capable of doing stairs.
She has been good and will ask for a ride when she wants one---Paul (and sometimes me, when I'm feeling strong) will carry her.
She used to sleep on the bed with us, but Maggie's taken that spot. Fallon will jump on the bed in the morning or sometimes during the day, we try to lift her down because it's pretty high.
Fallon 8/28/06--9/6/18. My Heart.
Fallon's left front leg was amputated due to osteosarcoma on 10/11/17.
Nothing But Love in Her Heart - dawn3g.tripawds.com
So out of the blue today 4 after surgery I took Poppy’s cone off her for a while. My mom was pottering upstairs I went to the bottom to shout up to her Poppy did three steps then went back down came back did another three steps and back down waited and then shot straight up them bless her she was panting loads after she’s not done that in three months since she was ran over. We carried her back down i am not sure we/she is ready to go down yet
Thanks for all the advice. Fortunately I have carpet treads on the stairs and a sling and harness to help out. I have baby gates ( you’d think I was a daycare😂) which I will now use on stairs. Looks like stairs for the bed and couch will help too. ❤️ this group.
We just adopted a 4 month old tripod golden retriever. Nora had a defect in her right front leg which was amputated about a month or so ago from what we were told. She already knew how to navigate a dog door so we're fine in that aspect. I'm not sure how to teach her how to use the stairs? We have a carpet runner on the stairs so that should help with traction . Any suggestions?
Hello Sunshine and Nora, welcome. Thank you for adopting this sweetie, she's so fortunate to find her way to you.
You ask a great question and I'm glad to read you have a carpet runner. That will help her tremendously.
One thing to keep in mind is that front-leg Tripawds have a harder time going down stairs than going up. And until she gets the hang of it, your best bet is to play it safe and block your stairs with baby gates at the top and bottom.
Does Nora have a Ruffwear Webmaster harness or similar device with a handle on top? The Webmaster is our favorite tool for aiding all Tripawds but especially front leggers. It allows you to walk alongside your pup on the stairs, while keeping a light hand on the top handle to ensure they don't take a stumble.
These posts explain more
Three Tripawd Tips for Pet Steps and Ramp Training Success
Remember, Safety First with DIY Ramps for Cats and Dogs
As does this video we took way back when Jerry lost his leg:
P.S. We hope you'll consider starting a new topic in Beyond Cancer just for Nora so that we can follow her adventures!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I just ordered a ruffwear webmaster harness . She's a size small now based on the sizing charts but I doubt she'll stay a size small for long. She has mastered going up the stairs just yesterday. She has no idea how to get down. We are carrying her for now since she's so young (4 months) and has only been an amputee for a month. As she grows and gets stronger I think she'll get there. I was hoping there some secret trick to it all!
sunshine62103 said
I just ordered a ruffwear webmaster harness ...
We have no order using the email address connected with your account. Did you use a different address?
Just trying to make sure your order hasn't fallen through the cracks if you purchased it from the Tripawds Gear Shop...
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I have a large greyhound who is two months post front leg amputation. At this point, he is going down the stairs just fine- cautious and always waits for me to go with him, but not up (opposite of the usual for front leg amputees) - he waits for a ride up every night. Frankly he was never great about going up even with four legs so I think this is how it will be for us. To teach your guy how to go down, I suggest starting by carrying her almost all the way down, then let her negotiate the last few steps. Once she is doing that comfortably, increase the number of steps she needs to do on her own until she is doing the entire flight. I have taught about 20 foster greyhounds how to negotiate steps and this tactic has worked for me.
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