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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Hi! We are new here. We met our dog Portland at our local shelter over the weekend and fell in love with him! He is a 10 month old German Shepherd lab mix. He was brought to the shelter with a limp. They found out that his front right elbow was shattered and healed improperly. He is getting the leg amputated on wednesday. I am excited fot him to not be in daily pain forever but Im so nervouse about taking care of him until he is all healed up. I'm so glad I found this website. I hope we are ready for this.
Hello and welcome, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
Congratulations on your new pup!
You might want to look through The Required Reading List or download one or more of the eBooks from the Tripawds Library - lots of of info in both on what to expect with amputation and recovery.
The recovery period after amputation can be bumpy, full of ups and downs. But the luck pups who seem to sail through are usually the youngsters! Often time the biggest problem they present is keeping them quiet while they recover from surgery, especially when they have been in pain.
You want to make a small recovery area for Portland without furniture to jump up on. Any slippery floors should be covered with throw rugs or yoga mats- traction is a huge thing for Tripawds, especially new ones.
I hope we are ready for this.
I hope you are too....and I mean ready to deal with a 10 month old puppy! I adopted my current Tripawd when she was 10 months old. Elly is a small pug mix who was hit by a car when she was 7 months old. This time I didn't have to deal with the recovery period- she was wound up and ready to go! Thank dog she is part pug so I can keep up with her!
Keep us posted on Portland's surgery and let us know if you have any questions.
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
What great folks you are for adopting and keeping your pup with some health issues! I found that with my Thisbe, she was walking on three legs wonderfully after a few hours of her surgery. That night when the pain meds wore off and she was healing up was pretty rough. I slept on the floor with her and we laid awake all night together. After that first night though- everything got better! She is so great on 3 legs- dogs are adaptable, and instinctually know how to shift their weight and get moving on three legs! I purchased the EZY dog harness from this website, and it helped immensely because it has a handle on top for helping them in and out of cars, on couches, going to the bathroom, etc if needed. Thisbe weighs about 45 lbs, but there are all difft sizes and adjustments on them. Portland is lucky to have you! You can do this! In a few weeks, you won't even remember him on 4 legs!
Kendra and Thisbe Sue
Bless your heart! Congrats on your new baby ... Portland! I love that name! No doubt you will be great pawrents.
Definitely download the guides that Karen linked for you - they will SO helpful! And there are lots of shepards here so I am sure you will hear much more!!! And photos. We can't wait to see photos!
Hugs!
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
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