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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Thinking of Adopting a Tri - But I Have a Second Floor Apt. Thoughts?
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Member Since:
12 June 2012
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12 June 2012 - 5:43 pm
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Hello.  Someone kindly directed me to your site when I started thinking about adopting a dog who got stuck in my brain after pawing through hundreds of dogs on Petfinder, Craigslist, and local shelters.

I'm having trouble contacting the shelter, which is 5 hours away [posted about this in the Rescue Forum] so I only have limited info on him. Here he is http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/22864415 

If I manage to make contact with the shelter, would anyone kindly give thoughts on adopting this Mastiff with a foreleg amputation to a second level home? Is this a bad idea? I do have 4 legged Mastiff experience and I'm aware of their hip issues, but I don't know if daily step walking would strengthen him or wear on him. There are about 13 steps to the outdoors. I have never had a tripawd before.

I want to help this boy, but certainly not cause more injury.

Thanks.

knoxville, tn
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12 February 2010
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12 June 2012 - 6:24 pm
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well, to us, thirteen steps seems like alot of steps to have to maneuver everytime you need to pee or poop...but, maybe this pup is up to the challenge. are they 'open backed' steps, or closed steps. i didn't see what they estimate his age at, which might make the difference too. definitely consider a ruffwear harness , so you can have a good grip on his handle as he goes up and down - that would help. let us know what you decide, he sure is handsome!

charon & spirit gayle

Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included).  She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.

Love Never Ends

http://etgayle

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12 June 2012
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12 June 2012 - 6:33 pm
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Thanks for your reply.

They are 'open backed' steps. Does that make a difference in a good way or a bad way? I could consider transferring to a first floor apartment. That would be a huge, huge move, but it's possible. Right now, I can't even get in touch with whoever is keeping him! You'd think they would want to help him get adopted?

sad

knoxville, tn
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12 June 2012 - 6:55 pm
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the only thing i was thinking was that some dogs are skiddish when they can see through the back of the steps, instead of seeing a solid riser in the back....  i know it's frustrating dealing with rescue groups - too few volunteers, too many pups and kitties, too few dollars to help, too frustrating!!!  hope you can find someone to give you some info on this guy - let us know what happens!!!

 

charon & spirit gayle

Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included).  She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.

Love Never Ends

http://etgayle

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12 June 2012 - 7:25 pm
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Thanks! Will do!

Oakland, CA
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30 April 2012
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12 June 2012 - 10:05 pm
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He's so handsome!

We have (indoor) stairs that Holly has to navigate every day - bedroom is upstairs as is my home office, where she generally hangs out during the day.  She's a front amp, 9 years old, and about 65 pounds at this point, so definitely smaller than this fella.  It was hard when she was first recovering (we didn't let her come upstairs for about a week), so at least you would get to skip that part!  Going up definitely takes more effort than it used to, and the other dogs run by her, but she just keeps going, slow and steady.  Going down is harder, but still not too bad.  Again, much slower than she used to be - she's very careful, and has learned how to stay right against the wall so that she can brace herself if she needs to.

She has definitely changed her calculation as to what is worth going up and down stairs...she used to run down when her dad got home, but now she just hangs out upstairs and thumps her tail (she knows he will come to her!), and if I go downstairs during the day she usually stays upstairs and just waits for me to come back.  Other than that, we haven't had a lot of problems....it's doable.

Ours are open-backed, which scares me to death - I'm worried that she will somehow slip and end up with a leg through the stairs (I've never seen any evidence that this might happen, it's just my own paranoia).

Overall, I would say it's definitely doable...it takes a little longer, but other than that, it's ok.  Of course, if he ended up with horribly arthritic hips or something like that, the calculation might be different.

 

Good luck!

Alex & Holly

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12 June 2012 - 10:11 pm
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Thanks. Would you recommend one of the supports they sell to help this guy Barley maneuver the stairs? Are there different ones depending on if they are a front amputee or a back amputee?

Thanks!

Angelique

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12 June 2012 - 10:19 pm
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By the way...I have left a message for the local Humane Society in Newnan Georgia, to see if they will check in on him and confirm his situation.

If I end up bringing him home, would you recommend getting puppy pads or turf grass on the balcony for the first few days til he gets settled?

Oakland, CA
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30 April 2012
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12 June 2012 - 11:45 pm
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I hate to admit it, but I have never gotten a harness.  I know that the ruffwear harness has been really helpful for others here.  I had planned on getting one soon after she got home and we were no longer using a sling, but when we tried to use the sling to help her up and down the stairs, it felt more like we were tripping her up than helping her.  However, I think that that was partially our ineptitude.  Also, I think that the handle on the back of the harness helps a lot with this problem.  I likely will still get one at some point to have on her just in case.  With such a big guy, it might be even more necessary.  We can help her in and out of the car without too much trouble, but that would be much more difficult if she weighed twice as much! winker

As I understand it, the ruffwear works equally well for front and back amps.  You might want to check out the gear blog - it has a lot of helpful info. on harnesses.

Las Vegas, Nevada
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14 August 2009
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13 June 2012 - 12:14 am
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I think it's great you are wanting to adopt this cute guy! 

I would highly recommend if you are seriously considering it, think about moving to the first level.  With his size, you and him are going to miserable climbing stairs.  It can be done.  But it's going to be so very, very hard if this is the only access outside.  He's a giant breed dog and probably weighs more than you according to your photo.  The shelter may not even allow you to adopt him because of that and also that you are 5 hours away.

 

If you can move, then I think it would work out!   We didn't use a harness either and had indoor stairs but we had a 39lb dog.  As she aged we carried her up the stairs.

Her Retired AvatarComet - 1999 to 2011

She departed us unexpectedly  January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.

She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.

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