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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Our big boy, Biggs( a 5.5 yr. , 165lb. Mastiff) had his front leg removed due to osteosarcoma yesterday at WSU vet. hospital. We had him here last week for tests and learned it was only in the leg and found nowhere else(chest&abdomen). We will be back in a couple weeks for radiation therapy. We are getting ready to go see him for the first time in 36 hrs. Will be hard to see him without the limb, but we know we have relieved his pain. We'll have to figure out which harness to get to help him in adapting to post surgery life or any tips in general. Any suggestions?
Welcome and best wishes for Biggs! You'll find many examples of happy mastiffs and other three legged giant breeds here in the forums and Tripawds Blogs .
bac72 said
We'll have to figure out which harness to get...
The Ruffwear Web Master is the most popular all-purpose support harness we recommend for most Tripawds. The Get A Grip harness is designed specifically for giant breed dogs and those needing a little extra help. Visit the Tripawds Gear blog for many reviews and recommendations, and browse the Gear Shop for detals and demo videos. You'll find a few posts to help you decide which harness is best for you and Biggs, including...
gear.tripawds.com/2014/03/13/best-harnesses-for-three-legged-dogs/
gear.tripawds.com/2012/04/06/which-harness-is-right-for-my-dog/
While you wait for comments from others, use the Advanced Search above to refine your forum search results with specific phrases, and you're sure to find lots of helpful feedback. You can also search all blogs here . Or, consider downloading the Tripawds e-books for fast answers to common concerns and feel free to call the toll-free Tripawds Helpline anytime!
Please keep us posted, your future forum posts will not require moderation.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
My best tip to give you is to treat him like nothing is even wrong with him!!
Stay excited and encourage him when he makes his way around as a tripawd while he adapts! Dogs pick up on human's emotions and it can affect how he does with his recovery.
When our Hazel had to have her front leg amputated due to osteosarcoma we were so overwhelmed and nervous about how she would get around. We babied her for the first couple days after we brought her home from the Vet hospital and then we got her back on her routine as if she never lost her leg. Everyday she got better and better, Ian my fiance took her on walks every morning to build her stamina with three legs, starting off with short walks of course and gradually taking longer ones.
It has been over a month since she had her surgery and she has had 2 chemo sessions and she is RUNNING, jumping on the couch, playing ball like she always used too, and is just so her self again!
Patience and encouragement will go a long way!
Much love and hugs to you and Biggs! Post pictures!!!
Hi Biggs and family 🌺
You'be got great advice, I'd only add you need to pay extra care with traction if you have slippery floors.
Most of us got runners, rubber underlay and/or yoga mats and created paths through the areas our babies use in the house.
It is crucial for them not to slip whilst hoping, not only it can be dangerous but also it is a big confidence killer when they are still adapting to life on 3.
Sending you and Biggs hugs and cuddles 😘😘😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
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