Knowing how to help your dog get strong after amputation feels overwhelming. We get it. So the first thing to do is take your Tripawd’s fitness journey step-by-step, hop-by-hop.
April is National Canine Fitness Month, a great time to help your three-legged dog build the strength they need to thrive. Here are three simple, safe ways to get started.
3 Fitness Tips for Tripawd Dogs
1. Book a Free Rehab Evaluation First
Before starting any exercise program, or buying any Tripawd fitness gear, schedule an evaluation with a canine rehabilitation therapist. They’ll assess your dog’s strengths and limitations and create a custom fitness plan.
And the best part? Tripawds Foundation can pay for that first visit!
2. Shorten Your Walks (for now)
Your Tripawd may seem ready to hit the old trails, but long walks build endurance, not strength. What your dog actually needs first is a stronger core, back muscles, and better balance.
Your Tripawd needs to build strength before resuming those long walks.
After your vet clears your dog for activity, start at roughly one quarter of your previous walking distance.
If your dog sits down mid-walk or struggles to get home, that’s too far. Scale back, rest a couple of days, and try a shorter distance next time.
As Dr. Debbie Torraca, Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, puts it: “Core exercises and foundation work will be the key to every activity you do with your tripod.”
3. Walk and stand on uneven surfaces
Amputation surgery disrupts a dog’s proprioception, their innate sense of body position and movement. You can help rebuild it with two easy daily habits:
Walk your dog over low curbs, sticks, and uneven ground for a few minutes each day.
Stand your dog on wobbly surfaces like a couch cushion or a balance pad. You can use a couch cushion, or invest in some of the fitness equipment in the Tripawds Gear Shop.
Both exercises help your Tripawd develop the compensatory stance and gait they need for a missing limb.
The Balance Pad is a great beginner-friendly fitness tool for new amputee dogs. Here’s how it works.
You can also just do some simple weight shifting exercise too.
See how Senior Tripawd Penny did the weight shifting portion of exercise routine at home after her free evaluation.
Ready to Celebrate Canine Fitness Month?
The best gift you can give your Tripawd this April is a free rehab evaluation. Book your appointment, discover what your dog is truly ready for, and share your fitness story with the community!