Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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So I am really excited about Chloe finally being able to move up with me, but I am am worried about what will happen when I have to leave her outside all day when I have to go to class.Â
Brief history:
At my parent's house she stays outside with her sister Rocket when they are at work and my parents let her in when they come home to sleep inside (my dad gives them a walk everyday). However when they went on a business trip together, my brother had to take care of them for a week (not the most responsible person in the world) and for her safety she stayed outside with Rocket all day/all night because my brother has a tendency to leave doors open (to the outside all the time) when he is at home (don't want her wandering around town). Â My dad noticed this afternoon (got back yesterday) that she managed with 3 legs, to tear a huge hole in part of the wooden gate fence. Â It is not the fence boards itself, but the plywood backing, so just one layer of the fence. She didn't do that before her regular routine was messed up with my parents out of town, but it has me worried.
Â
Now:
Chloe is scheduled to move up with me this Saturday and I have nearly everything ready, just need to buy her a dog house. Â I do have class 2 times a week all day and will have to leave her outside for about 8-9 hours (no dog door in the town house and I am pretty sure the landlords would not be ok with putting in a dog door). Â
I have already decided that I will wake up really early on class days and take her to the nearby beach to let her run around and expend lots of energy. I want her pooped when I have to leave. Â I do have an everlasting treat ball with refillable inserts, but I don't know if she will like it or how long it will take her to decimate it (she is pretty tenacious chewer). Â One of my roommates comes home for lunch, so maybe I will see if she is OK with letting Chloe in the house for that hour or so and playing fetch with her until she is pooped? Â This way her day is broken up and she's only unattended 7-8 hours.
However, I am deathly afraid that she will decide to paw at the fence or the glass doors and cause more than $500 worth of damage (part of dog security deposit). Â I still think it is better she is here with me since she will get lots more attention, but I am still worried about any destruction she might do if it is related to separation anxiety.
Please Help!Â
-Chloe's mom (
 not what I want to be worrying about when my birthday is on thursday and chloe comes up saturday)
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
Don't know the cost of a door, but what if you remove the one belonging to the landlord and store it somewhere. Get a new/used door for you and Chloe and put a doggie-door in that? Do you think the option of inside or outside might make enough of a difference in her emotional comfort?
I will suggest that when she arrives you find brief amounts of time to leave her (that is going to be soooo hard for you) but at least she will get the idea that you do come back, it may ease her mind. Maybe just for 5 minutes to start, increasing as time passes. This poor girl has had many changes. Good luck you have managed to work out a whole host of problems to be together, I am sure you will figure this out as well. It will be so nice for both of you to create a home together now.
Spirit Angel JD's mom
JD
One Tough Girl
(1999-2010)
-Diagnosed with osteosarcoma of her left front leg –
-Amputation July 23 2010 –
-The cancer didn't get her, but she is gone-
-She fought the cancer and loved life till bloat brought her down August 29th, 2010-
Now she watches over her mom and two new sisters, the Quad-Paws Serena and Maya
I do not know if her being inside or not would be of any help, but unfortunately it is a sliding glass door, so I don't know that I could take it out. Â Definitely a good idea for sure in the future when I am done with grad school and move elsewhere. I have been reading forever online about tips to diminish separation anxiety and like you said, they suggest practicing behaviors with them such as leaving them outside for short periods of time (before destructive behaviors occur) and gradually increase time length.
It will be hard for me, but I would rather work to train her to be ok with not being with me all the time than have her terrorize the backyard property. Â It is a pretty good sized yard and there are gophers she can hunt...maybe that will keep her busy? There will be the huge hole problem in the dirt and grass then...
I know that I will have to be very consistent on training her once she comes...
-Chloe's mom
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
Chloe's Mom,
They do make dog door inserts for sliding glass doors- you can google it and find many options. I'm not sure on cost (I know you are a student). My dad and I made one for my parents house, but I think the kind you buy might be more secure. You could make one pretty cheaply out of plywood and a regular dog door- but it wouldn't look all that good.
However- if Chloe has developed some distructive tendencies being inside might not be the best either?
I've been lucky with my dogs over the years- no separation anxiety to deal with so I can't offer much there.
Â
Karen
Karen-Thanks for the tip on the door inserts for sliding glass doors! I have no idea if it would be better or worse to have her in the house. Â For all I know she might paw at the front door until it is raw. I think I will just stick to having her outside a couple times a week for now to see how she fares. Â
However, I am totally screwed if a firework goes off in the middle of the day. She freaks out and will go nuts regardless.  My dad just called me and told me about the fence story in more detail (only texted me a picture before).  He was just warning me that if she does significant damage here (hopefully not) then she will have to go back home with my parents.  His intention is just to help me figure out ways to potentially mitigate the problem, but now I feel like I have no clue what to do with her.  But now I just feel worse.
Going through this is actually much harder than her amputation because I can't be with her 24/7 and I don't know what is going to happen. It is so lame that I am crying in my room because I want what is best for her and I don't know if I am doing that.  I was so sure everything was  going to work out and now I am second guessing myself.
-Chloe's mom
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
Nicole, please don't cry, we know you can come up with some great solutions for Chloe. As a primo S.A. dog myself, I can totally relate to what Chloe goes through when her routine is distrupted. I myself have done some pretty crazy things to the house, especially during my first few weeks with my new pack.
Is there any way at all you can take her to a doggy daycare place on those days you are at school? I know it's an added expense, but the cost might be worth it to prevent damage to the house.Â
Exercising her and tiring her out before you go is definitely mandatory.
My friend Sarah, a superstar dog trainer, has some Separation Anxiety tips on her website, I hope this helps. Scroll down under "Related Content" for a list of tips.
Good luck, we know you can do it and you'll both make a GREAT team!
Wyatt Ray Dawg . . . The Tripawds Leg-A-Cy Continues!
Read all about my adventures at my Tripawds Blog
I will look into doggy daycare too, I will see if I can afford it even once a week. Â I do have savings I can dip into, but I would prefer not to. Doesn't help that I am a full time student with no job... I am fortunate to have grandparent $$ for grad school, but I really have to spend wisely.
Thanks for the tips. I am sure I am overreacting, but well I am an inherent worrier over things of which I have no control.
-Chloe's mom
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
Yeah, I agree don't cry! You never know...she may have been destructive from lack of attention! And keep in mind, most of us work and leave our dogs at home alone for 8-10 hours. (not me now but I have in the past)
I aways left mine in the house and I rented at that time and the only time I had a problem was leaving one outside one day. She chewed the frame off the door to try to get in. I'd try indoors for a grocery store run and see what happens. She'll probably just sleep. Or you can try a crate (Rocket stays in a crate when I'm not home). They cry at first but then get used to it and just sleep. I video taped him once and he milled around in it for a while and laid down. (after having a screaming fit when I left)
Okay and last...get a boyfriend that is handy with tools! Use your noggin' and start batting your eyelashes at any guy that looks like a handyman! HEY!  You think I mowed my own lawn when I was young and single? Hell no! And who do you think fixed the frame of the door one chewed off?!!!! 
Â
 Â
Comet - 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.
I have used the sliding glass door adapter, it worked great. I believe they even have them at PetCo. You could try Craigslist.
Maybe a human babysitter would be cheaper than doggiedaycare, at least Chloe would be able to be in her own home.
If she was a 'therapy dog' she could wear a nice official vest and go to school with you. Those dogs can go anywhere - restaurants, public buildings even schools. I would be happy to write a recomendation letter for Chloe- her stories have been good therapy for me 
As I said you have managed all of your hurdles so far, this will work out too. Hang in you are two tough chicks!
Spirit Angel JD's mom
JD
One Tough Girl
(1999-2010)
-Diagnosed with osteosarcoma of her left front leg –
-Amputation July 23 2010 –
-The cancer didn't get her, but she is gone-
-She fought the cancer and loved life till bloat brought her down August 29th, 2010-
Now she watches over her mom and two new sisters, the Quad-Paws Serena and Maya
Cometdog-I do think that part of the problem was her not getting enough attention at home either. Â Ironically it has gotten better (with my parents) since she has been a tripawd. Â There will be no lack of spoiling or attention once she is here with me. Â I am hoping that with a rigorous morning exercise on days I have class (yes rigorous because she still has the energy of a 4 legged puppy), lots of toys (rotate), training (mental stimulation), and only having to be outside once in a while, that she will be fine.
JD's mom- I did look into trying to train her as a therapy dog! Apparently I need a legitimate disability like hearing or I need her to retrieve certain things...And I read they do extensive background checks on the person with the "disability" to make sure you aren't a person who is trying to take your dog everywhere you go... Too bad its not the reverse, she is the one with the "disability" and she needs a human guide person.  (I don't think of her being a tripawd as being disabled, but I would so use that for sympathy purposes).  And I am glad Chloe's stories have helped you 🙂
Thanks so much everyone! I do feel much better because I am more prepared with ways to mitigate certain problems with ideas like: investing in sliding glass dog door, shamelessly flirting with a handyman 
, impersonating a disabled person 
, sending her to doggie daycare (WILL DO on rainy days), and of course spending the time with her that she needs.
You guys really are the best!!
-Chloe's mom
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
I, too, am a big advocate of crate training. My husband - not so much. If done right and used consistantly it becomes their safe haven. They will go there on their own when they need a rest. Yes, she may stress a bit at first, but give her a great toy and let her have it each time she goes in there. Leave her for short periods at first. Trouble stayed in a crate her first 18 months because we never knew what she would destroy while we were gone. Then one day it stopped and the crate has been put away ever since. Duke still has a crate and will crate himself at will. We do not have to crate him either when gone. We separate them when we are gone, but have no worry they will destroy anything.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
There are a couple of other things you could try. One is a product called Rescue Remedy. It is a natural mixture of lavender and other herbs that can help some dogs relax. Another somewhat newer option is a DAP collar. This collar contains Dog Appeasement Pheromone which is also naturally calming. The company also makes a spray and a room diffuser.
If all else fails you could consider drug therapy. Reconcile is a chewable fluoxetine tablet (doggy Prozac) that really helps dogs that have a serotonin imbalance in their brain which causes anxiety and other behavioral problems. It is fairly safe but I would do bloodwork before you start it and know that it can take a couple of weeks to work. Only a few dogs actually need drug therapy but for the ones that do the transformation can be quite miraculous!
Pam
I don't have much to add - except that we'll keep fingers and paws crossed for you and Chloe! Â And I'm thankful for all the great advice here as well, since Zuzu has separation anxiety and there are good tips here. Â Holly never had that - and she will go into her crate off and on all day long to sleep. Â Zuzu is learning to like her crate more, and I HAVE to use it or she chews the baseboard.
We're sending lots of pawsitive thoughts to you and Chloe! Â Best of luck!
Holly, Zuzu and Susan
Holly joined the world of tripawds on 12/29/2009. She has a big little sister, Zuzu, who idolizes Holly and tries to make all of her toys into tripawds in Holly's honor. And she's enjoying life one hop at a time!
http://anyemery.....ipawds.com
Oh yeah, you may want to consider talking to Dawn, Miles' Mom, and compare notes. Dawn can also tell you about how Miles is doing with the drug therapy that Tazziedog mentioned. Her last post shows that he's still struggling with S.A. but you have to remember he comes from a very traumatic past. At least Chloe is going from one loving home to another.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
If you decide to look into a human dog sitter, you may want to check and see if Critter Sitters is in your area. We use them for Chloe, whether it's for one evening or for a few days at a time. It's well worth knowing that Chloe is at home, on her own couch, and with her toys.
Keep us posted! I know things will work out!
Cathy/Jane/Spirit Skyler/the other Chloe 🙂
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