Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Strangest thing happened yesterday evening. Elsie's front left leg became TOTALLY lame for about three hours. When I say totally lame, she would not put ANY weight on it at all. It just came on completely out of the blue. She'd just been mooching around, eating and snoozing, and suddenly she couldn't use her leg. I checked it very thoroughly – her pads, joints, everything and I couldn't find any source of pain, or any warmth or anything like that. At one point she seemed to be having slight spasms in her rear left leg, but her front leg was just useless, so much so that I had to help her lie down. She could not get from a sitting position to a lying one on her own.
I decided I would take her to the vet first thing in the morning. She didn't appear to be in pain (and Elsie generally lets you know), so I didn't feel it was a question of going to the emergency vet, though I did look up the details in case I needed them. (different practices share emergency cover in this area, so it depends who's on where you go). The Pie is not a natural Tripawd. I had to carry her to her water bowl, and then I carried her outside for a pee. It was pitch dark and cold and raining hard but when I put her down, she hobbled off into the darkness, freaking me completely as I couldn't see her and she didn't respond to my calling. Perhaps five minutes later (which felt like forever), she came trotting back, walking COMPLETELY NORMALLY.
She's been absolutely fine ever since.
So what do you think? Has anyone ever experienced anything like this? My suspicion is that her leg "went to sleep", when she was taking an extended nap after her Boxing Day lunch. And then maybe that freaked her out so she wouldn't use it? I mean it can't have remained numb for THREE HOURS can it? Writing this, I've actually just remembered a vaguely similar incident years ago, I mean before Meg was with us, so Elsie must have been less than two years old. I'd been out for the evening and came home to find that Elsie couldn't stand up. She just kept falling over. I thought she was having a stroke and rushed her to the emergency vet in a cab, only to discover she'd completely recovered by the time we got there. Is this just a Pie thing? Anyone?
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, November 2023, adopted January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Elsie Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
I have not heard of such a thing. It is very possible her leg did fall asleep. I mean I know they can pull muscles etc. I would keep a close eye on it and if it happens again take her and have her looked at. I agree it doesn't sound like she needed an ER clinic.
Thinking of all of you
xoxoxo
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
That's scary 😓 do you think maybe she twisted something or pulled it slightly out of joint? Maybe the run outside put it back where it belongs. Has she ever had a luxating patella problem? Hopefully it was a one time freak thing.
Xoxoxo
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
PIE!!!! OMD!!!! DO NOT SCARE YOUR MUM LIKE THAT.....OR US EITHER!!!
Thank goodness for Christmas Miracles though!! Not sure what little "miracle" you found when you went trotting off into the woods...IN THE DARK... Y YOURSELF...ON THREE LEGS!!! I jave a feeling it was the well known medicinal, DEER POOP!!
Actually Clare, this does remind me of incident in the past with a tripawd dog named BARRETT. After a nap, his "good" front leg was completely useless. Loke you, Heather checked out everything! No lain seemed to be involved.
I don't remew the amount of time that passed, but I know it was at least an hour before she got him to the Vet. Once he got out of the Waiting Room and into the Exam Room, his leg was MIRACULOUSLY better! The Vet determined that it simply had "gone to sleep".
So probably that.....or....JUST A PIE THING! 
Sending you love
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Yeah, the more I look at her Christmas picture, I think we can add "JUST A PIE THING" at the top of the @ist after the sleeping leg. She IS, afterall, THE ONE AND ONLY ELSIE PIE...And we adore her for it!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Hey Elsie Pie, I think the same thing happened to my Great Uncle Alex who was in his eighties. He went to the doctor thinking he had a stroke and the doctor said he probably slept on his arm. He lived another 10 years and died with a bunch of King George $100 dollar bills in the crisper in the fridge. CLAIRE, CHECK THE CHRISPER - there may be another Christmas miracle.
Obviously I have nothing helpful to add to this conversation. Maybe Elsie Pie wants a ride in the Megstar carriage? Great photo Elsie Pie!
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
KERREN!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 Your Uncle was a firecracker!!! Lpve that story!! 🙂
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
What first comes to mind is a pinched nerve or something out of wack in her neck or shoulder. While hopping around to potty maybe it re-adjusted itself. Impossible to diagnose of course.
When she was younger and couldn't stand sounds like the stroke's Tani would have- of course Tani was 14 at the time not 2.
I thought she was having a stroke and rushed her to the emergency vet in a cab, only to discover she'd completely recovered by the time we got there.
Sorry- this made me laugh. I did the same thing when Tani had her first stroke- she could not stand or control her movements at all. I grabbed her and put her in a basket in the front seat of my truck and called the vet from the road. I must have sounded quite dramatic describing her condition. When I got to the vet Tani was sitting up on her own in the basket. By the time we got into the room she was pretty much back to normal. On the way out she was wagging her tail and begging for treats!
I hope this is a one off occurrence!
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
Thanks everyone. It's really helpful to hear your thoughts and experience. Pie has continued being absolutely fine, bar a dicky tummy but that's from troughing sugar beet at every opportunity 🐷 No sign of any problem with her leg/shoulder at all, so here's hoping it was just a strange little one off. If it was a case of her leg going to sleep, it might be better if she could be coaxed out of the ridiculous sagbag cuddle cube she so loves to lie on/in and onto a more supportive bed. She has one. She just prefers the cuddle cube.
Kerren, I checked the salad crisper. No money, worst luck. But I did find a peculiar little package, brown paper, tightly bound with string and hidden under some baby gem lettuce. FOR ELSIE PIE ONLY was written on it in black felt tip. It smelled strongly of dried tripe... I LOVE the sound of your Great Uncle Alex.
Love everything I hear about Tani, Karen, and her indomitable spirit ❤️
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, November 2023, adopted January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Elsie Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
So glad it was just an odd moment for Elsie, she probably just laid on it wrong and took total advantage of being the star for a moment 🐵
Love and hugs to all of you, hope you had a wonderful Christmas!
Jackie 💘
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
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