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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Hello,
we have had met this girl as she was 4 months old - lost her front leg due to a car accident as she was 2 months old - she has been full of energy, happy dog - in her mind looked like she does not care about the loss - I fell in love with her and not thinking much wanted to take her home - but she was then at my friends home with a huge garden - and i live in a flat (with elevator but still it is a flat...) - and i was almost sure she will stay there and become a happy and loved dog - but they took her only for a part time and after 6 weeks returned to the dog shelter where she spent 2 other months- now she is about 1 year old - and was adopted in november and became a part of a family with 2 kids and one dog - however due to the problems with the first dog she is back to the shelter again...
I am considering taking her - giving her a loving and safe place but i have so many questions...
1. Flat and not a big house with a yard... (however there is an elevator, and in case it does not work it is second floor...)
2. we live in poland - there is not so much support for 3 legs - there are some physiotherapist already and i can lear how to do a massage for her... but any other support and knowledge barely to see - we do not know how to take care of 3pawds...
3. is there like a predetermined length of time that is safe/ok for a front leg tripawd to hike around? a general "maximum" they can work up to? I have no idea what we could expect going in. I want to be fair to her and honest with ourselves. we love traveling, hiking, riding a bike - she is a shepherd dog - so what are her limitations? is it difficult to go to the beach because of a sand, what about woods with uneven ground with holes etc. etc...
Im trying to get a feel for what her life with us could look like and what it cant. Its hard to understand what her limitations are going to be - no one can say t here. This will help us decide about considering our family for her.
thank you in advance
noemi
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Hi Noemi, welcome! Thank you for wanting to adopt this girl! I'll share my thoughts with you below:
1. Flat and not a big house with a yard... (however there is an elevator, and in case it does not work it is second floor...)
That's OK! We have raised three German Shepherds in a camper trailer, and all they want is to be with us. Big dogs and yards are nice, but not essential. Shepherds are especially clingy dogs and like being with people more than being left outside in a yard. As long as you can spend time with her outside in nature a few times a day, this dog can do fine. All she wants is a steady home and a human to watch after. The size of a yard does not matter.
2. we live in poland - there is not so much support for 3 legs - there are some physiotherapist already and i can lear how to do a massage for her... but any other support and knowledge barely to see - we do not know how to take care of 3pawds...
That's OK! We have members around the world making a go of it, even in India! You sound like you have a willingness to learn, and I can point you to DIY physio resources like this and this.
3. is there like a predetermined length of time that is safe/ok for a front leg tripawd to hike around? a general "maximum" they can work up to? I
Every dog is different and that's one reason we recommend an evaluation with a physiotherapist. Tripawds Foundation can even pay for your first rehab visit , even if it's done online. These experts can tell you what kind of activity is best, but in general, a Tripawd dog should walk for no more than 10-15 minutes at a time, three times a day if possible. We always recommend dog strollers so that you can extend your walks while allowing your dog to rest.
I hope you adopt this pup! Be sure to check out our articles about adoption:
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