Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi!
We are adopting a 15 pound terrier/dachshund mix rescue, about 5 years old. He is my profile picture above. Sweet Reggie is only missing a paw, not the entire leg. We can't tell how he lost it or how long ago that was, but he is very mobile.
Does anyone have advice for us? Is is best to use a chest harness instead of a regular leash for a little dog? He uses his "peg-leg" a little while walking about. How do I go about keeping the skin on that leg healthy and uninjured?
I appreciate any advice you can give. We are so excited to welcome Reggie int our home.
Thanks!
OMG! How adorable!!!!!!!
Welcome Reggie and Family!
I'm in the club of having a deformed front leg and never had an amputation! (I think it's a club of 1 so far but you are welcome to join!)
I had my Angel Comet for 12 years and when she was a puppy her toenails on her deformed leg would touch the ground and bled. She had no feeling in the leg or foot to speak of. So, what I did was buy some of that stretchy gauze type tape and would gently wrap her foot when we went out for a walk. When she grew taller, the leg had really atrophied and was much smaller so it wasn't really an issue BUT I found putting a very small dog bootie (the velcro type with leather soles) on her bad paw worked well.
I would be happy to send my remaining booties to you but if your Reggie is only 15lbs, I think they'd be too big. The stretchy gauze tape should work fine. Just make sure you don't put it on too tight.
Do you know if Reggie has any feeling in his leg? Your regular vet will probably try to talk you into removing the leg. I would have removed Comet's but she got very sick when I adopted her. I didn't want to put her through any more surgeries at that time. Needless to say, she never had it removed. In hindsight, it would have been easier without Comet's deformed leg but I fell in love with it too. I really don't think (but I could be wrong), that it hampered her by having it. She, too would use it since she could move her shoulder. It was lifeless but she could paddle stuff with it and sometime rest on it. That deformed leg was who she was/is in my mind!
Bless your for adopting and tell us more about Reggie!
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.
OMD, he's so cute!
We love new non-cancer tripawds! Don't have any advice as Abby was a full-amp, but just wanted to welcome you to the site.
We will look forward to hearing more of his adventures. Looks like you have a real sweetie there who is going to bring tons of love and joy to your home! Congrats!
All the best,
Jackie, Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Like Jackie, I don't have advice for you regarding Reggie's leg, but I also want to welcome you aboard! Thank you for rescuing, and thank you for knowing that legs don't make the dog. Our rescues seem to have a special connection to us and appreciate our companionship so much. I'm sure Reggie will be a wonderful addition to your family. Please give us more details about him and pictures. Around here, we're suckers for pictures!
Shari
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
Welcome! Welcome! Hope you don't mind I moved your post here, just thought it was a better fit for this forum which is about non-cancer Tripawds.
Hey Reggie & Family, we're glad you joined us.
Comet is definitely the expert with the missing paw issues. We also have another Tripawd friend, Edward, who is a Shiba Inu that's missing a paw. His Mom doesn't post a lot here but you can find her in Facebook. She is also a prosthetic designer who has tried working with a prosthetic for Edward and she can tell you about those struggles.
My biggest piece of advice is to keep Reggie very lean. Being slightly underweight is super beneficial for Tripawds, especially for Doxies who are known for their back issues. If you have the funds, you may want to have him evaluated by a certified rehab therapist in order to avoid any issues later on down the road.
Harness or flat collar, it's up to you. Some dogs do better with one, and not they other. Start with a flat collar and if that doesn't work, try the Ruff Wear Webmaster.
Hope this helps! When does he come to his forever home?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks for the well wishes everyone!
We get Reggie around September 1th. He is currently being treated for heartworma nd needs to be very calm until he has finished treatments. We have 2 young children, so we figured it was best for him to stay with his foster until he is better.
Once I get him I will definitely take him to a vet nearby and try to figure out how to best care for him. The rescue operation seemed to think his missing paw was accident related, not a deformity, but i can't tell with my naked eye, but maybe my vet will be able to. The vet he is currently seeing is almost a good hour from home, so that won't work.
I know that he was left at a gassing compound in El Campo TX by his former "family." He has shown nothing but sweetness and good temper. My guess is that they knew that they couldn't afford to treat his heartworms, since they obviously couldn't afford heartworn prevention, and that they thought it would be kinder to leave him at a shelter than to let him eventually succumb to his heartworms. Very sad story overall.
I will try the flat collar, and see what his vet recomends about a possible "bootie". I can't wait to have him with us and elarn more about him and all the wonderful things he is able to do!
Thanks again for the advice, and the direction to this forum. I admit I was a little confused navigating the site for the first time.
-Julie
Thanks for the update! Be sure to log in so your forum posts don't require moderation. Once logged in you will also see the grey "Admin Bar" across the top of all pages of every blog with the Tripawds menu at far left which should make navigating all the blogs easier. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask in the Tech Support forum .
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Can't wait to see pics of Reggie when you get him!
I forgot to speak of the collar question (got caught up in my own story of Comet, I guess!)
Again, in hindsight…I would use a harness for walks. Here's why: Since they need to hop, they will have to get momentum to go on walks and will go faster than a regular walking dog. Hence, they will pull more. It will save on Reggie's neck later in life if there is no strain. For me, the corded Flexi leash was the best. (I meant tape, not corded) Get a good one, not a cheap knock off – they tend to break.
When Comet got older, she had neck problems. It was supposedly from a neck disc infection. I got very, very cautious about her neck after that. A lot of times I would just put a ribbon on her neck if she was in the house (with a big pink bow because she loved being pretty!) Here's a pic of her as a puppy with the stretchy gauze (it didn't come in pink at that time!)
And below is her famous pink bow!
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 would have to agree with using a harness. They do move more quickly on three legs - a balance thing, and it will be easier on her neck to be in a harness.
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.
Hello!
Can't wait to see some more pics of him!
He looks full of personality
I'll be checking in to celebrate his home coming with you!
Leah
Wyatt - non cancer Tripawd
~ missing front left paw ~
10 pounds and bulletproof!
Hi everyone!
Reggie comes home to us on Friday! I just spoke to the animal rescue and he has done just fine with his heart worm treatments. He has gotten more energy, and apparently enjoys patrolling the grounds. I think we can rule out that he is a terrier mix, since she told me that his bark sounds a little like a Beagle. (not part of my grand plan, but I am already in love with him so it is too late!) She also said that he is very timid when people raise their voices, so she is pretty sure that he has been mistreated in some way. He cowers when she verbally corrects some of the younger dogs at the rescue.
I am going Thursday night to pick up his leash, collar and other necessities. We are going to wait until then to tell the kids that he is coming to live with us. One day of over-excited children is about all that we can take. They haven't forgot about him, though. They keep asking when we can go back and visit Reggie, and my son has asked several times if Reggie is doing better so he can be adopted. I don't think that they can be more excited than my husband and I! I will be sure to take more pictures this weekend and start a blog covering all of Reggie's great adventures.
Thanks for the advice and support!
Congratulations!That's very cool! I'm so happy for Reggie and the rest of the family! Isn't it great when kids don't know what's up and you can make them so excited? And the fact that they want Reggie to have a good home will just make it better. I think you should set up a video recorder when you bring Reggie home. That might be priceless. 
Shari
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
Oh boy! I'm excited for you! A beagle mix... We had a beagle, in fact my family has had many beagles. They are great dogs with super funny personalities. Total chow hounds and have a tendency to start following their noses to the exclusion of all else, but at least with a tripawd you ought to be able to catch him if he makes a break for it!
Can't wait to hear about his homecoming and see some pics of him with his new family!
Jackie, Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Oh, I'm excited for you too! Now you have to deal with over-excited tripawd people!!!
My little Rocket aka monkeybutt is a beagle mix (with schnauzer) according to his DNA. I can attest to them being fun mixed with being a bit of a pest which is cute ( and sometimes not)! But as he matures, he is trying to be a good boy.
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.
Yeah! I'm so excited for you!
So glad to hear it's (almost) time for him to come home.
He is a trooper getting over the heart-worm issue.
You sound like me two weeks ago - going to get the supplies the night before I picked up Lil' Wyatt.
Sounds like our dogs have some of the same fear/shyness issues to deal with along with being a tripawd.
Reggie hit the dog lottery! I aways think the luckiest dogs get adopted by families with young children.
Look foreward to seeing more of Reggie soon!
Wyatt - non cancer Tripawd
~ missing front left paw ~
10 pounds and bulletproof!
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