Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I have a 2 day old pup who went to the vet yesterday, with what I thought would just be a bandage issue, but after an x-ray, the vet said he has a deformed leg with the radius missing and it's very very rare here in New Zealand and nothing I google is giving me info but I can't across this site and saw some wonderful stories of dogs coping with three legs, which has been very encouraging. I have obviously decided not to have the wee fella put to sleep simply because I feel he deserves a chance. But my vet was concerned that being a rottie/mastiff breed, once he has grown, he'd have all sorts of other issues. I am leaning towards having his whole leg amputated as the vet made me concerned that if he was left with the stump, he'd fall and cut the stump area and graze it all the time and I don't think that would be fair on him. Despite only being a few days old and being the runt of the litter, he is active, loves his bottle and seems very content. My only real concern is that if he has the leg removed, or even now, being a big breed, if he'd be ok as there were comments from the vet about arthritis and with it being his front leg, it takes 60% of his body weight on his front. I guess my question isn't really a question, but the experiences of others and if there have been issues down the track. Please keep in mind, this 'deformity' is pretty much unheard of in NZ. I understand that being so young and not having the use of his leg - he'd adapt well, so it's not that really, more issues that might arise later on. If anyone has thoughts, comments, experiences, I would greatly appreciate hearing them 
Thank you.
Hi Lycia! You are a wo derful advocate for your pup and clearly bonded already!
I can ony tell you there are LOTS of Rotties, Mastiffs, Retreivers, German Shepards, Great Danes...and the list goes on...whojave had amputati s and have adapted very well.
Most of the amputees here are due to a horrible disease and lomgevity isn't as frequent as we'd all like. However, there are some large breed dogs who have gone several years with no issues whatsoever. Search Queen Nova, a Great Dane on the site. Also, there are many dogs here who'have had amputations where no life threatening disease s were issues.
Wyatt Ray , our tripawds spokesdog, is a tripawd larger breed, very active, dog.
Others will chime ini with specific links, etc., but joint supplements, monitoring his activities as far as not jumping off "stuff" and landing hard, making sure plentyof "rest stops" are frequent during runs and playing, etc. are all ways to make sure all legs remain strong. By searching the site, you will see recommended exercises, etc. to increase core strength in your dog
I'm certaily no vet, but many here will tell you that, with proper care, large breed dogs do just fine and would also agree that to leave a stump jist causes issues down the road.
Check out Jerry's book, Three legs and a Spare as a wonderful resourse.
Again, otjers will guide you towards the proper link, but we do have puppies here born with issues that would require amputation when they are old enoug...Ithink at least six months is required...and they do jist fine.
Soooooo, with proper care, which you clearly are committed to providing, you will find that large dogs can live a full and happy life well into their senior years.
Cannot wait to see pics of your sweet up! I can smell the upy breath all the way over here! Love it!
Take care and PLEASE keep us posted on the journey of this delight strong ittle fella'!
Huge ((((((((HUGS))))))))) TO YOU BOTH!
Saly and Hapoy Hannah ( a 120 lb. Bull Mastiff)
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!
Hi Lycia. So glad you found us over here. So many of the dogs here have had cancer, but there are others who are here because of birth defects or accidents. There are a number of stories in the Beyond Cancer section and more still in the Size and Age Matters section.
Our Murphy is a lab/Chessie cross who lost a leg after being hit by a car. He was over 90 pounds at the time of his accident. He also had hip replacement surgery on his remaining hip and is doing so well now that it is hard to believe. He may not be quite as big as some of the other large dogs here, but I know that some of the Rotties aren't much bigger than that.
Your pup is one lucky little guy to have you in his corner. Does he have a name yet? And, as Sally said, we love pictures!
Kathi nd Murphy
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
Helllooooo! We're so glad you joined us. We have a few members in New Zealand so you're in great company!
I hope you don't mind but I moved your post here to "Beyond Cancer" because we have some great examples of life on three legs of dog who don't have cancer, and our "Size and Age Matters" forum has great examples of giant-breed dogs who are getting around great too. Since most giant-breeds are big couch potatoes, life on three legs doesn't slow them down much more than they already are.
When it comes to giant breed dogs, they can certainly do fine as Sally said, Hannah is a perfect example. While there will be instances that are different from pawrenting a four-legged dogs, such as the need to be more aware of his activity level, slippery floors and such, for the most part it's just the same kind of life. As Sally said, our Tripawds e-book library has two books that will tell you what sorts of things to expect and what you can do to keep him healthy and strong.
As for the stump; if you believe that you will not want to try a prosthetic limb on him (see our News Blog posts about prosthetics for Tripawds: http://tripawds.....ts-part-1/) then leave the stump. However most people find that prosthetics require more time, money and energy than they want to give so removing the stump is a good idea as your vet suggested, as we've seen many Tripawds bang them around and cause damage, to the point of requiring the amputation surgery later in life.
You sound like a great doggie pawrent, kudos to you for wanting to give him a shot at a great life!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi All and thank you for your replies It's been great to read them, especially as this is total new territory for me and a 'new' thing for the vet and I guess I have what she said in my mind still and that's something I don't like lol. I think in some ways, NZ is way behind as I haven't seen a prosthetic on a dog here, but I do agree with what's been said and something my vet said, about a total limb removal, so that is the avenue I will be taking when the wee dude is old enough. I need to talk to the vet and let her know he won't be put to sleep and then talk about amputation and how old he needs to be as well as the supplements you can give.
The thing that really stuck in my mind was the 'bad' things that can happen once a leg has been amputated and the strain it puts on the rest of the dogs body, but my thoughts are 'isn't a happy 5-6 years better than just two days' if I did have him put to sleep, but then why kill him just because a bone is missing - it doesn't make sense to me, giving him a chance does and it's not like he's in pain or not doing well now. He is and has no signs at all of any other illness so killing him is not, and never has been an issue, it's more the 'what can happen down the road' kinda thing, but I've read some great stories here and seen some videos and if adults can cope, then my pup can too I did see one with wee booties on his paws and I can't recall seeing any here for big breeds, so will have to look into getting some when he's bigger. But would it pay to get some sooner and while he grows before his leg comes off? I read it's important to protect their paws and did read about ensuring there are lots of rest breaks and I don't live up stairs so don't have that worry about him falling down those, but it's a whole new area and I know I'm going to be careful and very watchful. Slippery floors I didn't think of, but I can get mats so that's all good
He doesn't have a name yet, but will get one
I do have photos and once I get them on the computer, I'll work out how to get them on here. I don't have any of his leg yet, but will get a couple when he's awake for his next feeding
Again, thank you very much And any animal born deserves a chance, my only concern was that he is healthy enough now to get through things and he is, and then the other was, would he cope on three legs and now I know he can, and after reading so many stories here and seeing the video's - I have a fresh new hope, with now doubts Just lots of questions as things pop in my head lol
Ask away. We will do our best to find an answer.
Kathi and Murphy
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
Ask as many questions as you'd like, that's why we are here.
I don't NZ is far behind when it comes to Tripawds, most folks don't go the prosthetic route even in the States. It's a very big commitment. However from what others have told me, if you do stick to it in can definitely pay off in the long run by not putting the kind of stress on a Tripawds body that life on 3 limbs does.
When it comes to very young Tripawds, they have extra challenges when it comes to adapting. Because they don't have their balance and coordination down the way an older dog does, when they lose a limb it may be a little harder to learn basic things. But again, it's not something that can't be overcome. You sound like you have the determination to help this pup have a great life, and I can say that it's definitely possible with your great attitude. It probably won't even be as challenging as you think, you will be surprised!
Don't worry about the boots yet, until your pup has basic coordination down. Dogs need to feel the ground underneath their feet, puppies especially, so unless you have very slippery areas, or ice to worry about, I'd hold off.
I hope this helps. Please keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
You've done a wonderful job of evaluating every scenario! I realy like the one you've come up with.....give that pupy a chance at a wnderfully hapy life full of love!!
Just a suggestion, go on and elmnated time frames from your vocavulary. No one comes with an exiration date stamped on their butt There is no reasonyor little (for now) miracle pup can't live a ripe old age!
Now' go wake that puppy up.....it's picture time!!!!!
(((((((hugs)))))))))))
Sally snd Happy Hannah
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!
Hi and Welcome!!
We are in the same camp you are! We adopted a French mastiff, Rosie, at 4 months old (she had a deformed front leg at birth/amputated at around 3 months) and we firmly believed that a shot at a happy life was worth the effort. She turned 4 years old 2 months back and is still the same big crazy spaz puppy she was back when she was 70lbs lighter. Good Luck on your journey and we'd love to hear more about your boy!
Cheers,
Hurricane Rosie and family!
Hey it's so great to hear from you guys! Yep, we've met Rosie in person and she is UNSTOPPABLE!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi,
I am so glad you are giving your pup a chance. Cora was a stray and was rescued with the rest of the litter and mom. She was just 6 weeks. Something bad had happened to Cora. She suffered some trauma in the womb, during birth or very shortly after. Her front leg was deformed. She also experienced brain damage that caused her to be blind and have a variety of other issues including a lack of coordination. Tomorrow will be a year since her front leg was amputated. She was just 3 months. She didn't get all that large but with her lack of coordination and blindness she experiences a lot of challenges too.
She is a happy, healthy if unique girl. I don't know if Cora will live a normal length of life, but I know that she's enjoyed the last 6 months for sure. She's playful and adventurous and as stubborn as ever. Being a very young puppy does present challenges but puppies are also so amazingly adaptable.
Cora was still a rescue dog when they did the first amputation and they left a stump. For Cora it was disastrous. She had the stump amputated just 3 months after the first surgery. Unfortunately she had a bad injury to her stump before the second amputation so she had to live through that pain. It was awful.
More important than boots is to work on balance. It comes slower to big breed pups anyway. Of course not right after surgery but once he heals, have him walk over obstacles and balance and you could probably stick him on something like a wobble board while holding him up. Cora was so pig-headed stubborn as a pup that she'd scramble and crawl over any obstacle to get what she wanted and that helped her a lot.
Thanks for commenting Chris, it's good to see you here sharing Cora's pawsome story!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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