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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Getting ready to adopt sweet tripawd! Questions
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Member Since:
9 January 2016
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9 April 2016 - 9:26 pm
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Hi there everyone

I'm brand new, and in the process of adopting the most beautiful little chihuahua named Baby! She's about a year old and I'm getting her from my dog trainer (and also mama to my chihuahua boy Rudy). Baby (thinking of renaming to Dora, but we will call her Baby for now) was in an accident as a puppy and a rear leg was crushed and subsequently amputated. A few weeks later, she sustained an injury to her remaining rear knee and needed surgery 🙁 

Months later, and she seems to be gaining strength and mobility, hoping around like a little sweetheart! Im just wondering a few things. One, I'll be seeing her vet this week and will have the opportunity to ask some questions before the adoption goes through. I'll be asking for sure about WHAT the surgery was on her remaining back leg as I'm not entirely sure what happened. But I'm wondering if those of you who have tripawds have any suggestions on what else I can ask? 

Two, what I'd like to ask you is this. If I get her into physio once a month, do you think I can assist her to have a wonderful, pain free life? Besides keeping her weight down and short walkies, what can I do? Will her incidence of arthritis be greater as she ages? Should she be on something for pain and stiffness even if she seems okay? Is pain inevitable? I'd love to hear from you.

I'm smitten with her and she blends perfectly into our home. I just would love to know a bit about what I can expect and what I can do for the little beauty.

Thanks!

Jane 

Livermore, CA




Member Since:
18 October 2009
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9 April 2016 - 10:35 pm
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Hi and welcome, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.

Baby sounds like a charmer!

One, I'll be seeing her vet this week and will have the opportunity to ask some questions

Find out what happened to the other knee.  Perhaps a luxating patella repair?  I've been through that twice with my quad-pug Obie- if that is what happened I can share more info. I would also ask if there were any other injuries from the original accident that you need to be aware of.

Two, what I'd like to ask you is this. If I get her into physio once a month, do you think I can assist her to have a wonderful, pain free life

Yes!  You are on the right track with PT.  Core strength is very important for tripawds. And since she already has had surgery on her one back leg you want to be sure that that leg is strong and functioning as well as possible.

I adopted my current Tripawd, a small pug mix I named Elly, when she was 10 months old.  She had been hit by a car when she was 7 months old and lost her right rear leg due to the femur being shattered.  Her original owners surrendered her to a rescue group who paid for the amp surgery.

Elly is now almost 16 months old and has been with me for 6 months.  We have taken two classes so far, obedience and a strength, balance and body awareness class (SB&BA) with a another SB&BA class coming up soon.  Elly came to me skittish and slow to trust, you can't blame her after being hit by a car, losing a leg, and me being her 4th home in her short life. The classes are aimed at building strength and building confidence. We work on core strength every day in the form of exercises, games and obedience practice.  I am having a great time working with her and teaching her tricks.  She has a new blog you can check out: Elly the TriPuggle.

I think you will find life with a Tripawd really rewarding and inspiring.

Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls

p.s. I moved your post here to Beyond Cancer since you are dealing with an amp due to an accident.

Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.

1999 to 2010

 

              Maggie's Story                  Amputation and Chemo



Member Since:
27 July 2014
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10 April 2016 - 10:09 am
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Congratulations on adopting a new family member. My cat Mona had her amputation in June 2014.

You ask about pain and stiffness. There is no reason Baby Dora should be in pain after she has healed from any operation. Through the physio/rehab they will be able to give you exercises to help her avoid any stiffness. Shortly after Mona's amputation I took her to an integrative vet for a chiropractic treatment where they taught me some stretching exercises. I still massage her every day and she does the stretching exercises on her own.

In my opinion supplements aren't necessary unless you get a professional recommendation. There is too much on the market these days where there is no proof that it helps in any way. I believe that money is best spent on rehab until such time you or your vet notice arthritis or stiffness. My vet recommended arthritic supplements for my cats after the age of 10 years because research through x-rays shows that most cats of that age have some arthritis. You could ask you vet about dogs and arthritis.

Karen gave you great advice based on her experience with Elly. I'm sure you'll do just as well with your new pup!

Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona

Norene, TN
Member Since:
21 October 2014
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13 April 2016 - 8:46 am
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Can't wait to see pictures of Dora (Baby)!!

pam

Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.

"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."

- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey

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