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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Has anyone had any luck with the people at 3d Pets? They make a pretty cool prosthetic that is for full shoulder/leg amputation that is molded to your pets body. My insurance covers it so I thought why not? I was wondering if anyone on here has tried this with this particular company and curious as to what your experience was. The vet has told me my pup has about 8 months give or take, and while only having it for a couple of months might sound stupid, if it can make her remaining months easier and my insurance covers most of the cost, I see it as a win. 🙂
It's not stupid at all Jeremy, we totally understand why you'd want to pursue a prosthetic. We do recommend meeting with a canine rehabilitation therapist first, so they can evaluate your girl for the right type of support she needs. Not all dogs need a prosthetic, most just need strengthening and flexibility which a rehab therapist can help you do. And remember the Tripawds Foundation can pay for your first rehab visit so it's a win-win! Let us know if you'd like help finding a therapist.
Thank you Jerry! I guess I’m just worried that her arthritis will get worse. So I wanted to have something for her in case it takes a dip. And these prosthetics take so long to make!
You are so welcome. There's a lot you can to do to slow down arthritis progression, a therapist can tell you how to do it. She's very lucky to have you!
Ophelia has a front leg prosthesis from 3 D Pets. You might want to post here and ask Michael about his experience. They did have a sports rehab vet to help her work with the new leg. I haven't seen any recent videos with it on, so I'm unsure how that is going. I love insurance will cover it thats HUGE!!!
9 1/2-year-old Saint Bernard newly diagnosed
Hugs
Holly, Purrkins & Saxton in the sky💫
Oh thank you for posting that Holly, I totally forgot about Ophelia's support device. Thanks!
Hi Jeremy. I got a 3D prosthetic for my almost 10 year old Saint Bernard, Ophelia, after she had to have her right front leg amputated.
First, i also have pet health insurance so thought the same thing, ie, may as well give it a shot.
3D Pets were great to work with and the leg was just what you see in the videos.
Unfortunately, Ophelia never got to a point where she WANTED to use it. She was able to walk with it pretty well, but she would get annoyed with me when i put it on her.
i would have kept working with her but she began to have mobility issues due to arthritis in her left hip in late October. I’ve been trying to manage that since that point and haven’t wanted to make her do anything that she doesn’t want to do while she is having trouble with her hind legs. I hope to be able to go back to it eventually but the reality is that she will be 10 in a month and probably isn’t going to ever get back to where she was prior to the issues that arose in October.
Bottom line though is that i would absolutely encourage you to give it a shot.
Thanks for sharing Michael, that is super helpful to know. And it's always nice seeing Ophelia!
Ophelia never got to a point where she WANTED to use it..........
....she would get annoyed with me when i put it on her. ....
.....haven’t wanted to make her do anything that she doesn’t want to do
These are such valid points!!!! It takes effort and time on both hoomans and dogs to try and get used to this, to wear properly, etc.
FWIW Jeremy, if she's handling mobility well there really isn't any reason to go that route, other than your concern for arthritis. Of course, if that's the route you want to go no right or wrong and completely up to you.
If arthritis does arise, there are supplements geared towards treating it. There are a lot of injections that seem to be having a positive impact now that are given every month, or maybe every two weeks, etc. You can talk to your Vet now about some preventative measures you can take. You can even consider investing in a stroller now as dogs adapt very quickly and seem to love it. A lot of tripawd parents use these intermittently even if they don't have arthritis or any mobility issues,
She is so lucky to have you advocate for her. BTW, statistics don't mean much around here.👍
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
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!
1 Guest(s)
