Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hey all!
So I recently got a new mattress and box springs and they're a good bit taller than my old ones. Domino has always slept in the bed with me and had zero problems jumping up and down. Since getting the new bed I've noticed every morning he seems to be stumbling on his remaining front leg every time he jumps down. I've considered stairs, but I'm about 98% sure he wouldn't use them. He also usually jumps down before I'm able to grab him and help him. Does anyone else have this problem, and if so how do you deal with it? He at least jumps down onto a rug which gives him enough stability that he doesn't fall. I just hate seeing him stumble 
Thanks so much!
Cassie and Domino
“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”
Domino had his left front leg amputate on May 13th 2014 after being hit by a car. He's now living a happy healthy life on three legs :)
Oooh that's a tough one. Sounds like stairs are the only way to get him not to jump. I know it's a challenge but he's a smart boy, I'll bet with some dedicated training sessions (and treats!) he'll pick it up. Let us know what you decide to do and what works, as this is a big issues for many of us.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh yes, and none of my pups will use the stairs. This probably isn't practical for you since you just bought one, but my solution was to buy another bed. I bought a king sized platform style bed with a memory foam mattress just for Tanner....low and sturdy. There are some really great deals online with free shipping. I think they don't like stairs b/c all of the one's I have seen aren't very wide or sturdy. Do you know anyone who could build you some....if you could make them wide and only 2 steps up I think they'd be more inclined to use them maybe? Or even just a platform that's half the height of your bed that he could jump on first? Hmmm..I may have to do this now as my little Roscoe can't even get on or off my low profile bed.
Heck....for Jake we just put the mattress on the floor 
Mom to Tripawd Angels Jake (2001-2014) and Rosco (2012-2015) and Tripawd Tanner. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we had today; and I'll always remember it”
How about checking into a low profile box spring? Maybe exchange yours? Or the steps. You can use treats to teach them to use them. I never thought Sassy would use them but she did but that was before her amputation. After her amputation I put the bed on the floor.
Hugs
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
We had this problem as well - Jack would never use stairs because they're too difficult to navigate. I use a footstool (the Poang footstool from Ikea). It works great. It's just less than half the height of the bed and large enough that it's easy to for her to use when jumping up or down.
You could potentially try throwing a thick dog bed onto the floor and try and get him to jump down onto that. Otherwise it sounds like training him to use the stairs would be the best bet.
Yep! Understand all too well!
Fortunately I jave a zecond Big Barker Bed that's big enough and firm enough so they can jumld down from it...and up from it..and protect their joints to some degree.
The other suggestion would be to get a wooden pallet or two and covery them with some type of foam.
Home Depot, Walmart, etc. should have the pallets
Good luck!!
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!
I also have a high bed so for my cat Mona I put a chair beside and then a box below the chair. I showed her first by placing her on it but Mona can't be trained to do anything, she just decided to try it out at a later date.
She still dismounts the bed in the most convenient way, depending where she is on the bed. This includes a flying leap off the bed (aargh), sliding down the side and pushing off from her front leg and landing on her back legs (brilliant maneuver) but most of the time she uses the chair/box. She's a front leg amputee so can leap up directly on to the bed.
Kerren
This is a great question for Dr. Gross in our Tripawds Conditioning class, I'll be sure to remember to ask.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
We have a cedar chest at the foot of our bed. All our boys got accustomed to hopping onto the cedar chest then stepping onto the bed. For Leland after his issue started with his knee he lost the ability to hop up onto the cedar chest and plus we didn't want him further damaging the knee or causing undo stress to the other so we tried a ramp. He didn't like the ramps that you can purchase in stores and on-line...I don't think he liked the feel of it on his paws and it was too narrow. So my ingenious hubby built him a wider ramp with sides and carpeted the whole thing. He was able to make it where it hooked onto the footboard of the bed so it was stable and didn't move under Leland's weight. Leland would shoot up and down that ramp.
Anyway...that's how we dealt with our boys being able to get in and out of bed with us. Hope you find a suggestion that works for Domino.
Sahana and her Angel Leland
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
Thanks so much for all of the suggestions! I will be getting a new bed frame this summer that gets rid of my box springs. I may try to do that sooner rather than later to help him out. Unfortunately my bedroom isn't big enough to accommodate much, but I'll see what I can do 
Cassie and Domino
“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”
Domino had his left front leg amputate on May 13th 2014 after being hit by a car. He's now living a happy healthy life on three legs :)
I guess we are swimming against the tide 'round here but we don't let the OP sleep with us. 4 dogs? No way
Even a California King wouldn't hold us all! We used to let Codie Rae sleep on the bed when we weren't in it but as she aged we became worried about her jumping on and off and doing herself an injury, especially as she has developed mild (so far, paws crossed) hip dysplasia. If we put the bed on the floor to accommodate her the other dogs would have piled on and we would have ended up sleeping on the living room floor
. So, I wanted to get a baby gate
and use that to block access to the bed but we elected to go with a low-tech approach and use a rope with old towelettes hanging from it. The towelettes work as a visual deterrent. OK, so it isn't Martha Stewart Living but it does the trick. We just undo the rope at night and put it back up in the morning. Lucky for us she can't jump up from the foot or other side of the bed or the bed would be in total bondage
.
OK, now that I have the picture up I can't believe how crappy it looks! Maybe I will swap out the towelettes for some Tripawds bandanas
Woohoo! Tripawds Rule!
Regulator of the Oaktown Pack, Sheriff of the Oaktown Pawsse, Founding member and President of the Tripawd Girldogs With 2 Names ROCK Club, and ... Tripawd Girldog Extraordinaire!
It's function over form Martha, that's so scary lookin no wonder they won't cross the line!
While we would love it if Wyatt slept on the bed with us, that's not his nature so we are lucky that way and don't have this problem.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
OOOOOOOMMMMMMDDDDDD. MARTHA!!!! This is hilarious!!! LMAO!!
Now this is a new form of "bondage"..GSD style!!
My mom used to knid of cringe when the dogs slept with us as kids. She didn't mind that the slept ON the covers, she just didn't think they s h ould be UNDR the covers and on our pillows! My Dad used to tell her that every child should grow up sleeping with their dog by their side! Dad won!!
On the occasions when we just had one dog I stead of multiples, my brother and I had to take turns sleeling with her. When it was his turn, I used to wait until he was asleep and quietly sneak in and bribe her with a cookie to come sleel with me!
And btw, Mom soon became enlightened and slept with dogs under the covers until the day she transitioned. At that time she had her three belpved little "rescues" snuggling with her.
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!
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