Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Ivan is a Mastiff [currently underweight at 90 lbs] who must navigate 13 steps to make it outside to make potty. All his weight is on that front leg when he goes downstairs, and I'm concerned about the downward force it bears as he hops on it, following his huge back end. Yesterday he stumbled, and I think we are pretty lucky that a paw wasn't broken or sprained, as he fell about 8 steps before I could catch him. His poor chest must have bruised.
I asked the vet about splinting or wrapping the leg but she said that dogs hate that, they just chew it off. There's got to be a better way to get downstairs. Advice?
Thanks you!
Oh poor Ivan! I'm so glad everything is OK and nopawdy was hurt.
Your vet is correct I'd say. I know it's hard not to be fearful that this will happen again, especially right now since you are both so new to the journey. But rest assured, he will find his bearings in time and get used to the steps. The way my pawrents helped me was like this:
I know I say this a lot here, but a visit with a qualified veterinary rehab practitioner will also help him make tremendous progress too. There they can do a gait analysis to find out if he has any issues with his balance, and help him with activities that will improve his proprioception (body awareness as it relates to its position in space).
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I wrote you a long post today on your blog but the site went down when I hit the submit button.
I just so very much want to hug that boy and tell him how loved he is! This breaks my heart.
But I wanted to address your splint question....being that I had a front leg deformed tripawd for 12 years, there was a time when I asked my vet about the remaining good front leg splint wrap for support. (I actually bought one) He said to not use it because it will give false support and could cause an injury because more weight might be used with the false sense of support. In addition it will make the ankle weak. I'm sure as a nurse you probably already know.
Since you are so terribly concerned Ivan may not make it (I just read your second blog entry), maybe you can post a message on 'Ask a Vet' topic. Pam, a vet is a mastiff expert and has had them. She has a soft spot for them and will help you. I don't normal suggest going to her for non-specific issues but I think Ivan is a special case.
Please give that big boy a collective giant hug from all of us and whisper in his ear that there are so many wanting him to get strong and healthy....because we need him to be happy healthy!
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'm sorry to hear he has to navigate stairs...yuk, my Maggie hates them. Do you have a Ruffwear harness for him so you can help him easier up and down them?
http://gear.tri.....r-harness/
Is it possible to make a ramp for him over the stairs? Just a thought...
Tracy, Maggie's Mom
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
I think the best thing you can do is get him a harness. For Spencer I went beside him with a sling until he was solid on the stairs; but it only took a few weeks (well, 2 weeks of me not letting him do stairs, then about a week for him to be solid on them). Ivan has a longer road since a lot of his problem is weakness from starvation. The harness would definitely be a good investment, then you go beside him and even taking just a bit of the weight off for him will be a big help.
Jac and Angel Spencer. Spencer was 5.25 years old. He fought a grade 3 fibrosarcoma, started on his shoulder. Left front leg amputated in August 2011. 15 weeks of chemo finished 12/22/11 (mytox and adria). Lung mets found on x-rays 12/28/11. Started carboplatin 1/6/12. Went to Heaven on 2/27/12. I miss him like crazy every day. See his blog here: http://spencer.tripawds.com/
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