Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi, I am the owner of a 5 year old whippet. She is a great dog who about 6 months ago got cancer and had surgery to remove a lump and that ended up resulting in an amputation after we found it out it was cancer.
If you don't know about whippets; they are the sweatest dogs and Devo was very sweat for the most part, but also very outgoing for her breed.
Anyhow -- my question is lately she has gotten a short temper towards other dogs. She has lashed out at our other dog who is about 18mo old and very submissive. Usually it is over a bone or her coming near me. But today she lashed out at our parents two jack russels. Both times they were just walking by her and she actually attacked them and pinned them to the ground. (not bad for a three legged whippet, but hardly what we want!). These moments both happened when I was out of town and my girlfriend was watching the dogs. She has been with those dogs dozens of times and have had their moments but nothing this major.
She is never like this with people, unless they are the mail men, so I assume this is just dog on dog aggression. Any suggestions on how to stop her we have a mussle on her now but she keeps going to attack our parents dogs when they get close.
Could this be related to her amputation? She seems less playful and more bitter. Could she just be playing up her insecurities so other dogs don't see her weakness? Could it be related to when I am not there? Any help or ideas would be appreciated!
Definitely a problem, but I question whether this has anying to do with the amputation. Most dogs don't change their behavior at all after an amputation once the wound heals. Our dog certainly didn't. Something you said raised my eyebrows - that this aggression happened when the other dog got near her bone, or you.
That sounds like possessiveness. Devo is regarding both you and her bone as her property, and she doesn't want to share her things. I wonder if there were similar circumstances with your parents' dogs. Although it probably isn't amputation-related, you've got to nip this behavior in the bud before this becomes a major problem. There are all sorts of websites with advice on how to cure dog possessiveness, with the methods varying by the dog's personality. Try keeping treats handy, and reward Devo when she stays calm when another dog gets near you or the bone. If she stats getting snappy, remove the bone. She'll catch on quickly.
Yes, the bone possessive issue might have something to do with it.
But I'll have to disagree with Maxidad, it probably has everything to do with the amputation. I only say this from experience. This topic is something that I have dealt with for so long. It has to do with the fight or flight mentality of being a lame pack animal. It's about survival while being vulnerable.
I have dealt with it in Comet for 11+ years. I can count on two hands all the people that has actually touched Comet since I've had her. Even as a puppy, she was this way. She's was born without a functioning front leg. At first I thought it was because she came from a hoarder home and didn't trust anyone but me. But as I read more about it, I realized it was a combination of both being lame anduntrusting of humans.
Comet won't let anyone touch her unless she has been around you for days on end or unless a vet and or tech appoaches her without fear. Forget it about dogs, she lunges. Actually she lunges at people too when we are in public. It's turned into a bit of a game for her now.
Comet is one of sweetest dogs, also. She doesn't want to be mean, she's scared. It's a defensive mechansim. When she trusts and loves, she's all in and will be 100%.
The only way to combat this is to make her feel secure. Security is the key. But even then, it's hard. You may never be able to have her around other dogs. Comet had a german shep mix brother for 8 years and even tho he was 3x her size, she kept him on his toes. She trusted him but his size made her vulnerable. Our shep mix would actually go to his crate when would leave. He wanted to be locked up because he was afraid of her. Their relationship worked great because he was a wuzzy dog and wouldn't hurt anyone.
However, when he died I didn't know how I would deal with her issues. She has to have a companion dog because she's too scared to be without one but yet she will try to bully them. So, I got a smaller submissive dog that gave her the size advantage. Now, I can tell she knows she has the upper hand and doesn't bully anyone. She's nipped him a couple of times accidently playing and she felt horrible. She knows she can hurt her new brother because he's small.
You may have to find something that build Devo's confidence. Perhaps learning new tricks or going into public more. She used to be a friendly dog, so she may come out of it. I know with Comet, she was terrified to go to Petsmart and it was just easier to not go. But I have found out that if I take her more, she's not afraid.
I don't know if I've helped. The good news, Comet has never bitten anyone. She's snapped a gazillion times, but never really wanted to bite.
Good luck,
Comet's mom
P.S. Love the name, Devo. I used to listen to Devo all the time in highschool and had an album.
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.
Well, I'm going to come in smack in the middle of the Maxidad and Comet, because I agree with both on some level. If the dog is possessive of you and the bone, I agree 100% with Maxidad. You need to get that behavior stopped. That said, I have noticed a behavior change with Trouble and it is definitely related to self preservation. I think Trouble's is a combination of age and disability. She is good with other dogs and has always been good with other dogs, but she will lash out at Duke if he gets too rough or overly excited playing with her.
Duke is young and super energetic, so his enthusiasm sometimes threatens Trouble. I can tell when she starts to try to avoid him, and will step in to calm him down or get him away from her. They play really well together, but she knows he can hurt her and will snip at him if he scares her. That snip is not just a correction to him it is also an allert to me to stop the play. He will normally back down on his own when she corrects him, but I watch closely so he doesn't go right back to what she stopped him from doing.
Trouble knows I will handle the situation when she lets me know it is time. I think that is what keeps us from having a major problem.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Wow. Thanks for all the good advice. I think she does have some possesion issues -- which she never had before either. She always shared her toys and bones and would let our other dog just come over and grab it. But I could see those issues being there even though these incidents didn't have anything to do with possession directly.
Maybe her confidence when I am not there is just a lot lower than normal and that could cause her to have the "fight or flight" mentality and she is choosing "fight". Maybe I need to get her out without me more, because she goes places with me often. I know my girlfriend brought her to the vet last week and as soon as the vet touched her she peed all over the place -- but when I bring her she is just moderately uncomfortable.
Last week she was around a 6 year old girl at a graduation party we were having. She let that little girl torture her including the accidental backflip on top of her. But she never once snapped at her -- so I am hoping this a dog vs. dog thing.
Well,from my experiance it might have been amputation related. My Don was a very very shy dog,good and trusty towards other dogs (not very trusty towards people though) - I would freak out when saw him ran towards our neighbours pit bull (I have nothing against that breed in general but this one was really very agressive and already killed other neighbours dog - but its owners fault,think he even took him to dog fights,so no comment) in order to play with him,even though that dog always barked and snarled at him. On other hand in 10 years I never heared my Don even bark to another dog - he was known as neighbourhood goodie 🙂
But after his amputation I cough him a few times snarling at other doges that came to sniff him...I was in complete shock,cos that was something I never saw him do. It seemed to me like he maybe felt helpless or not sure if he could ran away or defend himself if needed,even though not one of these dogs meant any harm. I think they are all,specialy male dogs,very proud, and maybe even "ashamed" of having 3 legs which other dogs may seem as weakness.
So in my oppinion and from my exp. if she has neever showed that behaviour before,it might be related to amputation,and its a defensive mechanisam. But am sure she will work it out 🙂
all the best
Daniela, Angel Dons Mum
Amputee dogs will indeed often compensate for their "disability" with dominant behavior toward other dogs. But aggression can also indicate discomfort. Perhaps you should carefully manipulate her limbs or massage her body to see if she reacts negatively. If so, a trip to the vet may be in order.
As for dog on dog agression, if you learn how to address that behavior, please let Wyatt know! Good luck.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I didn't have Gerry before his injury and not long before his amputation either. But I suspect that he gets to mouthy towards the end of our dog park visits because he gets tired and wants those quadpawds to slow the heck down! We're working on it. Last park trip I managed to break up the play right away when it first started and got him leashed. Hopefully this will have an impact soon. He's never mouthed hard enough to hurt another dog, but some dogs don't take it well and I don't want him getting bit when the other dog gets fed up. A very different problem from possessiveness, but another suspected change in behavior due to amputation.
Gerry has been a tripawd since 12/16/2009.
He was a shelter dog with a mysterious past and an irrepairable knee injury.
Videos and pics of Gerry's pawesomeness can be found at: http://gerry.tripawds.com
cometdog said:
P.S. Love the name, Devo. I used to listen to Devo all the time in highschool and had an album.
My Mom says "Album? What's that?" 😉
jcwilde1, to me, your pup's behavior sounds like something that would have happened regardless of the amputation. But like Admin Guy said, it could also indicate she's in some kind of pain too.
I can be snappy with other dogs, and it's definitely because I feel a bit weaker around some of them. But not all of them. It just depends on the dog. We're all so different. Not all Tripawds are this way. My issue is I was abused as a puppy, so I'm dealing with it you know?
If you rule out pain, then seek expert help. You can also post this in Sarah Wilson's My Smart Puppy forums. She has tons of expert trainers there who answer training and behavior questions and offer such pawesome advice.
Whatever you do, don't let it slide. It would be a shame to keep her muzzled all the time or be afraid to take her out around other dogs. Keep us posted OK?
Wyatt Ray Dawg . . . The Tripawds Leg-A-Cy Continues!
Read all about my adventures at my Tripawds Blog
cometdog said:
... I used to listen to Devo all the time ...
Then you might appreciate Jerry's classic Tripawds post: Are We Not Dog? 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Magic has always liked other dogs, and was somewhat insulted when we would walk ( prior to amp) and we would meet a dog aggressive one that the owner said could not meet. (Echo was dog aggressive and could only be with the wolf/wolfdog pack he had grown up with) He does however have a really really bad habit that comes out in the spring and is a dominance move and when we had two wds, it was a power play and toward the end of Echo's life, Magic really pushed it (I think HE knew Echo had the tumor even if stupid mom had no clue). He does the stupid dominance humping (he has been neutered since about 11 or 12 weeks.. Echo was done at about 8 weeks) and when we saw Ruthie at the park I was so embarrassed that he wouldn't quit it. He was doing it to pits he met...the only thing that seems to confuse him into not even trying is if there are more than just one dog and he can't get one to stand still. It isn't sexual (he also did it to OJ)...
I noticed a definite personality change in Magic after the amp but while he was on tramadol and didn't make the connection until after I had pulled and tugged my poor body into pain. Magic has never really liked strange men (okay no jokes about aren't all men strange...I'll behave) UNLESS they have a dog on a leash...then they are ok. He will never like my son. But he practices avoidance and I have never forced him to meet or let someone pet him.
I am assuming Devo is not on any medication since the amp was long ago....well I guess I wasn't any help at all, was I!!!!
HEY WYATT...tell your youngster of a mother to google album (snicker)
I'll be the first to admit there could be some amputation-related issues as well. My response was based solely on our experience with Max, who didn't change his behavior in any way after the amputation. He was always an obnoxious mutt who liked to bite other dogs in the ass and hump them, and that stayed the same after the amputation as well (there's nothing dopier-looking than a front-leg amputee dog trying to hump another dog and sliding right off because he can't grab on like he used to).
But one way or the other, I still think quick and firm training is in order to put a stop to this aggression before it becomes a serious problem. Do what you have to do to build up the dog's self-confidence if that's an issue, but go heavy on the rewards whenever she behaves properly and stays calm. The sooner you fix it, the easier it'll be.
And speaking for all old or even middle-aged farts here, I know exactly what an album is. Back in the '80s, I had to re-purchase about a hundred of them on CD once vinyl went the way of the dinosaur...
LOL @ Maxidad! So which category to you put yourself in - old or middle age! I'd like to think I'm middle age, but the more I see my friends retire and the more I consider it myself, I guess that places me more in the 'old' category! Thanks for the big dose of reality!
And, btw, I take exception to you speaking of our Max as an obnoxious mutt. How could that sweet face and those gorgeous eyes be an obnoxious mutt?
Thanks for the giggle this morning!
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Maxidad said:
And speaking for all old or even middle-aged farts here, I know exactly what an album is. Back in the '80s, I had to re-purchase about a hundred of them on CD once vinyl went the way of the dinosaur...
My Mom doesn't want to admit it (she like to THINK she's young!) but I'll you, when she was a DJ in college she spun those round things that played music! So I guess that makes her OLD too! Heh! Heh!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I, too take exception to Maxidad...
First, disparaging poor Max's name !!
Second, he called us 40 something's "OLD" !! Hey, I'm not old! (Thanks to my Botox and Restylane injections!)
Third, the fact he had money to purchase CD's !! Weren't they like $12 dollars when they came out?
Some of us only had cassettes and still do (somewhere). And if the player mucked the tape, you got your handy dandy cassette tool out (ink pen or #2 pencil) and rewound it! You had to pause your singing for a moment through the crinkled garbled part!!
Spirit Jerry, I've seen a pic of your mom striking a pose with Aqua Net big hair and blood red lipstick WHILE HOLDING A BEER! Hmmmmmm.
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.
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