Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Dante has been really restless at night he woke up at 1:30 so I took him for a pee, but then he was up again at 3 and I shushed him gently and he went back to sleep, but I could hear him tossing and turning all night. Right now he has a blanket in his crate, and I think he might be uncomfortable with it. He sleeps through the night when we leave them out of the crate and let them sleep on the dog bed - but I'm not sure if it's the bed or if it's because all three sleep in a snuggle pile of puppies and cuteness and it keeps them all quiet. Mina is definitely good to sleep through the night now I think.
Have you found beds are better for your tripawd friend or is it harder for them to maneuver around on a bed in their crate? He does seem a bit off kilter when he first wakes up, has trouble walking a bit til he's been moving for a few mins - but it doesn't seem to matter if it's after the crate or the bed.
I almost scooped him out of the crate last night and put him on the couch with me so we could both get some sleep - but if he was just restless I did not want him turning circles right beside me on the couch!
Dante's really improving BTW at this point you'd almost never know he only has three legs. Took him for a walk last night and he ran like the wind the second we got out the door, and he found his zoomies and does laps around the living room like a wild child now. It's really neat to see the difference in the last 3.5 weeks. It's been 6 weeks since his amputation and he's doing great!
Glad to hear Dante is doing so well, thanks for the update! Any low profile firm mattress should be comfortable for him in his crate. Wyatt just has a thick rug and blanket in his, but we found 3" foam wrapped in an old cloth style sleeping bag worked well for Jerry (though we was never crated).
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
That's fantastic that Dante is doing so well!
If you are okay with Dante sleeping outside of the crate, then I would. He may not can get comfortable in a confined area as much right now.
Good luck!
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.
Hubby is ok with it, but I'm not. We do allow it on the weekends when we're up late and we're SURE they're good and tired by the time we hit the hay - but on weeknights they're usually still somewhat alert come time to turn in and I think they'd wander the room and then likely have accidents. Once I know they have the training down pat (which they're getting much closer!) We'll likely leave them out at night.
Dante loves his crate - he goes in there during the day to nap or to keep his toys away from Mina - but I just don't think it's comfy enough as it is for him to be in for a full night.
We'll get a bed in there tonight and see how it works out for him. I am always hesitant to put beds in with pups cause Coda chewed up SOOOOO many beds before we gave up and stuck her with cut up sheets as blankets so we could throw them out. Beds are too expensive to be eating one a week!
What about a cheap comforter? Just in case Dante decides to eat it!
Is your crate large enough for Dante to turn around in? It's a little more difficult with 3 legs in a very confined space. What kind of dog is Dante?
We had 1 orthopedic doggy bed, and then several old comforters (folded into a few layers) in different rooms of our home. This way, werever we'd end up, Jake could hop along and plop down in the same room as us. We never did have to crate him... Just kept him in the study when we'd have to leave the house for the first 2 or so weeks, otherwise, he just hung out with us. After that, he was pretty much OK to be loose in the house when we weren't there, and just lied around... maybe getting up to go drink or see what his brother Wolfie was up to.
Glad to hear that he's doing so well 6 weeks post-op! 
Post some pictures of your baby when you get a chance!
Angel Jake's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
Great 6 week update for Dante. Sounds like he is really recouping well. Trouble never slept on a bed, but after her surgery I got her a child's sleeping bag and doubled it over for a little more padding on the carpeted floor.
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.
Dante is a pitbull X lab. His crate is definitely big enough for him. We have a blue bed outside that he seems to love laying on, and it will fit in his crate, so I will shove that in there tonight and see how he does with it.
He definitely needs to be crated during the day - the pups are teething like mad and he is on a mission to destroy my couch and coffee table! They're only 14 weeks old so it's all to be expected. Hopefully it won't be too much longer before we can give them more freedom during the day and at night!
All of our dogs have been crate trained and as you have seen, if done correctly the crate can be their safe place. We never had beds in the crates but did us blankets for padding. Personally I just found the blankets easier to keep clean. Our youngest, Marley, chewed several blankets so I was glad we didn't invest in a dog bed for him! If Dante is still chewing like it sounds like he is you might want to consider cheap blankets instead of an expensive bed, but thats me, I'm cheap. Of course, Marley has four legs, if he had three he might have had a gold plated crate with a hand stuffed feather mattress. (Not that I'm saying Emily was spoiled.)
Debra & Angel Emily
Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.
LOL Debra, Hubby had to convince me a folded up towel would be just fine for my tripod boy. When he said Mina should get one too, I said "Nah, she has 4 legs, she'll be fine!" Just kidding of course.
I didn't give Mina one last just so I didn't change her crate too and possible cause problems there. Mina woke up. Dante did not want to get out of his crate in the middle of the night OR this morning. I didn't hear him at all LAST night. When we all came in in the middle of the night AND this morning Mina ran to Dante's crate instead of her own. Guess she gets a towel too! Dante definitely seemed much happier last night.
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