Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi Guys, well we visited the vets today to try and find out what was going on with Gilda.
It turns out she has an old injury on the one side of her wrist that has managed to heal as well as it possibly can but isn't very good. in the mean time the other side of her wrist has taken a bit of a battering and isn't good at all, there is fluid around the joint and the space between the bones are grey not black which isn't good.
So she has had pain meds and ant inflammatory to try and take a way the inflammation, because of the damage she will need an ankle support in the means of a boot. As we don't really know what happened to her in Greece it may well be that it was done at the same time as the break on the leg she had amputated :-/
All the xrays of her hips, pelvis, spine and back legs were really good, no sign of arthritis or any other problems at all, which is really good news, however she does has a considerable amount of muscle wastage which is obviously causing the weakness in her back legs.
So i think we need to take her swimming and find a supplement to build muscle to help support her.
poor baby 🙁
Check into Ultra Paws and check out DogLeggs. (Dogg Legs ?) That could be a good starting point until otnrers chime in who nave some first hand experience with products that work.
Might also check out the website Handicap Pets for some products they offer.
Also, check out our Gear Store and you may find something helpful there.
Great news that all of Gilda's xrays etc came out good!!! 🙂 🙂
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!
Glad you were able to get her to the vet. It sounds like she is overall doing well, she's strong and can do well long term. YAY!
Now, what did the vets advise as far as physio and any assistive devices?
First, please don't go online purchase any ready-made devices like a boot, brace or other device, until your vet has a chance to see it and recommend the right one.
We have spoken with many people who wasted money on pre-made assistive devices that caused more harm than good for their dogs. Remember, animals are unique just like people, each with their own physical challenges. There is no one-size-fits-all approach that works for everyone. Sure, there are good off-the-shelf devices available but unless you know the exact kind, size and model to purchase for Gilda, you could end up with bigger problems.
Also keep in mind that putting a device on her without strengthening other areas of her body won't solve the underlying problem.
Based on what we've learned in talking to physio therapists, swimming is good but again, only in consultation with a vet. Some dogs just aren't ready for swimming until other issues are resolved. Our own Wyatt Ray is in that situation right now. He cannot go swimming until we strengthen other areas of his body.
Are you able to consult with a physio therapist? If so, they can show you how to strengthen her core muscles by doing gentle balance and weight-shifting exercises. We have many you can learn about in the Tripawds Gear blog so hop on over! If you aren't able to get a canine physio person to help, that's OK, there are things you can do at home. We feature some ideas in our e-book, Loving Life On Three Legs too.
Give that girl a big ol smooch from us and hang in there, she's a tough kid who has it in her to go on living a hoppy, pain-free life.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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