Tripawds Three Legged Dog & Cat Forum Archives
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I have a Black and Tan pup that seems to be fairly OK in kennel with a fair amount of running room. But the last two times that I truned him out for a run he seems to be very weak in his back legs after a couple hours of exersize.Should I take him to a vet or a chiropractor first. He starts showing signs of weakness like this, his back legs bow out, his back begains to arch, and when your walking with him he stops and sets down when you stop.
12:38 pm
Team Tripawds
Administrators
25 September 2009
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Hi Ronnie,
Thanks for joining us, your future posts won't need approval so post away.
Tell us a little more about your dog, like his age, breed, and why he lost his leg and how long ago. Every dog's story is different when it comes to their fitness level and the more you can tell us the more we can try to pinpoint what's going on so that if you do take him to the vet you can have some background info together.
One thing to keep in mind: Tripawds need core strengthening exercises before they can build endurance. It's like how we humans need strong abdominals, back and leg muscles before we can do any kind of real running. If your pup hasn't had these types of exercises before, he will need to get strong in the core before he can run run run.
When a dog sits down during a walk, play or exercise, it means they need a break. For Tripawds, it's even more of a sign that they've probably overdone things and need some real R&R over a few days to recover. How long are your walk/play sessions? Rehab experts tell us that Tripawds need shorter walks (10-15 min), 2 or 3 times a day. Longer walks are not beneficial and may do more damage.
I know it's a lot to think about! For your dog's long term health and lots of exercise tips, check out our ebook, Loving Life on Three Legs.
Stay tuned, more folks will chime in shortly.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I agree, a little more information would definitely be helpful.
You mentioned that after a couple hours of running he is tired which really doesn't sound all too surprising. A couple hours of running is tough on some 4 legged dogs let alone a 3-legged one. Maybe starting out with smaller periods of excersize and trying to work up to it might be helpful.
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