Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
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Name: Bryce
Breed: English Springer Spaniel (field)
Age: 8 years old
Limb Deficiency: Front Passenger, full amputation at 1yr due to poor care of congenitally deformed limb (my dad rescued him at 1.5 years old).
Bryce's rear driver-side is failing, all signs point to cruciate ligament damage. There doesn't seem to be a possibility of rehabilitation unless he can get the extra support in the front.
I have looked through the forums and on the web, but does anyone have any information on full-amputee front leg support (trying to avoid a wheel/carry setup-not practical for geography/climate).
He's in such great health otherwise, it would kill my dad to put him down but he is facing severe quality of life degradation. First time poster, thank you so much for any help you may be able to provide!
Short answer (r.e.; prosthetic): No. Successful use of prosthetics and orthotic devices requires proper planning prior to amputation. Residual limb is also required for attaching prosthetics . In best cases, at least two joints are required in the remaining appendage.
Don't miss our many articles, interviews, podcasts and videos about pet prosthetics.
The best thing you can do to help provide support is to develop strength and flexibility in the remaining limbs. Our best advice is to consult with a certified canine rehab vet/tech for a professional evaluation, therapy and exercises you can do at home to help keep Bryce fit, trim and strong. Visit a CCRT or CCRP and the Tripawds Foundation can even pay for your first consultation from the Maggie Moo Fund for Tripawd Rehab.
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Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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Sorry your boy Bryce is having these issues.
A little "off topic"'from your question, but my trilawd Frankie (front legged) just had cruciate repair surgery. It's been two months and it has been a looong hard recovery with kots of Rehab! The Rehab is INVALUABLE and has helped him to start to use the "surgery leg" slowly but surely. Recovery was extra hard in part, because a 70 lb three-legged Coonhound requires two people for his recovery time, and it is just myself.
During my research, I did find info on going the non surgery approach. Of course all the research prerty much references thise funny looking four-legged dogs!
Anyway, here's the link to Frankie's recovery so far. It IS doable. It is something that I STRONGLY suggest you do only if you have access to a second person who can help on a daily basis for about two months IF you have a larger dog AND have access to a Rehab specialist!
I hope this is an option your Dad can pursue. Now that Frankie is past the hard part of recovery, he's back to being his happy self!
Wishing the very best for Bryce. If I can offer any insight at all from my experience, please let me know.
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!
http://tripawds.....te-repair/
Here's the link. Hope it helps somehow.
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!
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