Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Been a while since I last posted. Cheyenne is doing amazingly well! She can just about get up the 3 back steps by herself (sometime's she can, other times she waits with sad 'help me' eyes at the bottom of the stairs). Her back leg is getting so strong, and her hair is just about all grown back.
For the last month or so we've been doing PT at the local animal rehab clinic. I feel like it's helping, but I feel like they could be doing so much more. They don't have a lot of experience with tripawd dogs (Chy is they only one they've worked with), and mainly do PT on dogs with back problems. The first appointment we did acupuncture and light therapy, which was great and really loosened up her shoulders. Since then, we've been doing strictly hydro-treadmill therapy twice a week. Chy normally walks for 10 min at each appointment, and they'd like to get her up to 20.
Is this enough? I've asked them about doing balance and strength building activities, but the only response I got was to start doing stretches at home with her. Is this normal? Crazy me thought that PT was more "well rounded" where we did more than just have her walk on the treadmill.
YAY!! So glad to hear Cheyenne is doing so well! 🙂
My tripawd Frankie just recently had cruciate surgery on k e of his remaining back legs. I was so very fortunate enough to be able to have a Mobile Rehab Vet come to the house for Rehab. And yes, a lot of different "exercises" have been done. Frankie is her first trilawd also, much kess her first one with surgery on one of the three legs!
It doesn't sound kike Chy is getting the exercises that he needs. . You are absolutely right in that Chy needs core strengthening and balance exercises.
Frankie is a front legger so exercises may be different for rear legger. But core strength, evenly distribution of weight on the three legs, are important regardless.Plus, for him, it's about strengthening the surgery leg and making him put his weight more evenly on that leg.
Some of the "tasks" we've done are sit/stand repetitions, walking on cushions, walking in circles in one direction then the other, she's adding walking in large figure eight circles (outside), adding "weaving" inbetween poles. I did try one water treadmill with im and he just didn't take to it at all. To have Cheyenne work up to TWENTY MINUTES on the treadmill seems like an awful.lot to me for a tripawd. Just my unprofessional opinion.
Is there a CERTIFIED REHABILITATION SPECIALIST directing all of this? I know there are certain credentials that set Rehabbers apart, just can't remember what they are.
Others can chime in and can also give you some links to good at home exercises.
Stay tuned!
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!
Hi there. I am so pleased to hear how well Cheyenne is doing. Your instincts re the therapy are spot on, in my view. While the treadmill can be useful for building strength in Chy's remaining legs, it will do nothing for her core strength, which is critical for a Tripawd, for the reasons Sally gives above. I would agree that it would be a good idea to take Chy to a certified rehab vet if you are able to get to one. Tripawds can even pay for your first visit, courtesy of the Maggie Moo Rehabilitation Reimbursement Program
There's also a lot you can do at home with some basic equipment such as a balance disc, and a step. Basic sit/stand repetitions, working up gradually to doing these off a step are also really helpful. You will also want to work on Chy's proprioception (body awareness) as she adjusts to her new normal.
Check these links for more info:
http://gear.tri.....ay-strong/
http://gear.tri.....g-fitness/
Twenty minutes on the treadmill does sound like a lot, certainly in one go. I can't honestly remember the longest Meg did, but I know that we started with just very short bursts with resting in between. I'm quite sure she never walked for twenty minutes at a stretch, and once her legs had gained strength she stopped the treadmill altogether (I think she maybe did about eight sessions total? Every dog is different of course, and in Meg's case because she lost her leg to orthopaedic issues, she had been very one sided for a long time pre amp anyway), but we've continued with the core strength exercises, which we still do every other day. She is now more than two years post amp. Just out of interest, why did they stop the acupuncture? It sounds as though ti worked well for you. Meg still has this every month or so, and we find it helps to ease any knotting or tension in her spine. It also really chills her out 
, so that's a big thumbs up from me...
It's not easy to question the 'experts', but, as I say, in my opinion your instincts are absolutely spot on. There's a great deal more that Chy could be doing, and it will not only help her physically, these exercises are also fun and mentally stimulating.
Good luck to you both. Do please update, and let us know how you are getting on. You are a great advocate for your Cheyenne.
Meg, Clare and Angel Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, November 2023, adopted January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Elsie Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Thank you Sally and Clare, you have confirmed my suspicions.
The clinic she goes to does have certification, and is the clinic to go to in town for rehabilitation. They do give Chy breaks while on the treadmill, usually they have her do about five minutes walking and then a minute of rest. I'm not sure why they haven't done any more acupuncture, but it did really seem to help along with the laser therapy.
We had another appointment today, and I made a last ditch effort to have them do core strengthening, balance, and body awareness exercises. Apparently there was some communication breakdown with their front office staff, and that's why we weren't doing any other activities. They said that they normally do two treadmill appointments, and one "body work". I'm not sure how we got on a different schedule, but this whole thing has really made me lose confidence in their abilities and management. Im really considering purchasing some equipment and doing it at home.
Good morning!
I am tickled to hear that Chy is doing so well! Do you have any pictures? I cannot say anything that is different from what Sally and Clare have said and as a matter of fact, if you have the time and ability to work with her at home on her core strength I think that's a fantastic idea and very much more reasonably priced probably. I always hear that walks will build endurance, not core strength. Matter of fact, I just purchased one of those balance pads Fitpaws Balance Pads Now that Huck is so much easier to handle (for me, lol) I thought it would help him keep his core strength up.
I am just so happy to hear all is well, keep up the good work!
Jackie and Huckleberry 
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
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