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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
So I've just clipped Meg's nails for the first time ever. I've never clipped any dog's nails before as they've always just seemed to wear down naturally, but what with shorter walks and on soft surfaces wherever possible, Meg's nails had grown too long. I was terrified of cutting into the quick (she has black nails, so it's hard to see) and in consequence took only the very tip off. This cost me about half a turkey in treats and seems to have made little material difference. Her nails are still too long. Does anyone have any tips for safe and effective nail clipping? Thanks.
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...
Taking off just the tip at regular intervals will help the quick to recede, just like cutting (or biting) a person's nails shorter a bit at a time. You are wise to start out with just a small bit, as you don't want to quick her and make her shy of having those nails clipped.
Kathi
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
megstamum said
. . . This cost me about half a turkey in treats . . .
LOL!!
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
Hmmm. Does she hate it and squirm around? If so, the Calming Cap is what we use on Wyatt. It's like kyrptonite. He melts when he wears it, lays on his side and we feed him a few treats while clipping his nails. see:
Calming Cap and Muzzle Help Feet Phobias
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Well Meg, it cost your Mom a turkey and it cost me $14.95 per dog at the Vet!! I just got back from having Bob and Nellie's clipped!! They got @ots of treats to entice them into the car, but I know darn well the Vet didn't give them any turkey, much less treats!! They're seniors and have "old dog nail growth", kinda grow weird and very thick.. I wouldn't dare try it myself!
Myrtle and Frankie seem to keep their nails trimmed "naturally", so lucky in that end.
I've seen that calming cap work firsthand in Wyatt at the trilawd pawty. Calm as a cucumber with it on! And he actually looked quite dashing in it!
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!
I use a dremmel for all my dogs and its been over 20 years since I began with that tool and its amazing. First, you can graduly see the vein and stop very near it and by doing it often, it will shorten. But...it has to be introduce with positive reinforcement, it vibrate and can be warm, so depending on how sensitive the dog is, it can take time. Mine I use to that tool since puppy, so no problem there.
1 Guest(s)
