TRIPAWDS: Home to 22971 Members and 2152 Blogs.
HOME » NEWS » BLOGS » FORUMS » CHAT » YOUR PRIVACY » RANDOM BLOG

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.

JUMP TO FORUMS

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!

Please consider registering
Guest
Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
Register Lost password?
On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
1
30 March 2010 - 6:10 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Can anyone guess what the most common fear among Tripawd pawrents is?

Most pawrents fear that their Tripawd will lose the use of another limb.

What if a rear-leg amputee grows old, and hip displaysia takes it's toll? Or a front-leg Tripawd takes a bad fall and severely injures the remaining leg?

What would you do if your Tripawd lost the use of another leg?

As much as it hurts to think about it, it never hurts to be prepared, just in case.

That's why we talked to the good people at Doggon Wheels in Bozeman, Montana.

Since 1994, Doggon Wheels has been one of the world's top creators of mobility aids like wheelchairs, for physically challenged animals.

We asked Doggon co-founder Lori, a few questions about how Tripawds can benefit from wheelchairs, and here's what she had to say:

Can wheelchairs work with Tripawd dogs?

“Yes- we do make wheelchairs for amputees. They are most commonly used by older amputee's who are starting to have difficulties compensating for the missing limb (front or rear), or for pets with birth defects. We also make wheelchairs for pets with double amputations.

Generally they do really well with using wheels and appreciate being able to go for longer walks or on more varied/difficult terrain.”

The biggest fear some Tripawd pawrents have is for their dog to lose function of their remaining rear or front leg. We know of one Tripawd who needs a hip replacement, yet he is also a rear-leg amputee. Would a wheelchair help?

“This is legitimate concern and why we recommend that you take into consideration putting the remaining rear leg up in the stirrup during periods of intense exercise. Generally the dogs using amputee wheelchairs are doing so because the other limb is overly stressed or arthritic. Putting the remaining limb into a suspended position allows it to rest during the most stressful periods of exercise.

Owners who do this find that their dogs are able to get around easier on their own the rest of the time, when not in wheels. A wheelchair for the pet above would be useful for both long term use to avoid stressing the remaining limb post surgery, or if the humans opt not have his hip replaced."

How do you measure a Tripawd for a wheelchair ?

The measurements are the same for all of our chairs, except for a Tripawd we need to know:

  • Is s/he a left or right amputee?
  • Does the dog have any part of her leg remaining? Is the amputation site partial or flush? Most amputations are flush, however if there is enough leg remaining that you can measure the circumference around it, a different support might be needed, other than our amputee support.

To see how mobile a dog really is when using a wheelchair , check out this beautiful movie of Popeye, a dog currently available for adoption through Walkin' the Bark Rescue in Northern California:

[youtube][/youtube]

Learn more about wheelchairs for your three legged Tripawd dog at the Doggon Wheels website.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Winnipeg
Member Since:
13 July 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
2
30 March 2010 - 8:15 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Yep, that story of Popeye is an amazing one. What a dog! I love the "Four Legs is Just Greedy" attached to his cart.

I was thinking how our Comet would make a natural mum for little Popeye. Sounds like they have many things in common. Cute, playful, a tad ornery.

Las Vegas, Nevada
Member Since:
14 August 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
3
30 March 2010 - 9:16 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_EditHistory sp_QuotePost

 

 

Hey T –

Tell it to the paw.

 

 

 

Okay, I had to steal that one!

 

 

Ignore the avatar - I've been helping JimDawg Linksalot.

Her Retired AvatarComet - 1999 to 2011

She departed us unexpectedly  January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.

She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.

Mesa, AZ
Member Since:
27 April 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
4
1 April 2010 - 3:37 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Do they make chairs for dogs that lose the use of the leg that is on the same side as the amputation?  We sure could have used one when Chuy had his FHO surgery last year.

Chuy, showing everyone that Tripawds do everything 3 times better than regular dogs!

Chuy's Short Stories

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
5
1 April 2010 - 3:53 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Doggon makes wheelchairs for dogs that have lost use of either their front legs or rear legs. So, if a dog has one remaining rear right, we assume he/she could use a front-leg cart. But we all know what happens when we assume. Seems like a question best posed to them directly. Thanks for asking!

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Wesley Chapel, FL
Member Since:
13 September 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
6
1 April 2010 - 5:15 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

I just watched all the videos on Popeye's website... I am in love with this doggie!!!

Angel Jake's Mom

Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!

Winnipeg
Member Since:
13 July 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
7
1 April 2010 - 7:33 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

In love and I bet you had some good cries too. Popeye is doggon amazing!!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
8
30 September 2011 - 1:52 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Welcome Laury, your future posts will not require moderation. Consider posting your need for a wheelchair in the Tripawds Angel Exchange, or starting a new forum topic or blog to share Baze's story.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Forum Timezone: America/Denver
Most Users Ever Online: 946
Currently Online: admin, Jason
Guest(s) 224
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 1268
Members: 17733
Moderators: 6
Admins: 3
Forum Stats:
Groups: 4
Forums: 24
Topics: 18610
Posts: 256802
Administrators: admin, jerry, Tripawds
Tripawds is brought to you by Tripawds.
HOME » NEWS » BLOGS » FORUMS » CHAT » YOUR PRIVACY » RANDOM BLOG