Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi!
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So, we're thinking of adopting a three-legged pooch named Snoop, who has had his hind leg amputated just after the shoulder. The rescue centre aren't sure of the circumstances surrounding the amputation or anything like that, but Snoop is maybe an English Bulldog Cross with bundles of energy and has all the time in the world for our 12 month old staffy cross who proves too much for many dogs.Â
However, he's had little training and is relatively young, maybe 1-2 years old. He pulls frantically on the lead and in doing so his stump drags across the ground. It's obvious this happens quite a lot as his stump was already cut when we met him and he continued on a walk with us.
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Are there any protective measures I can take whilst teaching him not to pull to stop his stump dragging on the ground?
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Thank you!
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Louise
lewisphipps said
Snoop, who has had his hind leg amputated just after the shoulder....
Welcome, your future posts will not require moderation.
How much of Snoop's hip and femur are left? (The shoulder/scapula refers to front limbs.) And when was his amputation? The dragging may just be a matter of him needing to regain strength. Rear-leggers tend to take a bit longer to rebuild muscle. But if he is damaging his stump, it definitely needs to be addressed.
Consider rehab work and strengthening exercises. Walks do not build strength, only stamina. And much shorter, more frequent walks are highly recommended, especially for new tripawds. Many more tips can be found in Jerry's Required Reading List and the Tripawds e-book Three Legs and A Spare.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome Louise!
What a cute pic of Snoop! I hope it all works out for you! Keep us posted!
Comet - 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.
Hi! Thanks for the response and apologies at my lack of knowledge.
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The picture was of my staffy girl Poppy, but we brought snoop home today and they're getting on very well thus far 🙂
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Here's a picture of them in the garden earlier (http://twitpic.com/a5fjmv) - you can see what's left of Snoop's leg here 🙂 his stump is definitely sore!Â
Oh my gosh you don't need to apologize, we're all about education here!Â
So his amputation looks fairly common (some Tripawds get the leg removed all the way to the hip, some don't. It depends on the surgeon's preference).
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It does take time to build up strength, and being that he's such a stout little guy, it may take him even longer than the average Tripawd. As you probably know, it also takes time to create a bond with a new dog, and a strong commitment to training will turn him into one fabulous pup! Many adoptable dogs were never taught proper skills, he sounds like he needs a good, strong teacher to get you both on the right path. See my friends at MySmartPuppy.com to learn more about how to choose the right trainer.Â
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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