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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My lab mix Lacey (11 1/2 years, 52 lbs) had her left rear leg amputated about 2 months ago due to osteosarcoma. The first two days were very difficult, but once she figured out her balance, she did great. She was an exceptional patient. Our struggles are with stairs and getting in/out of the car. I can lift her, but she doesn’t really like it and I am 70 years old. Ramps are too steep both at rear of car and side door. She can’t jump into floor of back seat…just doesn’t have enough power. Any suggestions?
Hi Zenda and Lacey, welcome! Your future posts won't need to wait for approval so post away.
It's good that you are thinking of these things for her. As a senior dog, she can use extra help now getting in and out of the car and with stairs. For those situations, we recommend a Ruffwear harness like the Flagline or the Webmaster. Both have been so helpful for members here, and for my own Tripawds as well.
As a rear-leg amputee she can wear either harness. The Webmaster Plus has more coverage under the belly when you assist her with the harness, I do like that one better for older dogs.
Also keep in mind that since she's missing a rear leg, she's lost half of her propulsion power, so jumping up and climbing stairs will always be more challenging.
One more recommendation: Take advantage of the Tripawds Foundation Rehabilitation Therapy grant! We can pay for your first rehab visit up to $200 the first time she goes to a canine rehab therapist. These folks are awesome and can tell you how you can help her now and into the future. They'll show you exercises you can do with her, and how to keep her injury-free!
I have two thoughts for you.
1. Work on the ramp without the car and slowly increase the angle to help build her strength for getting into the SUV. I would probably start fairly low, like if you have steps to get into your house, I'd probably rest the ramp on the lowest step. When that's easy, move it up to the second step.
2. What about a large, folding step-stool to give her one good boost between the ground and the SUV? Like this: I would orient it the long way so your dog can get all her feet on the stool and then step up from the stool into your car.
It drives me nuts that my link to a product was turned into a picture and clicking it doesn't actually take you to the product. Search amazon for "single step stool" - you'll get some good results that are fairly affordable.
Oooh I have that step stool, it's too small for our Nellie to use and almost a bit dangerous even for us, the platform is so small.
I like the suggestions to gradually increase the angle of the ramp.
I forgot to mention our Tripawds Gear Shop has car and truck stairs featured here.
There are a variety of single step stools available in different sizes.
I do not recommend the "TwiStep" SUV hitch attachment. My friend had one and the mechanism froze over time. I'm not sure if it rusted or just gunked up from exposure to whatever debris got thrown up at it from the road. It's cool in theory, but it's way too expensive to be unreliable. I've seen alot of dog people move to collapsible step stools vs ramps or hitch steps in the last couple of years.
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