Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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After a LiveChat on Tripawds.com with Dr. Waldman this month, I've gotten Maggie back on track with her PT work. We'd been slacking off a bit with the better weather now and have just been taking walks. Dr. Waldman said that walking is NOT rehab and that Tripawds need to have a strong core....so along with some stuff I have gotten from video's I have by Dr. Chris Zink and Debbie Saunders, I also decided to buy two FitPaws balance cushions after the chat with Dr. Waldman.
By adding strengthening activity to our Tripawder's(or any dog!) exercise, it has many benefits:
- Improved reaction and control of their body
- Increased trunk and core strength
- Stabilization of weak areas
- Improve balance and awareness of the body's position in space
- Increase range of motion of joints and lengthening of muscles
Here is Maggie on the FitPaws balance cushions. I bought two to put side by side so I could get her entire body on the cushions. I have her do reps. of "sit to stand"; reach for treats to shoulders and hips; walk over cushion; front or rear paw(s) on cushion and reach for treats; and manually rock her front to back and side to side.
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And here is Maggie with her front end on the balance disc. Obviously, she cannot get her whole body on this disc. By putting her front end on and her reaching for treats high, that puts the weight on her rear end, helping to strengthen it. This disc is alot harder for her to balance than the cushions.
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And this is Maggie doing Figure 8's around two cones. The closer you put the cones together, the tougher it is for the dog. This is another strengthening exercise.
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And this is an older video of Maggie doing cavaletti's...another strengthening exercise. I made a new video last nite but I can't get it to load correctly 🙁 Sorry this one is dark - I'll have to tape her again doing them to get a better video.
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After Maggie does a PT work session, I do range of motion stretches with her three legs. Dr. Waldman also pointed out to be sure to do hip extensions on the remaining rear leg often. I can only assume due to a rear tripawder not being able to really stretch out and hopping with leg underneath them most of the time.
Dr. Waldman suggested doing 10-15 reps per day of various standing exercises such as these, on an unstable surface like the FitPaws cushions. She commented that walking is NOT rehab...core strength is the key for mobility issues. Tripawder's should only walk 10-15 minutes at a time, 2-3 times per day.
I hope I am quoting Dr. Waldman correctly! She was a great help in kicking my butt in gear to getting back to Maggie's rehab...she said it needs to be done long term.
Hope these video's are helpful! Maggie loves to do these 'tricks' for treats!
Tracy, Maggie's Mom
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
Maggie I love the the videos! Loved, loved, loved them!!!!
But some of us are not as talented as you are! Comet demands her treats and aint doing a darn thing to get them except keep up and follow me to the pantry!
So since you are a superstar, you deserve a cool star photo!
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.
Maggie, this is Tripawd tips in action, thank you so much for sharing them here too. You have a very, very cool Mom, please give her a big smooch and tell her how cool we think she is!!!
Mind if we share them in our blogs? These videos are terrific.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Dang, you guys wear me OUT!!
Our rehab tonight is cookies and milk on the couch!!
Karen and the pug girls
Hi Maggie Moo (love your new photo),
I saw this on your blog and have been meaning to comment - I'm so impressed by your mom and showing us other tripawds how to do these exercises. It really makes me think about more that I could be doing for Mackenzie and her physical therapy. Do you think wrestling with her brother Kobe or chewing on marrow bones counts at all? I think your mom missed her calling. These are such informative videos and really appreciate the time your mom put into all of this. Thanks so much for sharing this with us.
Kami (Mackenzie's Mom)
My sweet golden Mackenzie. She became my angel on Dec 29, 2010 at the age of 8 1/2 although she was always my angel from the time we brought her home. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in Sept 2009 and officially became a tripawd (front leg) on Nov 5, 2009. She will be forever in my heart and now she's running free with all of our other tripawd heroes. I love you Mackenzie!
Comet's Mom…I LOVE the picture you did! Now to transfer that to her avatar 😉
Admin….you are most welcome to put Maggie's video's in your blogs! I did those just for you as you asked to see some 
Karen…as you know, my Maggie can demand treats from me…and she doesn't have to do a thing to get them! She'd probably like to join you and your Maggie on the couch for cookies too!
Kami….I DO love to do the PT work with my dogs….my other dog gets her turn too …for just a glimpse with her…if you're interested, check out these two youtube video's of her. Obviously, these two PT tools Maggie can't do…too tough for a 3 legger!
Some of these things may seem like not much as far as being "physical" for the dog…but Maggie can attest that YES, a session of this is physically taxing! Even more so, than say a short walk..
And yes…that's Maggie barking and whining in the background…she HATES waiting her turn! She was in the backroom – can you say she's spoiled? 
Tracy, Maggie's Mom…..who yes, really would like to work with dogs professionally doing PT/rehab work!!
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
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