Hi there,

It's great news that Cali is adapting so well and that her balance is so good.

I entirely agree with Tina, above, re the value of seeing a rehab vet. It's not that you necessarily will need to keep going regularly, but to have at least an initial appointment at this stage (say after the stitches come out, if she has them) will really help to give you the tools to help Cali live a long and active life on three. What's more the Tripawds Rehab fund will even pay for your first appointment.

Re the hiking, I'm sorry as I know it is not what you want to hear, but in my experience and that of people I've talked to, losing a leg does mean rethinking approaches to exercise. Cali is young and clearly active and healthy and will, I am sure, adapt very well, but long walks place a great deal of stress on her remaining joints and you need to protect her from the potential consequences of this (arthritis and other skeletal problems). What's more, if she is anything like my Meg (an extremely active front leg tripawd), Cali will not tell you she's had enough. She will actively seek to keep going and give every sign of enjoying herself thoroughly. It is up to you to impose safe limits. Dogs live in the now, but you need to think of the future.

This is definitely the aspect of three-legged life that I have struggled the most with. We used to walk for hours each day. We loved being up in the hills together, or out on the fens with the rabbits and hares. But what I've learned is that, though Meg loves to chase, what she enjoys more than anything is just spending time outside. She does still chase aplenty, don't get me wrong, she still very much enjoys her walks, but they are far shorter than they used to be, and I make sure to incorporate lots of long breaks, where we just sit together and enjoy the air, the sights and smells. She loves swimming too. I have just ordered a stroller, like Tina, to enable us to go further and so Meg can enjoy more variety. Some people have used backpacks if they are really going off-piste. I haven't done this with Meg, though I did used to do it with my quadpawd, Elsie, when she was much younger.

Three-legged life is an adjustment for all of you, no question. But, as Mum to a ridiculously active Tripawd, I want to reassure you that a full, satisfying and active life is absolutely possible for Cali, it's just a question of approaching things in a slightly different way.

Meg is just over a year post amp, but there are others on the site who have far more experience of managing the needs of a Tripawd over time. Stay tuned, as I'm sure they will have lots of advice to offer.

All best,

Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx