Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello! I am brand new to this forum/community and a brand new dog owner, specifically a tripod dog owner!
We just adopted Annie a week ago from a county shelter. She is 3 years old and is missing her front left leg (we do not know her history or what happened to it). She gets around well and is a very sweet girl. We have noticed, however, that she struggles with the bottom of the stairs. We have hardwood floors throughout our house on the first floor. The second floor and stairs are carpeted. When she is coming downstairs and gets to the last step, she hesitates before hopping down onto the hardwood because she tends to slip easily and nearly falls every time. Any recommendations to help with this problem? Would a rug at the bottom of the stairs work? Is there anything we can put on her paws for traction maybe? I'm clueless!
Another thing we've noticed is that she tends to have trouble bracing herself and sitting when riding in the back of the car. If the car turns the way in which she does not have her leg, she can't brace herself and tends to fall over a lot. Is there a good harness for the car that might work? What do you recommend?
Thank you!
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Click any traction link for our best recommendations to keep tripawds safe on slick floors and help them up and down stairs. Carpet runners are best, and Power Paws traction socks work well indoors. Find many more reviews in the Tripawds gear blog.
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Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi and welcome.
Traction is HUGE!! You should add a rug at the bottom of the stairs and some throw rugs or yoga mats on the other areas she traverses regularly.
I have a little rear leg amp pug mix named Elly that I adopted last October. The only smooth surfaces in my house are tile which she navigates pretty well. But I have rugs at the bottom of the stairs, treads on the tile stairs and though out the kitchen. She flies around the house in the carpeted areas but she is much more cautious on the tile.
You are going to be so amazed and inspired by Annie!
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Annie is beautiful! A rug at the bottom of the stairs will definitely help - especially one that sticks to the floor well. I have had the best luck with rubber-backed rugs in areas like the bottom of stairs.
And as the for the car, I have never found a car harness that works well for my front-leg tripawd. She would do the same thing with falling over. We have a foldable crate we keep in the back and I always put her in that. She's good about laying down when she's in the crate because she can still see out the windows when laying down. But if she is standing and falls, it's a soft crate with mesh sides and she won't hurt herself.
Congrats on your new fur-baby!!! I would agree with everything everyone say about traction ... it is so key!
As for the car, while I no longer have my tripawd, I do have a dog that doesn't like to slide around. What we have found that works is that I have nestled several layers of bedding and padding on the floor behind the driver seat (Jasper doesn't care to look out the window) and she's safe and secure there. That way if we stop , she is already basically nestled and secured.
But if Annie prefers the window view ... I don't know ... Good luck! I am sure others will chime in!
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
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