TRIPAWDS: Home to 22974 Members and 2152 Blogs.
HOME » NEWS » BLOGS » FORUMS » CHAT » YOUR PRIVACY » RANDOM BLOG

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.

JUMP TO FORUMS

Join The Tripawds Community

Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:

Instant post approval.

Private messages to members.

Subscribe to favorite topics.

Live Chat and much more!

Please consider registering
Guest
Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
Register Lost password?
sp_Feed sp_PrintTopic sp_TopicIcon-c
Help! Baby Chick Born Missing a Leg!
sp_NewTopic Add Topic
Member Since:
22 December 2016
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
1
22 December 2016 - 12:56 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

I feel a little awkward posting on a site that is geared towards dogs and cats, but I'm desperate. You see, on Saturday (12-19-16) I had a baby chick hatch with just one leg. Her other leg ends in a stump at the "elbow" joint, where the scaly part of the leg usually starts. She has learned to hop when she needs to and can even stand for a few seconds.

I've posted on some poultry forums and the general response I got was, "Aww poor thing, guess you'll have to put her down." Some people were not even that gentle about it. One lady told me cull her because "it'll never be a real chicken" and "You should save your efforts for the best chicks." If her quality of life dwindles to the point where I have to make that call, I'll do what I have to...but my chickens are my pets as much as my dog is. I don't cull unless I have to.

Based on the chick's (I've named her Una) performance so far, I think more mobility would not be an impossible goal to achieve. I'm looking for suggestions on how to improve her balance, strengthen her remaining leg, protect her joints etc. Even though you probably don't have personal experience with the same exact problem (apparently no one does, since they're all culled upon hatching), any advice or ideas would be hugely appreciated. 

If a dog can learn to walk on two legs, a chicken can walk on one.

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
2
22 December 2016 - 8:53 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Hi and welcome! Well we are so glad you joined us and took the brave step to post. All it takes is one person to take that first "hop" and we have all been educated about how other species can thrive with one or even two less limbs, so thank you!

Now, we are indeed an all-species community. We've had goats, rabbits, all sorts of other animals besides cats and dogs join us. And now, your Una!

I'm not a poultry person but I have teenage nieces who I will see later today, and they are 4H rock stars in poultry so I will ask them. Meanwhile, do check out this post about Dr. Laurie Hess. She's a board-certified avian vet in New York and I have no doubt she's cared for chickens. From what she tells us, even birds can thrive on one leg and there's really not a lot that a human needs to do to help them out.

Here are the two stories we've written about her, and her one-legged cockateil patients:

All About Exotic Animal Tripawds with Dr. Laurie Hess, DVM

the Tripawd Tuesday tale of Patsy and Janet, two amputee birds who each lost a limb to an Amazon parrot.

We may have poultry folks here in the Forums so hang tight for some suggestions OK?

(It makes me sad that people are so instantly ready to "cull" a chicken just because it's different).

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
3
22 December 2016 - 2:00 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

You go girl!!!! YAAAAAAAAAY FOR YOU for caring abput this special Soul who has a will to live and enjoy life as nature intended!!!

And yeah..."cull"..."harvest"....what pretty little words for KILL and SLAUGHTER... Said too much...oops!

Anything that was injured ending up finding a home with us when I was a kid. I specifically remember a one legged Dove someone brought to my Dad. Dad built a safe little area for it outdoors, with shelter and its own little nature's habitat. He could fly up to the little tree Dad had enclosed and would perch just fine on that one leg.

Looking forward ro following Una in ner adventures.
And THANK YOU for caring about Una's well being.

Hugs!

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!

Michigan


Member Since:
11 July 2016
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
4
24 December 2016 - 9:33 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Hi and Welcome,

I Agree with Sally good for you! Just in case you haven't done a search on one legged chickens.

You are not alone in being a good hearted soul😍 I found these for you, might help you see chickens do adapt too!

Keep us posted would love to see how Una hops along.

https://youtu.b.....gGJ2ZNNC0U

http://www.rede.....d-chicken/

Hugs

Holly & Purrkinsheart

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
5
24 December 2016 - 9:41 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Oh Holly!!!! Bless your heart!!! These are grrrreat!! THANK YOU!!!!

Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!

Member Since:
14 February 2016
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
6
24 December 2016 - 9:51 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Wow!  These videos are great!

Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016.  Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016.  Lung mets August 25, 2016.  Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016.   Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.  

Wherever they are, they are together.

Member Since:
22 December 2016
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
7
24 December 2016 - 10:03 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Thank all of you for the responses! Those videos are so cool, haha!

Una is doing well. She is still spending most of her time sitting down, BUT she has been practicing standing and hopping. This morning I saw her standing quite well for at least 10 seconds with no wobbling at all, and then she took a couple very neat hops before choosing a place to sit! She doesn't usually manage so well yet, but I'm seeing instances like that more and more. She is growing as fast as Gloria, both of their wings and tiny tail feathers are coming in nicely -white for Gloria, and a mothlike blue roan color for Una. If I could figure out how to post images I'd show you. whatever Thanks again!

Michigan


Member Since:
11 July 2016
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
8
24 December 2016 - 10:22 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

I think its just a matter of time before Una figures it all out, and I have no doubt she will figure it out! All animals adapt so well. smiley

I think Una will amaze you and be your best chicken yet! 

Here is a post on how to add photos

http://tripawds.....-photos-1/

Hope that helps. We would all love to see pictures of her and follow how she get along. 

Then you can post how well she is doing on those poultry forums😉

Hugs,

Holly & Purrkinsheart

Member Since:
22 December 2016
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
9
26 December 2016 - 11:28 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Thanks for the tip, Holly! Super helpful!

I am pleased to announce that Una is making tremendous progress. For the last day or so, I have even seen some "unnecessary standing", i.e. standing that was not necessary to get a drink, move closer to the light, etc. I've seen her standing up while eating (for brief intervals) and even standing and scratching her head with her stump! 

She is somewhat nervous about being held, I think because it makes her feel unsteady and she flutters her little moth wings like crazy until she can get settled. Gloria (her buddy) is a big ham for attention and will. Not. Get off my hand voluntarily.

We rehomed the other 5 chicks today because we don't really have room for them when they grow up, plus their mom was threatening to kill my toy poodle whenever he stepped out to pee, lol. But it means I can now focus more on these two.

Here are the pics:

1) Gloria & Una's "family photo" at 4 days old. Una's the one sitting down, duh.

2) Una's legs. Can't see it too well here but she has 3 tiny toes with claws, 1 is at a right angle to her body and 2 point backwards and are fused together. Her stump is growing as fast as her other leg and seems healthy, except for some bruising from when she was still trying to walk on it.

3) Una today (about 10 days old). Their wing feathers, tail feathers and coverts are coming in nicely. She was trying to dustbathe, because of the patterns on my quilts looking like dirt I guess. laughing

4) Una standing! It's tricky getting pics of her standing, this is actually the first one I've gotten where you can tell. She and Gloria are about the same size, but Gloria was coming over to check out my phone, so she looks bigger. Una's leg rests in a neutral position when she's just standing and thrusts backwards for balance when she hops. She also uses her wings for balance.

Gloria (standing) and Una, 4 days old

 Una around 5 days old
 Una, 10 days old
  chicks-12-26-16-b-una-standing-e1482819391415.jpg

Thanks for being interested! I think everyone I know is sick of me yapping about her, haha. Yesterday I was celebrating the new accomplishment of pooping standing up, which is really great for hygiene purposes but seems like a very strange thing to get excited about!poopicon_png And thanks again for the tip about the pictures!

Michigan


Member Since:
11 July 2016
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
10
27 December 2016 - 5:01 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Yeah you figured out the pictures!

Oh my gosh they are ADORABLE!🐣🐤

Una is doing fantastic! I love her little markings. Gloria is helping her;)

This is the best place to celebrate every little or huge thing!

Please know we are interested in all animals!  No one here, will get sick of hearing about accomplishments 😍 every little or big thing we celebrate that our animals do!

Its not at all strange to get excited about! If other people don't understand, we feel bad for them! They obviously have not been blessed to have the love and joy that our fur or feather families bring! 

Una will teach you a lot of lessons along the way ! I have no doubt she will amaze you!

Those are huge accomplishments for Una clapstanding for no reason other to stand, dust baths on the quilt, and of course we do celebrate💩 poop, pee everything !😀  

Please feel free to share all of her accomplishments! We will be celebrating with you!

We will love to see them grow and Una hop on!

Hugs to Una, Gloria and You!

Holly & Purrkinsheart

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
11
27 December 2016 - 9:56 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Holly said it all so well! DITTO!!!

YAAAAAAAAAY FOR UNA!!!! These are wonderful little victories for her! Actually, BIG victories!!! 🙂

She and Gloria are just ADORABLE!! 🙂

Keep these great updates coming!!

Hugs!

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

PS...Little Poodle, run when you see Momma Chicken coming your way!!

Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
12
27 December 2016 - 10:45 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

You can talk one-legged chickens with us all day long and I guarantee you'll have a captive audience! We're thrilled that Una is growing up and getting stronger. That is SO cool!

Thanks for sharing these terrific photos. I hope you'll keep adding them so we can watch her (and do celebratory poopy dances with you!). And Holly, ditto to you, I LOVE the videos! They really made my morning.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Member Since:
22 December 2016
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
13
29 December 2016 - 10:19 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Una is still doing great. She stands up quite often now, although she has a tendency to stumble sideways. Do other tripawd animals have that problem, I wonder? Probably. Anyway, I'm letting her practice standing & walking outside the brooder, places where she can't just go lean on the wall. Her one leg is already more muscular than Gloria's two.

Also, we finally got a good picture of her standing up! 

Image Enlarger

Her legs have darkened up to olive green, which kind of helps me narrow down who her dad was. I think there were at least 2 others with the same sire in the clutch, though, so I don't think it's genetic. Probably the egg didn't get turned properly or there was a temperature fluctuation...7 eggs was probably too much for a first time mom. But I've had smaller hens hatch 16 "perfect" babies before! Now I'm just rambling. She was perfect enough to hatch by herself, and that's a tough job.

Anyway, Una's gotten really good at standing and actually seems to prefer it to sitting down, though she still sits more than Gloria does. She "vibrates" her stump leg just a little when standing still, for balance (that's why it's blurry in the pic), and uses it as a rudder when she hops. She's also starting to like being held more. Now both cry for someone to get them out of the brooder. The danger of keeping chicks in the house is that they will never let you do anything else! (I'm typing this with them on my lap.)

Norene, TN
Member Since:
21 October 2014
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
14
29 December 2016 - 10:37 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Now how sweet is that!!??? heart

Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.

"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."

- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
15
29 December 2016 - 10:39 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

YAY FOR UNA!!! REMARKABLE PROGRESS!!! 🙂 🙂

Yeah, a stumble here and there is normal. We call them "face plants"! That little stub probably does help her with her balance somehow. So sweet!

We now jave a tripawd "lap chicken" in tne family! Loooove it!! No way you can't help but spoil a tripawd!! So glad she and Gloria have you as their human!!

Looking forward ro more great updates AND adorable photos!!

Love

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!

Forum Timezone: America/Denver
Most Users Ever Online: 946
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 236
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 1268
Members: 17735
Moderators: 6
Admins: 3
Forum Stats:
Groups: 4
Forums: 24
Topics: 18610
Posts: 256809
Administrators: admin, jerry, Tripawds
Tripawds is brought to you by Tripawds.
HOME » NEWS » BLOGS » FORUMS » CHAT » YOUR PRIVACY » RANDOM BLOG