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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Hello! I’ve had my girl Audrey for two years, and a year and a half with three legs. I originally fostered her just so she could have her back left leg amputated, but ultimately fell in love and now I’m a dog mum again...should’ve seen it coming!
Anywho, my girl can walk for miles and not get tired, she absolutely loves being out despite her being the laziest dog in the world at times. I usually just take her for one long walk (about an hour and a half) each day but now I’m worried I’m doing more harm than good with these long walks. When we fostered her, she had a problem with weight. She’s a Romanian cross but she’s definitely part lab! As well as the diet she’s been on for a year, she’s also had her walks and we even took her to hydrotherapy once a week for half a year, but unfortunately that had to come to an end due to the cost and me buying my first home. She’s now at her recommended weight so I’m overjoyed and relieved that her weight won’t be putting too much stress on her other limbs as it will have been in the past.
Now my worries lie in the exercise I’m giving her! Audrey is 24 kilos and around about 7 or 8 years old. Should I be taking her on more walks a day but have them be shorter, or still keep it at one walk a day but cut the time down? Or is our 1 hour to 1 hour 30 walk ok? Another possibility, could I not be walking her enough? She doesn’t like walking slow, I imagine because it’s harder to when you have to hop, so our long walks could possibly take someone else double the time to complete!
Thank you!
Sophie and Audrey
Hi Sophie and Audrey, welcome! Your future posts won't need approval so post away.
I love that you're a foster failure! Can't blame you for falling in love with her, she is adorable. What was the reason for her amputation?
You ask a GREAT question. Generally what physio therapists tell us is that a Tripawd should be walked a few times a day, but for shorter periods of time. For example, three walks a day at 15-20 minutes tops. The more you can break up the walks the better, whatever works for your lifestyle. Walking on grass is always better and yes Tripawds do hop along faster because it's easier to balance and propel forward. Check out our e-book Loving Life On Three Legs and the Tripawds Gear blog for more tips.
It sounds like she is really doing well and super fit. Good job on keeping her at a good weight and being so mindful of her activity! She is very lucky to have you for a mum.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello, thank you for the welcome!
She definitely is adorable, I swear she gets cuter each day! I can’t imagine my life without her now. Her amputation story is a little bit of a tricky one and I don’t want to go into too much detail...I was told by the rescue she was in pain due to a birth or growth defect and that’s why it needed to come off. I later found out some information from the vet who operated that was very upsetting.
Ah brilliant, thank you so much! I shall get straight onto sorting out a routine for us that works better for her! I’ve been discussing with my partner going back to hydrotherapy with her as well which I think she will love as she has definitely missed it!
I will definitely check the e-book out and the blog, thank you!
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