Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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We adopted a 9 month old German Shephard-Golden Retriever mix named Sam a little over a year ago who had had his left rear leg amputated about a month before adoption because he fell out of a moving car’s window. Since then I’ve noticed his lower back has become increasingly humped and he has more trouble going up stairs and jumping onto the couch as well as with walking around our neighborhood. He is also very flexible and lays down in a very bent way so I am not sure if that is helpful with his back problem or making it worse. He doesn’t seem to show pain right now but I’m worried he will soon as the problem becomes worse. Are there certain exercises or therapy we can do to make sure his back doesn’t get worse/affect his walking ability later on?
Another problem I have seen has been his paw chewing. This started about 3-4 months ago where he would lick and bite his front left paw. He becomes very agitated and fixated on his paw and if you try to stop him he gets very upset. His paw chewing has become more and more frequent and agitated. I am worried because his paw is becoming raw from all of the biting and he needs it to walk. I noticed in pictures from the day we adopted him that he always tucked that paw underneath him. He also pulls that paw away if you try to touch it or look at it. Could this be related to stress or perhaps the amount of weight he has to put on it being that he only has three legs now? He is a very alert and attentive dog (he picks his head up or wakes up every time he hears a noise) so maybe he worrying too much. Is there a way to stop the habit? I hate seeing him so agitated all of the time and I can see that he is very worn out from it.
Lastly, Sam has been unable to ride in a car since his accident and is scared to even get near the car. The few times we have been able to get him into the car he has thrown up and panicked so we had to go home. We tried giving him the medication his vet gave us for car sickness but he still threw up and panicked as soon as we started moving. We would love to be able to take him other places and go on trips but he just can’t stand the car. Any advice on how to help him overcome/cope with the trauma from the car?
Hi Sam and family, welcome! You've come to the right place for help. Thank you for adopting this sweetie, I love his avatar photo.
Poor guy, it does sound like he's got some issues from the accident, and very likely unaddressed pain. These are things that can be worked on though, by you and your vet, so don't feel hopeless. Here are my thoughts on the situation:
It sounds like he suffered additional injuries from the accident that unnoticed and unaddressed by the rescue. That is not uncommon, unfortunately. And now the hunched back, paw chewing and awkward ways he sits and moves are most likely pain signals , and the pain has caught up to him.
He may also be getting too much activity for such a young dog. What are his days like? How much walking/playtime does he get? Are there other dogs in the house? His weakness in the rear may be the result of too much activity for a dog of his age and body type, so right now it's time to scale back until you get professional help for him.
Have you ever discussed his mobility issues with your vet? Also, has Sam ever seen a rehab therapist? You will see in your other post that I mention the benefits of rehab therapy. I really, really think that 1) Sam needs a full exam by your vet, and possibly an orthopedic specialist, to determine if he is indeed in pain. 2) he also needs a rehab therapist who can aid in the process of helping him move better, and show you what Sam is and isn't capable of doing. Many people over-exercise their Tripawd unknowingly, and a rehab therapist is the best teacher to explain the right form of exercise for each individual dog.
Please check out my reply to your other post which has links to info about rehab therapy, and let me know if this helps OK? Stay tuned for feedback from others.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh as for the car rides....If you can get a mobile vet to come to your home, that's the best answer right now. Many vets are meeting clients and pets outside in the yard while Covid is still here.
You may also want to try a Thundercap, which works wonders on anxious dogs in certain situations like car rides. We use it all the time for Wyatt Ray , a super-anxious doggie.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome to you and Sam. Good for you for adopting a extra special pup!
I have a little rear amp Tripawd who lost a back leg after being hit by a car when she was 7 months old. Elly was 10 months old when I adopted her and she was a mess! She was understandably afraid of cars moving on the street, she whined the entire time she was riding in my truck, and she was afraid of most anything that moved and lots of things that didn't move.
In addition to her accident I was her 4th home in her 10 months of life. She has anxiety issues mostly separation anxiety, it's mild to moderate at home but severe related to me leaving her alone in my truck. I discovered that about 1.5 years after I got her and started taking Nose Work classes. She had to wait in the truck when it wasn't her turn and it turned into a disaster. Luckily she was not destructive in the truck but once I got her out she was inconsolable for 45 minutes. And although by then I had solved her whining in the truck that experience set us back to when I first got her. I had already taken lots of classes with her to help with her anxiety and fear issues but the sep anx was a whole new challenge. Luckily my trainer gave me a good resource to research and helped me work with Elly to calm her in the truck.
Although your issues are a bit different solving them would follow the same principles- you need to de-sensitize Sam around the car, he needs to learn that the car is a good thing and good things happen around the car. When I started working with Elly on her whining in the truck I took a bunch of treats and we just sat in the truck in the driveway. When she was quiet for a few seconds I would praise her and give a treat. Eventually she would be quiet for longer and longer and I would give treats and praise. Then we did it with the truck going somewhere. I always made sure the destination was somewhere fun- the park or pet food store- so that was a reward too. With Sam you might need to start with him just being around the outside of the stationary car. Maybe put a bed or mat next to the car and if he can sit or lay quietly for a few seconds then praise and treat. You have to work slowly and patiently. Only when he can be around the car without issues do you take the next step. That might be as simple and you sitting in the car with the door open and him still outside. Again, lots of praise and treats if he is calm. Then maybe get him in and right out of the truck again- if he is calm praise and treat. You get the idea... baby steps until he can sit in the stationary car calmly. Once I started working with Elly on waiting in the truck it took a year for me to be able to leave her alone in the truck, with me in sight, for 15 minutes. She was still pretty wound up when I came back to get her but the big difference was she would calm herself right away. Now, 3 years later, I can leave her for up to 45 minutes (only at Nose Work Trials) and she can calm down again when I come back. I did discover earlier this year that I can't do that too often- I was going to Trials every 3 or 4 weeks and her anxiety ramped up again.
As far as the paw chewing... First be sure he doesn't have some type of damage in his leg or shoulder or neck from the accident or since he's been on three that is causing pain or numbness in his foot. Then pay attention to when he starts to do it and see if you can find a trigger- is it at the same time? are you getting ready to leave? was he just outside and maybe is allergic to something getting on his foot? You might try gently re-directing to something else to chew on, maybe a bully stick or a kong. You want to be careful that you re-direct before he gets to chewing very much so he doesn't think he is getting rewarded for chewing on his foot. Another way to re-direct is to start a game or work on obedience or trick training with him. We do lots of food puzzles and games here- they are great for Tripawds to work on balance and core strength, and they challenge the mind.
Anyway- long post from me! Hopefully something here can help.
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
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