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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alexa had her front leg amputated about 9 days ago. She's recovering quite well and had only a couple of days of moping around. She's always been a very active and athletic dog, doing about 3-5 mile walks/hikes a day and go running with me on weekends for up to 12 miles at a time (even at ten years old). We have not been doing anything long or strenuous since she was diagnosed with MCT last summer. One of the tumors was on her leg and caused her pain and limping, then the surgery, recovery and immediate relapse on the same leg prevented us from long hikes or runs.
She has been hating it. In fact, while recovering from her tumor removal surgery, she slipped out of her collar and ran into the woods, ran down to the pond and would not be caught for hours!!!!! She really needed to let off steam :). Fortunately, it did not cause any issues in her recovery.
now that her leg has been amputated, she has been back on the sofa and dog bed for much longer than she likes, no doubt. At first she had a lot of stamina, then crashed and moped for a few days, now she is adjusting and back to walks. She is very athletic and adapting quite well. She's been up and down the stairs by herself for about a week now (a bit more cautious than before) and up and down the hillside on her retractable leash and harness. I can tell she wants back on those long trails, but I'm a bit worried she is taking it too fast. Sometimes she needs to stop and wait for a while, I think it is because she is tired. So, in the meantime we keep the walks to 1-2 miles. Today, however, we did our first 3 mile hike and she did great.
my question, though, is regarding her speed. Currently she only has one gear and that is fast, running speed. Too fast for me to keep up walking. This is great, but I think it is too early for us to go running again, no? I will ask the vet this week when she gets her stitches out, but would like to hear what you all think. Today, when we got home from our 3 mile trail hike, she was definitely tired, but in a good tired way. Just like old days after 8-10 miles.
I wonder if she is unable to do a regular stroll type speed as she hops along and the rhythm requires a certain speed, no? Will she figure it out someday?
Wow nine days out and she's doing so well, that's fantastic, what an unstoppable girl.
You ask some great questions.
With front leg amputees, they do tend to move at a faster pace than before because the momentum keeps them balanced. First, you might want to check out this interesting study about Tripawd Gaits:
CSU Gait Study Examines the Tripawd Dog Hop
Next, please consider getting her into rehab therapy (the Tripawds Foundation will even pay for the first consult!). She's such an active girl and like a lot of dogs, her mind is way more ready to run and do hikes again than her body. Nine days out isn't a long time and definitely not enough to build up the kind of core-strength needed to prevent injury, especially for a front-leg amputee. Focus on core-strengthening and balance games before endurance and she will have a long, happy injury-free life. But get her running long distances too much too soon and she's very likely to wear out her joints and experience a lot of pain.
There's a lot you can learn from rehab vets about what level of activity is appropriate and safe for her. General practitioner vets aren't as familiar with this science so your vet just might say "let her do whatever she wants," which is what all vets used to say until recently, but now with the development of rehab therapy for dogs a lot has changed and now there are better ways to help Tripawds lead injury-free lives. The best insight comes from certified rehab practitioners (CCRTs and CCRPs).
Our e-book, Loving Life On Three Legs , discusses this topic in great detail so I encourage you to check it out along with our Tripawds Gear Blog . Also here are some posts you might find helpful:
http://download.....m/?s=rehab
Until she rebuilds strength, consider a doggy stroller , they are awesome when a Tripawd wants to go further but shouldn't.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I agree about rehab therapy. Dogs want to return to their old self as quick as possible and they can't judge when they're doing too much. It's pretty rough on the front legger's to jog since that front leg is bearing all of their body weight now. Do you guys have a doggie pool nearby? That might be a really good way for her to burn steam without the joint stress.
Tanner has one speed also. There is no such thing as walking with him, but I also think some of that is pure personality. He's an all out kinda dog too. Is Alexa friendly with other dogs? We take Tanner to the local dog park and that really helps him.
Mom to Tripawd Angels Jake (2001-2014) and Rosco (2012-2015) and Tripawd Tanner. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we had today; and I'll always remember it”
Just great tonhear how well she is doing! Actually, pretty darn spectacular this early out!!
Great advice from Jerry and Elizabeth. Spot on! And Ive had the privilege of meeting Tanner...yeah, he's an "all out kinda' guy"...and a clown!
Sending lots of love to all!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
Oh my, you guys are amazing!!! Jerry, thanks for all those links.
i looked up a physical therapist and will call tomorrow. I want her to get checked out before sh develops an actual problem. Espevially since she is so active and progressing so rapidly. I actually can tell that her stance has already changed. Hind legs a bit lower and wider apart.
Before we started our walks, we would go down to the dry river bed to do her business and she spent quite some time balancing on those rocks while sniffing after rabbits. I'm think that helped with her balance quite a bit.
i was also looking into booties and that wrist support thingy. I know the gravel bothers her all of a sudden and I think booties would help if we hit the gravel trails. Does anyone have experience with the wrist thingy?
thanks again, you guys are awesome!!!
Alexa you rock! Yes please do look into rehab, we would love to see more Tripawds take advantage of the foundation's program.
I'm guessing one reason the gravel and rocks bother her is because her new stance makes her wobbly while walking on them, due to weak core muscles. One thing you can do to get her stronger in the core is to have her walk on couch cushions believe it or not (of course, put them on the floor first). It's great for teaching balance and proprioception (awareness of one's body in space).
We have lots of info about booties, click on this link for traction .
The wrist thingy....do you mean a carpal brace? Yes, that's definitely something to look into. However do not get an off-the-shelf one, they can do more harm than good. When you see a rehab vet they will be able to tell you what kind to get, take good measurements, etc. Check out these interviews with OrthoPets to learn more about braces for Tripawds:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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