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!
this is the first time i've posted on this forum. i was so glad to come across this site! long story- short, i have a 5 year old bull terrier tripod. (missing his right hind leg) he lost his leg after complications from a fracture a couple years ago. he is extremely active and loves to hike with me. if he doesn't get his exercise, he is an unhappy dog. he also has bad skin from environmental allergies, which make the skin on his feet very sensitive.
in the past year, on our hikes it always seems as though he comes home with sores in between his pads. we wait until they heal to go out again, but inevitably it happens again on the next one. it kills me to see him in pain with every step, and i don't know what i can do to help prevent these. his allergies are mostly under control but his feet are still so sensitive.
i need advice on how to prevent these sores. has anyone had luck with the boots? or would a rub (like musher's secret) be better? if you get the boots, do you recommend the liners, too? i'm afraid that dirt, rocks, water and sand will get stuck in the boot and still cause problems…
thank you so much!
<3 kano's mom
Hi Kano & Mom,
What a doll you are! Glad to hear that you're doing so well on Three legs, other than the foot sores. Thanks for joining us! Hope you don't mind that we moved your post here, but we felt it was more about "Hopping Around" and could help other pawrents in this area.
Just curious but what is the offiicial diagnosis on the foot sores? How do you know it's environmental? If so, what things instigate the sores?
We've written about booties in our Gear Blog before, and the options that are out there. Our findings and what rehab vets have told us about about boots are:
Dogs with mobility problems aren't the best candidates for boots (i.e., dogs with degenerative myleopathy, hip displaysia). Dogs like this especially need to know where their feet are; boots will sometimes confused dogs because they can't feel the ground. More mobile dogs can handle this feeling and their brain can process it better.
Dogs with excellent coordination (sounds like Kano fits this category), might do well with them, but you never know until you try them.
One easy, inexpensive way to see if Kano will tolerate having shoes is the PAWZ disposable booties.
If you find that he doesn't mind them at all, we highly recommend Ruff Wear's Bark N Boots with liners for dogs. If they are fitted properly and they are cinched down right, dirt will not get inside. Wyatt wears them all the time and he goes through snow, sand and dirt without a problem. The liners are especially useful for keeping the booties in place and not allowing them to rotate (which can happen but only if 1) they aren't cinched town tightly and 2) they are improperly fitted.
If Kano doesn't like shoes, Musher's Secret is the second best good choice. We used it on Sprit Jerry a lot because he hated shoes.
Hope this helps! We can't wait to hear more about your active boy!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Don't give up right away if you try the boots and at first he's walking funny (picking his feet way up - harder to do as a tripawd, but Gerry still managed too somewhat) at first, especially in the house. My first dog Yoda took a few days (this was while he was till four-legged) to walk normally with boots on, but he did eventually. And walking outside was best for him, because he'd get distracted by smells and enjoying the walk (eventually) and forget about the weird feel of the boots. At first though, as I recall, he did sort of ignore everything else on the walk except for those darn boots, and did try to shake them off. I found boots with a drawstring at the top were the most effective for staying on his feet. (This was before I found Tripawds, so the boots they recommend could be way better - I don't have experience with them). Don't judge their effectiveness by how he walks with them while he's still in side. Also, since I've only needed boots for Yoda and Gerry in winter (and only the worst part of winter at that), after going the rest of the year without them, every winter he would have an adjustment period again, but it was briefer. Good luck!
Gerry has been a tripawd since 12/16/2009.
He was a shelter dog with a mysterious past and an irrepairable knee injury.
Videos and pics of Gerry's pawesomeness can be found at: http://gerry.tripawds.com
I use the boots, so I'm not trying to discourage you, but you have to be careful with them. Make sure they are on properly and are not twisting as he walks or they can rub sores. Proper sizing is essential.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Hi Kano's Mom,
I'm not that experienced with the boots... but if you try them and they keep twisting around and are not comfortable for Kona, I would definitely try the Musher's Secret that Jerry recommended.
Let us know what you try and how it works for Kona!
Angel Jake and Wolfie's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
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