Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi all,
I welcomed a tripawd into my life a few months ago. Loki (aka little miss mischief) lost a hind leg at just 3 months old after being hit by a car. Her family couldn't afford to save her life and surrendered her to a rescue that would save her. I got her a couple of months later. Loki is a wonderful dog - happy, affectionate, whip smart, and fearless. She's learned her manners and I'm getting her started in competitive nosework.
Loki is going to live her entire life on three legs. I want to do right by her in terms of protecting her remaining limbs. I'm friends with a rehab vet who has been very patient with my tripawd questions, but I don't think she treats many tripawds at her practice. I think I'm on the right track - I give Loki a joint supplement twice a day, I limit her access to stairs, she wears a lift harness (Ruffwear Flagline ) and I try to enforce breaks from physical activity. It's the last one that I struggle with because she's so young and energetic. I take my older dog, Tempest, on long walks in the park on the weekend but tend to leave Loki at home. I know Loki would love the longer walks, but I don't want to tax her legs.
Would a mobility cart allow Loki to go on longer walks safely? Most of the parks I go to have a nice paved trail. Tempest and I usually go for about an hour. I live a few hours from Eddie's Wheels, so I could bring Loki in for an appointment. If I'm understanding mobility carts correctly, I think it would help take some of the load off of her legs, which I think would be beneficial for long term health. Am I understanding this correctly? Are there negatives to getting a cart for a young dog?
Obligatory picture of my sweet girl
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Hi Loki and furmily, welcome! Thank you for adopting this sweet pup, she's so lucky to have found you for a parent. You ask terrific questions and I'm so glad you decided to post. All of your questions and concerns are spot on! I'll try to address them:
Loki is going to live her entire life on three legs. I want to do right by her in terms of protecting her remaining limbs.
Having raised our Wyatt Ray for 12 years on 3, there's a lot we learned the hard way. One of the best things you can do is take advantage of our rehab reimbursement program, have you heard about it? The Tripawds Foundation can pay for your first rehab visit ! I know you said your friend is a therapist, but has she done a total evaluation on Loki yet? If not, consider making an appointment to get her evaluated. Then your friend might be able to give you a better picture of how you can keep her strong and fit. Therapists are generally taught about body and mobility challenges like amputation, but if you feel that you want someone with more Tripawd experience, there's no harm in looking around. If you'd like the name of some good clinics near you, message me and I'll try to help you locate some.
I think I'm on the right track - I give Loki a joint supplement twice a day, I limit her access to stairs, she wears a lift harness (Ruffwear Flagline ) and I try to enforce breaks from physical activity.
You are totally in the right mindset! And yes for young dogs, moderating activity is critical. But how do you do that with puppy energy? Nosework! interactive brain games ! Anything that works the mind over the body is super beneficial now, and later in the senior years. We can't recommend them enough.
Would a mobility cart allow Loki to go on longer walks safely?
Many people ask this question. The truth is, wheelchairs are right for some Tripawds at some point in life, but for many they don't require that level of assistance. For instance, our Wyatt Ray , who had periodic rehab check-ins during his life, didn't require wheels until he was 10. Until then, it was all about moderating his activity and supporting his body with appropriate exercise. The best way to know how, or when, or if, Loki needs a wheelchair is the periodic rehab check-in.
I think it would help take some of the load off of her legs, which I think would be beneficial for long term health. Am I understanding this correctly? Are there negatives to getting a cart for a young dog?
Yes and no. When it comes to a Tripawd, it's not so much about keeping the legs protected but rather strengthening core muscles. Dog wheelchairs do not do that. They are more like a last resort to keep a dog having fun in the world. Until then, focusing on Tripawd-safe exercise and weight maintenance are the two best things you can do for her. That's where the therapist comes in handy.
The best way to get her out with you on those longer walks, is a dog stroller ! We loved the one we had for our Wyatt. He was 85 pounds and the one we found for him really got him out into the world when he was older. And I kept kicking myself for not getting one earlier in his life! So invest in a good one now, so that Loki can go out with the family. The dog strollers don't take the place of physical activity, but rather allow her to ride when the walk gets too far. She can get out, sniff and walk around, play, and get back in for longer adventures.
I hope this helps! Be sure to check out Loving Life On Three Legs if you haven't already, and holler away with any questions.
Oh, sorry your picture didn't show up. This is how adding images to the Forums works.
- Upload pics to a photo sharing site like imgur.com or your own Tripawds blog (https://tripawd...../supporter). Pictures and video have to be hosted (live) somewhere other than in the forums.
- Once the photo is uploaded somewhere, right click and copy the Image URL or just copy the image if you’re on a phone
- Return to your Tripawds Forum post and paste the image URL (or the image itself) in your post. It should automatically appear.
We can't wait to see her! If you’d like help figuring out the process let me know.
This Loki gal is mighty lucy to have you as her hooman! You are clearly dedicated to giving her the best life possible and arming yourself with good information on raising a tripawd.
Jerry truly has given you virtually everything you need to give Loki long term health non three. Yoj already are givi g her a good start and asking smart questions.
Look forward to seeing her ohoto!
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!
Hello and welcome to you and Loki.
What kind of dog is Loki? How big is she?
Your story mirrors mine except my girl Elly didn't lose a rear leg until she was 7 months old after being hit by a car, I adopted her when she was 10 months old. Elly is a little Pug mix, about 14.5 pounds and she now about 7.5 years old.
You sound like you are on the right track! I have a stroller that I use for longer walks. I also have an almost 16 year old Pug boy who spends most of our walks in the stroller, Elly walks some and rides some depending on how long a walk we take.
When Elly came home at 10 months old she was full of puppy energy! I had a tough time training her to use the little stairs or stools instead of jumping on and off the furniture...even at her size and missing a back leg she can jump onto a full sized bed! Since she is my second rear amp Tri, and I've been around this site for awhile I knew that I needed to build her core and leg strength and work on balance. I should also mention that Elly had terrible anxiety and fear issues when I got her so lots of my training was meant to help with that. We took a ton of classes to help with her confidence and get training ideas. We play puzzle and food games, do exercises, and practice obedience and tricks.
The very best thing we discovered- Nose Work! I started just to build her confidence, never intending to compete. But she turned out to be pretty good at it and she loves it. It really challenges her mind and tires her out without taxing her body. And it has done wonders for her confidence. We started about 5.5 years ago and are now at the NW3 level. We've only competed 2 times in the last year (including yesterday) because of some family issues, and of course we lost most all of 2020 to covid.
These might be in the link Jerry gave you but I'll share a video I made of some of Elly's games:
Can't wait to see pictures of your girl!
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
Thank you all for the advice!
I have quite a collection of puzzle toys/games and regularly use them for feeding Loki. She's very driven and has yet to meet a puzzle she can't figure out. And we are training in nosework! I got started with nosework when Tempest was young and we compete at the elite level. I'm taking my time with Loki on primary so she has a good foundation before transitioning to odor.
Loki is about 30lbs. I believe her mom was a Siberian Husky based on the info I got from the rescue, not sure what her other half is. She's fawn sable with a little black. I'll follow Jerry's instructions on posting a picture later.
I had looked into the K9 Sport Sack, but not a stroller. She's young and energetic and wants to do everything herself. I know managing her energy/activity is going to get easier as she matures. It's also in the back of my mind that when we start doing nosework trials, there can be very long walks to search areas and I don't want Loki to exhaust herself before she searches. I don't expect to compete with her for at least another year, so I have time to figure that out. I've also been acclimating her to using boots on a slippery surface because every container search I've done in trial with Tempest has been on a slick floor. I tried Toe Grips first, but Loki was determined to pull them off! Boots have worked better.
Ooooh exciting to know that you are a nosework expert! We can learn so much from you, Loki and Tempest!
The K9 Sport Sack is a hit with Charles Avocado Van Gough's mom Chelsea!
I looooove that you are acclimating her to boots. They can be so helpful in many situations. LOL I was just about to recommend Toe Grips and then I read your comment about Loki tearing them off. Yikes! Did you try super gluing them on?
she's very driven and has yet to meet a puzzle she can't figure out.
Elly too! If you watched the video we don't play with the mushroom toy or the bottle anymore because she figured out that she could just tilt them and food would come out. Like in the vid she would just take the mushroom to her bed and prop it up on the side of the bed, sometimes she wouldn't even stand up. I rotate the others so she doesn't get bored. But even if she knows how they work they help her strength and balance as long as she has to work to get the treats.
I looked at the K9 Sport Sack too but decided it wouldn't work for Elly. First, she absolutely HATES to be held (except for when she is scared) and isn't too keen on being 'confined'. Also I don't think she would be comfortable sitting in the pack. She has always been very sensitive of her amp site and unlike my first rear amp dog, Elly has no femur left at all. For the first several years I had her she wouldn't sit on any hard surface and didn't like when I put my hand on her hip. She is better about it now, but since I have the old Pug boy to cart around we'll stick with the stroller for now.
Great that you are at Elite! We are almost there. I've never had an issue with the walks to search areas tiring her out, the issue we had is long waits at staging gates. It is much more tiring for her to stand still for long periods than walk. I've had to take a small mat with me so she will sit down when we have long waits. She is small enough that I can carry her if she does tire out, I have carried her across pavement when the weather is really hot, but she acts like she is in trouble when I pick her up.
And you are really smart to introduce boots now. Elly hasn't had any traction issues anywhere luckily! She's been on all types of surfaces- slick gym floors, tile, stone, concrete, even metal when we got to search a big WW2 airplane. She is very fit and strong but is aging- I need to stark working with her and boots or toe grips so that she will be ready when we need them.
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
I'm impressed Elly hasn't had any issues with traction ! If Loki's feet slip, her confidence tanks. She can do some tile or hardwood floors, but not others. Interior concrete is usually an issue, but not exterior (tends to have a rougher finish).
I've been doing nosework drop ins on the weekend with a trainer who has access to a bunch of different locations - a daycare center, a rec hall, a couple of churches. This past weekend we sniffed in a church basement with smooth concrete floors. Loki definitely needed her boots. Even with them, she was moving more cautiously than she would have if we'd been on a surface with texture. I'd like to retry the toe grips when Loki is a little more mature and see if she tolerates them better. I like the idea that we'd be prepared for any surface at all times.
Congrats to you and Elly on your new NW3 title! I really enjoyed NW3. Elite is fun, too, but Tempest developed allergies after we got our NW3-ELT and she isn't the same dog I used to have. Some days I can't read her at all. We've got a couple of trials coming up and I'm hoping Tempest feels up for them.
This is so fascinating to read the exchange between you and Karen.
It's quite interesting and we can all learn a lot. I know it's fun to be communicating with someone who is on the same page with you and who understands all the ins and outs of nosework Etc. Continue to update as you can. It'll be fun too read the exchanges between you and Karen as you compare all of the adventures of your pup's.
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!
I can't wait until our Wyatt Ray sends us our next Tripawds spokesdog, so I can start getting nosework tips from you and Karen. It's such a cool sport for all dogs but especially Tripawds.
A few years ago I met this blind dog nosework champ and got to see him in action. SO cool!
Nosework is such a great sport. Any dog who is mobile and has a working nose can do nosework! I've been doing this for a few years now and have some opportunities to work with incredible trainers from across the country. I'm more than happy to share my nosework knowledge with anyone interested in getting into it. And you don't need to be competitive to enjoy nosework with your dog - it can be a great way to bond with your dog and get them a little mental stimulation at home.
Thank you all for this wonderful little community. I've been lurking for awhile and I feel like I've been able to learn a lot.
You are SO welcome! And I can already tell we will learn a lot from you so I'm really happy you graduated from lurker status! Thank you!
If Loki's feet slip, her confidence tanks.
My first rear amp Tripawd was like this. Maggie was a little Pug- after her amp she wouldn't even try to go up more than 2 or 3 stairs and refused to go up the little steps or stools by the furniture. I suspect that she slipped and fell on the stairs at my parent's house. Mag was the type that could be discouraged from activity when she 'failed'.
Elly does slip very occasionally but it never seems to bother her. Maybe because she has been raised in a house with tile and waterproof vinyl floors. Because I used to live with my elderly father I couldn't put down too many rugs... he would trip over them. She has learned to be cautious I guess. I have a friend who has spent most of the last year trying to get her BC over his fear of shiny floors. He cruised through NW1 and NW2 then slipped once and then started panicking and scaring himself. He is a great dog otherwise. You are so smart to work with Loki now to avoid these issues.
Elly is very fit and strong which also helps. Having been fortunate enough to make 15 years old with my last two Pugs I see how their age related decrease in strength really affects their ability to keep their feet under them. My last Pug Tani would slip on throw rugs when she was in her late 14's, I had to resort to yoga mats.
And, drum roll!!! We earned our NW3 Elite Title today!
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
Congrats Karen and Elly! Welcome to elite!
When we do drop ins out in the world, the trainer is always telling me to take Loki to this room or that for exposure to different surfaces. It's been really great for her. Just a short walk, lots of cookies and praise if she's struggling. I'm really lucky to have these opportunities with her now. I want her to be prepared and confident when she starts trialling.
krun15 said
And, drum roll!!! We earned our NW3 Elite Title today!
YEAH!!!! Karen that is AMAZING!!!! I'm so thrilled for you and Elly, we all are. Congratulations! Looking forward to the blog update!
I really like the idea of testing out different floor surfaces in short increments. Great for all dogs but especially Tripawds.
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