Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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’m writing this because I have lost patience with Duke. When we take him out using his sling and boots he seems to be refusing to go #2 because it’s not on his terms. He appears to want to go but won’t unless he’s in a snow drift, and once he’s in the snow drift it’s too deep and he either falls on his face or sinks down. Either way he won’t go. After all the snow we’ve had I shoveled out a large space the width of our yard and he won’t go #2 there either. The reason this is so frustrating is that the sling after a few minutes isn’t comfortable for my back and going in and out of snow banks is aggravating my knee MCL inflammation. We know he has to go because he’s like clockwork - after breakfast, after lunch and after dinner. But he will walk up and down the sidewalk, slip on ice and hit his head, but seems singularly focused on going back in the house and not doing his business.
I know this is weather related and an issue with his back leg (which I think he hurt in a snow drift to begin with), but he just seems so willful.
I’ve never lost patience with Duke before and I hate how this feels, but I am so frustrated. Thanks for reading my vent.
Venting here is therapeutic AND something we all understand the need to do on ocassion!! And usually it helps. So hopefully that's true in your case too!
Geez....all this and then havng knee and back issues too
GWIW my Happy Hannah, like some other dogs, basically would freeze if I tried to help her with a aling. Even if some dogs allow the help with a aling, they won't potty with their hooman standing right next to them trying to hold them with a sling.
The part of the yard shoveled, is it where he would normally go??
When was the last time he #2?
What's the story with his rear leg?? It may be that it's painful for him to squat, this the reason for using a snowdrift for "support". Is he on any pain meds for his leg? Has it been checked out?
One more thought. Aybe don't take him out after each meal. Wait u til he absolutely insists uoj take him out bec6 the urge to 💩 is too great to be ig ored!
Ice is NOT a friend to Tripawds. Have you tried booties?
Anyway, just throwing stuff out there.
And feel free to vent here as many times as you need! We understand!
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!
It's OK, we understand. If only they could communicate in our language. (((hugs)))) It's so hard sometimes and the snow and your own health issues aren't making it easier. I'm so sorry.
Something to discuss with your vet is the possibility of Duke having IVDD issues. When our Wyatt was having spinal compression problems (aka lumbosacral disease, a form of IVDD), he couldn't poop on his own and did the same thing at potty time. We'd take him out and he wouldn't go. We found out that it was very painful for him to try to get into position and strain to poop. So I'm wondering if that is what's happening to Duke? Please discuss that as a possibility with your vet.
If that's what he has, acupuncture can really help, and you can do things to make it easier for him to poop like adding fiber into his food, or a glycerin suppository. For now, be as patient as you can, he might be in a lot of pain and walking through snow is super hard for a Tripawd who's having issues.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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