Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I have a 9 year old Boxer/bulldog mix who is now Left front foreleg Amputee. 2 unsuccessful lumpectomies left no other choice. She get around fine now when moving faster but seems to lurch and struggle when walking. Most of her weight is upfront so I am concerned about the remaining leg, will it develop joint problems, etc. Her exercise is obviously very curtailed from what she did so worry about weight gain. I also read the twisting motion can impact their spines going forward. She has verylittle stump left so is she a candidate for prosthetic?
I am obviously just concerned and wanted to reach out and see if others have advice for her condition.
Thanks,
Billy and Zeyda
stifland said
I am obviously just concerned and wanted to reach out and see if others have advice for her condition.
Welcome Billy, we're sorry to hear about Zeyda but you've come to the right place!
Please see Jerry's Required Reading List for lots of helpful links or consider downloading the Tripawds e-books for fast answers to the most common concerns.
For more information about orthopedic issues and/or prosthetics and braces please watch our video interviews with experts:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I in the past had and now own my 2 nd front amp dog. It is pretty normal to be able to move better at a quick pace than a walk. Neither of mine had any stump so prosthetics were not an option. You have come to the right place for advice. Lori and TY
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
Jaime is also a front leg amp, though he's only 1.5 months post-op. I was also worried about weight gain, so I work around his exercise limitations. I either give him a few short 10 min walks around the block a few times a day, or take him out in the yard and let him chase me around. I like playing with him in the yard because if he gets tired he can just go to the door to signal that he wants to go inside. Swimming is also great exercise for tripawds! There's a doggy swimming pool nearby that I'd like to visit when his pyoderma clears up, and we're also going to go fly fishing with my dad when it warms up!
Hey! I also own a front left amputee, Domino. A very very big help to me was taking him to see a Canine Rehab Specialist. We discussed alot of those issues. She was able to show me with her equipment that Dom was putting about 55% of his weight on his remaining front leg. My biggest concern was the same as yours, joint damage to that remaining leg because of all the extra weight. Since going to her we have put Domino on a joint supplement and try to keep him lean and healthy. My Rehab therapist was a very big believer in prosthetics and braces as well as joint supplements and core strengthening. So it might be worth seeing if you can find a rehab specialist near you to take your girl to. They have some wonderful advice and tips on exercises you can do at home. Domino walks like your girl, at a faster pace he seems to be steadier than when walking, I think its just a front tripawd thing lol. Hopefully some of this helps!
Cassie and Domino
“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”
Domino had his left front leg amputate on May 13th 2014 after being hit by a car. He's now living a happy healthy life on three legs :)
Hi Billy and Zeyda,
My Tripawd Polly was also a 9 year old front amp, and she did do very well. It is a bit more difficult to have a front amp because they normally distribute most of their weight up front...Polly's surgeon called it the 60-40, 60% being up front. After amp, they will learn to distribute a little more weight to the rear. I do think the most important factor is to definitely keep their weight down, and our surgeon also put Polly on a joint supplement, ours was Dasuquin. And like Cassie said, seeing a rehab therapist could surely help. Also watch her on steps......going up is not so difficult, but I still assisted Polly...coming down is much more difficult and they will absolutely need assistance, they are much more likely to fall which could be disastrous.
Polly had her entire leg and shoulder removed so I can't give any advice about a prosthetic.
Hope this helps somewhat, I am sure others will join in and give their valuable experience and knowledge to help you out as well. Since Zeyda is a recent amputee, she is most likely just starting to figure out how to adjust to being on 3 legs.
Keep us updated on your girl....
Bonnie & Angel Polly
bcullom said
...any advice about a prosthetic.
Check out the Tripawds News blog posts for information about prosthetics, and don't miss our Orthopets video interviews for more details about prosthetics and braces for tripawds.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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